Feast of Pentecost

OBJECTIVE

To obtain knowledge of this important historical moment in the life of the apostles and how it ties the gifts given to us by God in the Old Testament to that of the New Testament. Also, to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of this moment in the life of the church and the prophecies it fulfills. At the end of the lesson, students should be able to answer the question of why the church celebrates Pentecost as a major feast in the liturgical life of the church.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Review of the Major Feasts we celebrate in the Church: The Annunciation, The Nativity of Christ, Epiphany, Palm Sunday, Feast of Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost.

Discuss why the Church chose those 7 feasts specifically to be major feasts. Explain that they are milestones in the journey of our salvation through Jesus Christ, starting with the Annunciation of Jesus' birth until His Ascension and sending us the Holy Spirit.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Acts 2 walks us through the memorable day from the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles to the institution of the first church after St. Peter's Sermon.

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs---we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." (Acts 2:1-13)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 20 Minutes

The name "Pentecost" was originally the Greek name for the Jewish Festival of Shavuot. "Shavuot" in Hebrews means weeks, and "Pentecost '' means 50th day. The Festival of the Weeks occurs 50 days after the Passover feast, which is why it was called Pentecost by Greek-speaking Jews. The Festival of Weeks was one of the major festivals for the Jewish people as it signifies 2 things: The celebration of the wheat festival and the commemoration of the anniversary of when God gave the law to Moses.

The early church held on to the tradition of calling the Descent of the Holy Spirit "Pentecost" as it happens 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On Pentecost, The Lord grants humanity a new gift, different from that which was given in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, humanity was given the law written by the finger of God on a tablet of stones to Moses. In the New Testament, the apostles and humanity receive the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, as promised to us by Jesus Christ.

Main Events of the Day of Pentecost

The disciples were in Jerusalem in one accord in one place, suddenly a sound of heaven came as a rushing mighty wind, which filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then, there appeared divided tongues of fires that sat upon each of them. They were all filled with The Holy Spirit and began to speak other tongues (languages). Since it was the Festival of Weeks according to the Jewish tradition, Jews from every nation had come to visit Jerusalem to celebrate.

When the sound happened, multitudes gathered and the people were confused, yet amazed they heard the Apostles speak to them in their own language. Some started mocking the disciples by saying "They are full of wine." Peter stood up and raised his voice and witnessed saying, "These men are not drunk as you suppose as it is only the third hour of the day."

Filled with the Holy Spirit, St. Peter gave his famous sermon in Jerusalem explaining the prophecy of the prophet Joel regarding the Holy Spirit and explaining to the Jewish people that Jesus is the Messiah. Pentecost is the day Joel prophesied when God's Spirit would be poured out on His people. Many Jewish people were touched by St. Peter's Sermon and a great multitude received St. Peter's words gladly, and three thousand souls were baptized on that day. Because of the large number of those who were baptized into the church that day, we consider Pentecost as the birthday of the church.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. and it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. " Joel 2:28-32

After the fall of Adam, Pentecost allowed for the Holy Spirit to dwell within our hearts. In Genesis Chapter 2:7, we read, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being." St Cyril of Alexandria teaches us that this breath was God's Holy Spirit. Since Adam's fall, humans could not be a temple of the Holy Spirit. In Genesis 6:3 "And the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh." On the Great Day of Pentecost, humanity receives back the Holy Spirit. Today, this enables us to baptize new believers in the name of the Holy Trinity and have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us through Chrismation and the Holy Myron.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

What is the origin of the name Pentecost?
How does Pentecost tie the Old Testament with the New Testament?
Why is the Pentecost considered the Birthday of the Church?
What is the main gift we got on Pentecost?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Challenge the youth to consider how The Holy Spirit works within them on an individual level. Ask them to reflect on how the Holy Spirit brings them the Fruits of the Spirit. Pentecost is a major feast in our Coptic Orthodox Church. On Pentecost, we celebrate the birth of the church and the greatest gift to humanity, The Holy Spirit. The Pentecost is a daily reminder that God is within us.

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

As follow up to the lesson, have the students research the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Encourage the students to print online bookmarks with the Fruit of the Holy Spirit to exchange among their friends as a gift the week after, or print out bookmarks of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit to hand out in class to all the students.