Your May 19th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

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Lectionary Readings — Day of Pentecost — May 19, 2024

Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-35; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

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Call to Worship (based on Acts 2:1-21)

Leader: On this day of Pentecost, we remember when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, the sound of a mighty wind filled the room and tongues of fire appeared.

People: We gather in anticipation, longing for the Spirit to move among us with power and grace.

Leader: As the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability,

People: May we too be empowered to speak boldly the message of God’s love and salvation.

Leader: Peter declared, "This is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh."

People: Lord, pour out Your Spirit upon us! Let young and old see visions and dream dreams.

Leader: Let all who call upon the name of the Lord be saved, as we worship together in Spirit and in truth.

People: Come, Holy Spirit, come! Fill our hearts and set them ablaze with your love.

Leader: Let us worship God, who has called us together, who sends His Spirit to renew and empower us.

All: With joyful hearts, we come to praise and to be transformed, ready to proclaim the wonders of God in every tongue and nation.

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Opening Prayer (based on John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15)

Let us pray,

Gracious and Almighty God, on this Pentecost Sunday, we come before You in awe and gratitude, remembering the promise of Jesus to send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and testifies on behalf of Christ. Lord, we thank You for this gift, the Spirit of truth, who guides us into all truth, speaking what He hears from You and declaring to us the things that are to come.

Heavenly Father, as we gather in Your presence, fill us anew with Your Holy Spirit. Just as the early disciples were empowered to speak boldly, grant us the courage to bear witness to Your mighty works in our lives and in our world. Help us to rely not on our own strength but on the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel of Christ fearlessly.

Lord, open our hearts to the teachings of the Spirit. Help us to discern and embrace the truth He reveals. In times of uncertainty and challenge, remind us that the Spirit is with us to convict, to guide, and to comfort. May we be attentive to His gentle prompting, ready to respond with faith and obedience.

As the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words, let our prayers align with Your will. Teach us to listen more than we speak, to follow where He leads, and to trust in Your perfect plan for our lives. In our worship today, let every song sung, every word spoken, and every heart turned towards You be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Pour out Your Spirit upon all people, Lord. Bring peace where there is conflict, hope where there is despair, and love where there is hatred. As we remember the disciples’ bold preaching, let Your Church today be a beacon of Your light and truth in a dark world.

We ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit, reigns forever in perfect unity. Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

Sermon Outline for Pentecost Sunday: "Power, Prophecy, and Promise" (Acts 2:1-21)

Introduction:

• Begin by setting the scene of Pentecost as described in Acts 2:1-21, where the disciples, gathered in one place, experience the dramatic coming of the Holy Spirit.

I. Powerful Presence

• Scripture: "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability." (Acts 2:2-4, NRSV)

• Point: The arrival of the Holy Spirit is marked by powerful signs—wind, fire, and speech. This demonstrates the life-changing power of God’s presence, not just hovering around but filling the disciples, enabling them to do what was previously impossible.

• Application: Reflect on how the Holy Spirit’s power transforms our lives today. Consider personal or communal experiences where the Spirit’s presence has been unmistakably powerful, leading to new understanding, capabilities, or paths.

II. Prophetic Fulfillment

• Scripture: "But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: 'Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel.'" (Acts 2:14-16, NRSV)

• Point: Peter connects the events of Pentecost to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, specifically Joel’s prophecy about the outpouring of the Spirit. This underscores the continuity of God’s plan from ancient promises to present reality.

• Application: Explore the importance of understanding Scripture’s prophetic threads as they relate to Jesus and the Church's mission. How does recognizing prophetic fulfillment strengthen our faith and witness?

III. Promised Power

• Scripture: "'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.'" (Acts 2:17, NRSV)

• Point: The promise of the Holy Spirit is inclusive and universal, breaking previous boundaries of age, gender, and status. This accessibility of the Spirit’s power was revolutionary, indicating a new way of God’s engagement with His people.

• Application: Discuss how the Holy Spirit empowers every believer for ministry and mission. Encourage the congregation to seek and recognize the Spirit’s work in their lives, irrespective of their personal background or societal status.

Conclusion:

• Recap the transformation that Pentecost signifies for the church: an empowered, prophetic, and inclusive community. Emphasize that the same Spirit who acted so visibly at Pentecost is still at work today, calling us to embrace His power, fulfill prophecy, and live out the promises of God.

• Challenge the congregation to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, expecting Him to work powerfully in and through them, just as He did with the early disciples.

Closing Prayer:

• Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the congregation, that each member may experience His power, embrace His prophetic call, and live out His promises.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers