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You may or may not know that this Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. This is a very important day in the history of the church. Just before Jesus was taken to Heaven he said to His disciples “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” On the day of Pentecost the gift of the Holy Spirit was delivered to the 120 believers that remained in Jerusalem.  The arrival of the Holy Spirit caused such a commotion, thousands of people gathered around to see what was happening. Peter, making the most of the opportunity stood up and preached the first Gospel message. Upon hearing Peter’s words the people were “cut to the heart”and about 3,000 were saved.

This was the beginning of the church as we know it. They had no programs, committees or advertising.  They simply had the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, the message of Christ and each other.  Today, we have the advantages of technology, media, great programs and beautiful buildings. We live in a world that is smaller and more connected than ever before. Still, all these advantages mean nothing to the church if it does not have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the message of Christ and a genuine love for one another.  Without these three things we are no different than any other organization on the planet. As we approach this Pentecost Sunday let’s take a step back and ask God to help us get back to the core of who the church is as we play our part in establishing the Kingdom of God here on earth. Bring up there down here.

¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^F6 as the Spirit enabled them. 
⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.⁷Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹²Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 
¹³Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.^F7 ” 

Peter Addresses the Crowd 

¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

^…22“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,^F9 put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

^…29“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. ³⁰But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. ³¹Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,^F11 that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. ³²God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.  ³³Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

^…36“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 
³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 
³⁸Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 
⁴⁰With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.  

Acts 2:1-41 (NIV)