Pentecost

OBJECTIVE

Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit descended on the Disciples. It happened ten days after Jesus ascended to Heaven. It is considered the birth of the church. It is the seventh of the Major Feasts. The others are Annunciation, Nativity, Epiphany, Palm Sunday, Resurrection and Ascension. They had to wait for the Holy Spirit because Jesus could not pour it out on them until He was glorified at the right hand of God. The purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit is so that He can dwell in us and we can be united with God. His other names are Paraclete (counselor), Advocate , Intercessor, Comforter and Spirit of Truth.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Did you ever touch fire? How does it look and feel? What does it do? It is orange, hot and burns and ruins everything it touches. It is very powerful. The Holy Spirit appeared like tongues of fire and sat on the head of each Disciple, but did not burn them.

Sing Asomen and explain to the children when we sing this hymn in church

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Read Acts 2:1-47

Memory Verse: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things I said to you." John 14:26

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

Jesus rose from the dead after three days. He spent 40 days with His Disciples teaching them. He told them to preach to people, baptize them and take their confessions. One day, He appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you." He then breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." They received it on that day and they were filled with it on the day of Pentecost

The Disciples were afraid of the Jews. Whenever they met, they closed the doors and windows of the house. On the day of Pentecost, they were sitting in a room in the house. Suddenly, there was a sound like a strong wind and it filled the room that they were in. Then, tongues of fire sat on each of their heads. It gave them the power to speak different languages.

There were people who lived in Jerusalem who spoke different languages. The Disciples went out and started speaking to them about Jesus in those different languages. The people were amazed and did not understand how they could do that. They thought there was something wrong with them.

Peter then explained to them that Jesus, whom they crucified, rose from the dead and ascended to Heaven. After He was exalted at the right hand of God and received from Him the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured it out on His Disciples. The people, after hearing this, were hurt by what they did to Jesus and asked, "What should we do?"

Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." That day, 3,000 people were baptized.

We receive the Holy Spirit when we are anointed with the Holy Myron during the mystery of Chrismation. This along with Baptism and Communion are the first of the seven sacraments. The Holy Spirit blesses all of them.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

Ask questions about the icon attached below

How did the Holy Spirit appear to the Disciples?
What ability did He give them?
What are His other names?
What does He do in every sacrament?

LIFE APPLICATION - 10 Minutes

We receive the Holy Spirit when we are anointed with the Holy Myron during the mystery of Chrismation. When we have the Holy Spirit in us, we have the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. These fruits help us to be good Christians so that people know we love God and follow His commandments.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Make pinwheel craft of the fruits of the Holy Spirit

Fruit of the Spirit Song

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS' CORNER

Teach your children to pray to the Holy Spirit like they pray to the saints. Memorize and practice the fruits of the Holy Spirit with your children in your everyday lives.