Last week we began to look at Pentecost. We saw the Holy Spirit come down, and how He immediately affected the disciples. But what does it mean for God to pour out his Spirit on his people? If this is Pentecost, what makes a church... "Pentecost-al"? Let's talk about the marks of a church where the Holy Spirit is active - where God says, "I Will Pour Out My Spirit" (Acts 2:12-21).

Discussion Question

In Acts 2:12-13, some mockers didn’t get what was happening, saying they were drunk. Are Christians even mocked today, or are they just ignored? In your own words, what kinds of critiques or sneers do people give the Church today, and over what exactly? Does this bother you?

Today, many would prefer an experience with God rather than revelation about Him. The Holy Spirit is intended to be our source for both experience and truth (John 14:6, 26, John 16:13, 1 John 4:1-3). Do you tend to favor good vibes over truth, or do you go for more facts over feelings? Share a specific example of how both truth and experience line up due to the Holy Spirit’s role in your life. What does that look like?

One key aspect of Pentecost moment is that the Holy Spirit is being “poured out on all flesh” (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17). What does that mean? How is this event a bookend to the Tower of Babel? How do you feel about local churches that are characterized and made up of a single race (i.e., “That’s a [ethnicity] church.”). How do we pursue a church that is made up of “all flesh” (ages, races, classes)? At what point is a church idolizing their culture more than worshiping Jesus?

If you’re not calling upon the name of Jesus for salvation, you’re calling upon the name of something else, or someone else. What has been an example of that in your own life? When did you finally concede that - whatever it was - wasn’t really delivering? Is there something today that you need to confess (agree) now that isn’t really working for you to the degree that you say or hope?

Gospel: Like Little Orphan Annie, you were brought in to the King’s palace, not to work in order to stay, but so that you could enjoy what is His, as His adopted son or daughter.