The Day Of Pentecost
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Cycle A, THIRD EDITION
THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1--21 (C)
On Pentecost the disciples receive the Holy Spirit and Peter explains the happening. Luke gives an account of the Spirit's coming upon the gathered disciples in Jerusalem on Pentecost accompanied by a mighty wind and tongues of fire. Then the reaction of the crowd is given - the disciples are accused of being drunk. Peter responds by explaining the experience as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that, at the end of the era, the Spirit would come to all. The overall purpose of the event is salvation for all who call upon God. The Spirit gave the disciples power to speak in the languages of the peoples assembled in Jerusalem, that all people might hear the gospel. This is not a case of glossolalia referred to elsewhere when the message was unintelligible except possibly to the speaker and an interpreter.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1--11 (RC, E)
First Lesson for RC, part of Second Lesson for C.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13 (C); 1 Corinthians 12:3--7, 12--13 (RC); 1 Corinthians 12:4--13 (E)
One Spirit but many gifts. Paul answers the Corinthian church's question about the gifts of the Spirit. He explains that there is one Holy Spirit who gives nine different gifts according to each person's needs. Each has at least one gift, but none is better than another. All have the Spirit and each person has a part as a member of the body of Christ.
Gospel: John 20:19--23 (C, RC, E)
On Easter day the risen Christ gives the Spirit to the disciples. On the evening of Easter day, the risen Lord comes to the disciples huddled together in fear. This is John's account of Pentecost in comparison with Luke's account in Lesson 1 of the Spirit's coming fifty days after Easter. At this time the disciples receive the Spirit, the Great Commission, and the authority to forgive sins. On this Day of Pentecost, we are primarily interested in the giving of the Spirit of Christ by his breathing on them. Contrary to Luke's account, there are no unusual results such as speaking in various languages and preaching. John sees the Spirit as the power to go forth to proclaim the gospel and as authority to forgive.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 104:24--34 (C, E); Psalm 104:1, 24, 29--31, 34 (RC) - "When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created" (v. 30a).
Prayer Of The Day
"God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, look upon your church and open our hearts to the power of the Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of your love and strengthen our lives for service in your kingdom."
Hymn Of The Day
"Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire"
Theme Of The Day: The Spirit's Advent
Lesson 1 - The coming of the Spirit - Acts 2:1--21
Lesson 2 - The gifts of the Spirit - 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13
Gospel - The authority of the Spirit - John 20:19--23
This is Spirit Sunday. The promise of the Spirit is fulfilled. Two accounts tell of the fulfillment: the risen Jesus gives the Spirit on Easter; fifty days after Easter the Spirit falls on the disciples. Rather than deal with the conflict of the accounts by John and Luke, it would probably be better to use Lesson 1 as an explanation and description of how the Spirit came. Psalm, Prayer, and Hymn deal with the Spirit.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: John 20:19--23
1. All on one day. "The first day of the week" (v. 19). Did as many things happen on one day in the entire history of God's people? On Easter day, Jesus rose from the dead, issued the Great Commission, breathed the Spirit on the disciples, and gave them authority to forgive. It could be called the busiest day in the life of Jesus.
2. Peace (vv. 19, 21). Twice Jesus speaks peace to the disciples. The repetition emphasizes the importance of peace. It is a peace that passes understanding and peace which the world cannot give. It is not a peace that is negotiated by enemies. This peace is a gift of Christ to those like the disciples who sit in fear and anxiety.
3. Spirit (v. 22). The Spirit is given by Jesus. "He breathed on them," as God breathed into Adam. In Hebrew "breath" and "spirit" are one word, ruach. In this case, the Spirit is identified with Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Jesus. To have in one's heart the spirit of Jesus is the same as having the Holy Spirit. Thus, we can discern the spirits that possess us to see if the spirit is truly the Holy Spirit.
4. Forgive (v. 23). Who am I to forgive? Is the authority to forgive placed solely in the hands of the clergy or is it the authority of every Christian? The power to forgive is the power of the keys of the kingdom. To forgive is to open the gate to eternal life. Who then but God can forgive? Christ gives his followers the authority to forgive by virtue of being instruments of the Spirit who through Word and Sacraments forgives the penitent.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1--21
1. Community. "They were all together" (v. 1). The Spirit is a communal affair. The Spirit comes to us as a group and not always as an individual. Jesus breathed the Spirit on the disciples as a group. Baptism, when the Holy Spirit is received, is not a private but a public service and occasion. The Spirit is a drawing, collecting force.
2. Tongues (v. 4). This is not the unknown tongues of charismatic extremists. At Pentecost each foreigner heard the gospel in his own tongue. There was no need of an interpreter as in the case with "unknown tongues." Each apostle miraculously learned a foreign language in order to tell the good news to foreign visitors in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost. To this day Christians communicate the gospel in the people's language.
3. Understanding. "What does this mean?" (v. 12). There was a tumult of a hurricane and fire. Men began to preach in various tongues. On the surface, it appeared to outsiders that the apostles were drunk. How do you explain, interpret, and understand this unusual and exciting experience? Peter explains it as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that the Spirit would come.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13
1. Except (v. 3b). No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. On our own desire and strength we cannot come to or believe in Jesus as Lord. We do not choose Jesus, but through the Spirit he chooses us as disciples. The Spirit calls us to believe and follow Jesus. We are made Christians by the work of the Spirit. To say that Jesus is our Lord is too difficult for human achievement.
2. Same (vv. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11). Six times in this pericope Paul uses the word, "same": same Spirit, same Lord, same God. The repetition emphasizes that there is only one Spirit just as there is only one God and one Christ. There are different groups we receive, but the same Spirit gives various gifts. Therefore, all gifts of the Spirit are holy and precious, one is as good as another. Since the Spirit gives the gift, we have no reason to boast of our gifts.
3. Varieties (v. 4). The Holy Spirit provides a variety of gifts. Paul lists nine of them in this passage. The one Spirit gives unity to the variety. No two people are alike. Each has a different gift. This makes us interesting, attractive, and distinctive. However, there is a danger that we may be jealous or envious of a person who has a different gift. Christians should not be in competition with each other or think better of oneself. If we were not given different gifts, we would not be able to cover all the needs of people.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Preaching Problems Of Pentecost
1. What to preach? Pentecost is one of the busiest days of the year. The preacher needs to decide what is to be emphasized and preach accordingly:
a. The outpouring of the Spirit.
b. The birthday of the church.
c. The rite of confirmation and reception of new members.
Shall the preacher preach about the Spirit or the church? If there is confirmation, shall he speak primarily to the youth being confirmed?
2. Two accounts. The Lessons give two accounts of the coming of the Spirit. Lesson 1 is Luke's account and the Gospel is John's account. The latter has Pentecost occur on Easter while Luke has the Spirit arriving on Pentecost. Shall the preacher try to reconcile these two accounts?
3. Doctrines. Pentecost's pericopes this year give occasion for raising controversial issues. There is the problem of tongues as an expression of the Spirit's possession. Another doctrine deals with the power of the keys, the forgiveness of sins. Is this authority to forgive in the hands of the laity or in the hands of the clergy?
Three Lessons: Acts 2:1--21; 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13; John 20:19--23
"We've Got Spirit - How About You?"
Need: At a high school football game, supporters of the home team chanted, "We've got spirit - how about you?" As Christians we should not have spirit but the Spirit. But do we? If we do not have the Spirit, we will not be in good spirits. If we do not, or if we need to be filled with the Spirit, Pentecost is the time to get filled.
Outline: God the Spirit -
a. The Spirit energizes you - Lesson 1.
b. The Spirit gives gifts - Lesson 2.
c. The Spirit enables you to forgive - Gospel.
Gospel: John 20:19--23
1. The Spirit of Jesus. 20:22
Need: The Gospel lesson connects Jesus with the Spirit. On Pentecost, we do not leave Jesus in heaven and now deal with the Spirit as a separate entity. Jesus identifies with the Spirit. The church needs to see and understand the relationship of Jesus and the Spirit. It will help people to know who the Spirit is and to solve the problem of having Jesus with you always as well as having the Spirit.
Outline: In this text we see that -
a. The Spirit is of Jesus.
b. The Spirit is from Jesus.
c. The Spirit is like Jesus.
2. The Breath Of Life. 20:21--22
Need: The Hebrew word for spirit is "breath" or "wind." To live is to breathe. We determine whether a person is dead if he stops breathing. On Easter evening Jesus breathes the Spirit on his disciples. This is an experience all of us need. We want and need life, as much as possible.
Outline: The breath of life consists of -
a. The breath of Spirit - "Receive the Holy Spirit."
b. The breath of peace - "Peace be with you."
c. The breath of purpose - "So send I you."
3. When God Is Your Mother. 20:22
Need: The Spirit is the creative agent of God. In Adam's creation, God breathed into him, and he became a person, a living soul. The Spirit is given credit in Genesis for creating the universe. On Easter Jesus breathes the Spirit on the disciples. There resulted a new creation. The Spirit is like a mother who gives birth to a new creation.
Outline: The Spirit is our mother.
a. Birth as a new creature. A Christian is born again of the Spirit, born into a relationship with Christ.
b. Birth as a new humanity - the church. Pentecost is the birthday of the church. The Spirit gathers believers into a church, a new people of God.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1--21
1. How Do You Explain It? 2:1--21
Need: People outside see a people who got religion and who do unusual things. How do you explain it? This was the question of the spectators of the Pentecost experiences - "What does this mean?" How do you explain the rush of wind, tongues of fire, and uneducated men suddenly speaking in foreign languages? How do you explain the boldness of once--timid, quiet men? Today, how do we explain the marvelous lives and work of Christians?
Outline: How we explain it.
a. They received the Spirit - v. 4.
b. They received the fulfillment of the promise - v. 15.
2. Where You Can Find The Spirit. 2:1--21
Need: The Spirit is a mysterious phenomenon for most people. They think of the Spirit as something queer and ecstatic. Some think of the Spirit in terms of a far--out religious group which has fanatical tendencies. This sermon is needed to give our people the ecclesiastical dimension of the Spirit. The Spirit is a church affair.
Outline: Consider the Spirit's relation to the church.
a. The Spirit comes to the church - v. 1. It is a community affair and corporate experience.
b. The Spirit creates the church - v. 21. The Spirit gathers believers into a community.
c. The Spirit works through the church - v. 14. The church proclaims the Word and administers the sacraments through which the Spirit grants forgiveness and eternal life.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13
A Spirit--made Christian. 12:3b--13
Need: How does one become a Christian? Must we have an ecstatic emotional experience? Do we decide to accept Christ? Do we have a choice to be or not to be a Christian? Is accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior a human accomplishment? Often television evangelists and prolonged invitations given at revivals lead one to think that becoming a Christian is the result of one's decision. The truth is that the decision has already been made by God who through the Spirit calls the prospect to respond in repentance and faith. This sermon on Pentecost Sunday explains the statement of the hymn, "I Was Made A Christian."
Outline: How the Spirit makes you a Christian -
a. Enables you to confess Jesus as Lord - v. 3.
b. Gives you gifts to serve - v. 7.
c. Baptizes you into Christ - vv. 12--13.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1--21 (C)
On Pentecost the disciples receive the Holy Spirit and Peter explains the happening. Luke gives an account of the Spirit's coming upon the gathered disciples in Jerusalem on Pentecost accompanied by a mighty wind and tongues of fire. Then the reaction of the crowd is given - the disciples are accused of being drunk. Peter responds by explaining the experience as a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that, at the end of the era, the Spirit would come to all. The overall purpose of the event is salvation for all who call upon God. The Spirit gave the disciples power to speak in the languages of the peoples assembled in Jerusalem, that all people might hear the gospel. This is not a case of glossolalia referred to elsewhere when the message was unintelligible except possibly to the speaker and an interpreter.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1--11 (RC, E)
First Lesson for RC, part of Second Lesson for C.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13 (C); 1 Corinthians 12:3--7, 12--13 (RC); 1 Corinthians 12:4--13 (E)
One Spirit but many gifts. Paul answers the Corinthian church's question about the gifts of the Spirit. He explains that there is one Holy Spirit who gives nine different gifts according to each person's needs. Each has at least one gift, but none is better than another. All have the Spirit and each person has a part as a member of the body of Christ.
Gospel: John 20:19--23 (C, RC, E)
On Easter day the risen Christ gives the Spirit to the disciples. On the evening of Easter day, the risen Lord comes to the disciples huddled together in fear. This is John's account of Pentecost in comparison with Luke's account in Lesson 1 of the Spirit's coming fifty days after Easter. At this time the disciples receive the Spirit, the Great Commission, and the authority to forgive sins. On this Day of Pentecost, we are primarily interested in the giving of the Spirit of Christ by his breathing on them. Contrary to Luke's account, there are no unusual results such as speaking in various languages and preaching. John sees the Spirit as the power to go forth to proclaim the gospel and as authority to forgive.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 104:24--34 (C, E); Psalm 104:1, 24, 29--31, 34 (RC) - "When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created" (v. 30a).
Prayer Of The Day
"God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, look upon your church and open our hearts to the power of the Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of your love and strengthen our lives for service in your kingdom."
Hymn Of The Day
"Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire"
Theme Of The Day: The Spirit's Advent
Lesson 1 - The coming of the Spirit - Acts 2:1--21
Lesson 2 - The gifts of the Spirit - 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13
Gospel - The authority of the Spirit - John 20:19--23
This is Spirit Sunday. The promise of the Spirit is fulfilled. Two accounts tell of the fulfillment: the risen Jesus gives the Spirit on Easter; fifty days after Easter the Spirit falls on the disciples. Rather than deal with the conflict of the accounts by John and Luke, it would probably be better to use Lesson 1 as an explanation and description of how the Spirit came. Psalm, Prayer, and Hymn deal with the Spirit.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: John 20:19--23
1. All on one day. "The first day of the week" (v. 19). Did as many things happen on one day in the entire history of God's people? On Easter day, Jesus rose from the dead, issued the Great Commission, breathed the Spirit on the disciples, and gave them authority to forgive. It could be called the busiest day in the life of Jesus.
2. Peace (vv. 19, 21). Twice Jesus speaks peace to the disciples. The repetition emphasizes the importance of peace. It is a peace that passes understanding and peace which the world cannot give. It is not a peace that is negotiated by enemies. This peace is a gift of Christ to those like the disciples who sit in fear and anxiety.
3. Spirit (v. 22). The Spirit is given by Jesus. "He breathed on them," as God breathed into Adam. In Hebrew "breath" and "spirit" are one word, ruach. In this case, the Spirit is identified with Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of Jesus. To have in one's heart the spirit of Jesus is the same as having the Holy Spirit. Thus, we can discern the spirits that possess us to see if the spirit is truly the Holy Spirit.
4. Forgive (v. 23). Who am I to forgive? Is the authority to forgive placed solely in the hands of the clergy or is it the authority of every Christian? The power to forgive is the power of the keys of the kingdom. To forgive is to open the gate to eternal life. Who then but God can forgive? Christ gives his followers the authority to forgive by virtue of being instruments of the Spirit who through Word and Sacraments forgives the penitent.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1--21
1. Community. "They were all together" (v. 1). The Spirit is a communal affair. The Spirit comes to us as a group and not always as an individual. Jesus breathed the Spirit on the disciples as a group. Baptism, when the Holy Spirit is received, is not a private but a public service and occasion. The Spirit is a drawing, collecting force.
2. Tongues (v. 4). This is not the unknown tongues of charismatic extremists. At Pentecost each foreigner heard the gospel in his own tongue. There was no need of an interpreter as in the case with "unknown tongues." Each apostle miraculously learned a foreign language in order to tell the good news to foreign visitors in Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost. To this day Christians communicate the gospel in the people's language.
3. Understanding. "What does this mean?" (v. 12). There was a tumult of a hurricane and fire. Men began to preach in various tongues. On the surface, it appeared to outsiders that the apostles were drunk. How do you explain, interpret, and understand this unusual and exciting experience? Peter explains it as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that the Spirit would come.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13
1. Except (v. 3b). No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. On our own desire and strength we cannot come to or believe in Jesus as Lord. We do not choose Jesus, but through the Spirit he chooses us as disciples. The Spirit calls us to believe and follow Jesus. We are made Christians by the work of the Spirit. To say that Jesus is our Lord is too difficult for human achievement.
2. Same (vv. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11). Six times in this pericope Paul uses the word, "same": same Spirit, same Lord, same God. The repetition emphasizes that there is only one Spirit just as there is only one God and one Christ. There are different groups we receive, but the same Spirit gives various gifts. Therefore, all gifts of the Spirit are holy and precious, one is as good as another. Since the Spirit gives the gift, we have no reason to boast of our gifts.
3. Varieties (v. 4). The Holy Spirit provides a variety of gifts. Paul lists nine of them in this passage. The one Spirit gives unity to the variety. No two people are alike. Each has a different gift. This makes us interesting, attractive, and distinctive. However, there is a danger that we may be jealous or envious of a person who has a different gift. Christians should not be in competition with each other or think better of oneself. If we were not given different gifts, we would not be able to cover all the needs of people.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Preaching Problems Of Pentecost
1. What to preach? Pentecost is one of the busiest days of the year. The preacher needs to decide what is to be emphasized and preach accordingly:
a. The outpouring of the Spirit.
b. The birthday of the church.
c. The rite of confirmation and reception of new members.
Shall the preacher preach about the Spirit or the church? If there is confirmation, shall he speak primarily to the youth being confirmed?
2. Two accounts. The Lessons give two accounts of the coming of the Spirit. Lesson 1 is Luke's account and the Gospel is John's account. The latter has Pentecost occur on Easter while Luke has the Spirit arriving on Pentecost. Shall the preacher try to reconcile these two accounts?
3. Doctrines. Pentecost's pericopes this year give occasion for raising controversial issues. There is the problem of tongues as an expression of the Spirit's possession. Another doctrine deals with the power of the keys, the forgiveness of sins. Is this authority to forgive in the hands of the laity or in the hands of the clergy?
Three Lessons: Acts 2:1--21; 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13; John 20:19--23
"We've Got Spirit - How About You?"
Need: At a high school football game, supporters of the home team chanted, "We've got spirit - how about you?" As Christians we should not have spirit but the Spirit. But do we? If we do not have the Spirit, we will not be in good spirits. If we do not, or if we need to be filled with the Spirit, Pentecost is the time to get filled.
Outline: God the Spirit -
a. The Spirit energizes you - Lesson 1.
b. The Spirit gives gifts - Lesson 2.
c. The Spirit enables you to forgive - Gospel.
Gospel: John 20:19--23
1. The Spirit of Jesus. 20:22
Need: The Gospel lesson connects Jesus with the Spirit. On Pentecost, we do not leave Jesus in heaven and now deal with the Spirit as a separate entity. Jesus identifies with the Spirit. The church needs to see and understand the relationship of Jesus and the Spirit. It will help people to know who the Spirit is and to solve the problem of having Jesus with you always as well as having the Spirit.
Outline: In this text we see that -
a. The Spirit is of Jesus.
b. The Spirit is from Jesus.
c. The Spirit is like Jesus.
2. The Breath Of Life. 20:21--22
Need: The Hebrew word for spirit is "breath" or "wind." To live is to breathe. We determine whether a person is dead if he stops breathing. On Easter evening Jesus breathes the Spirit on his disciples. This is an experience all of us need. We want and need life, as much as possible.
Outline: The breath of life consists of -
a. The breath of Spirit - "Receive the Holy Spirit."
b. The breath of peace - "Peace be with you."
c. The breath of purpose - "So send I you."
3. When God Is Your Mother. 20:22
Need: The Spirit is the creative agent of God. In Adam's creation, God breathed into him, and he became a person, a living soul. The Spirit is given credit in Genesis for creating the universe. On Easter Jesus breathes the Spirit on the disciples. There resulted a new creation. The Spirit is like a mother who gives birth to a new creation.
Outline: The Spirit is our mother.
a. Birth as a new creature. A Christian is born again of the Spirit, born into a relationship with Christ.
b. Birth as a new humanity - the church. Pentecost is the birthday of the church. The Spirit gathers believers into a church, a new people of God.
Lesson 1: Acts 2:1--21
1. How Do You Explain It? 2:1--21
Need: People outside see a people who got religion and who do unusual things. How do you explain it? This was the question of the spectators of the Pentecost experiences - "What does this mean?" How do you explain the rush of wind, tongues of fire, and uneducated men suddenly speaking in foreign languages? How do you explain the boldness of once--timid, quiet men? Today, how do we explain the marvelous lives and work of Christians?
Outline: How we explain it.
a. They received the Spirit - v. 4.
b. They received the fulfillment of the promise - v. 15.
2. Where You Can Find The Spirit. 2:1--21
Need: The Spirit is a mysterious phenomenon for most people. They think of the Spirit as something queer and ecstatic. Some think of the Spirit in terms of a far--out religious group which has fanatical tendencies. This sermon is needed to give our people the ecclesiastical dimension of the Spirit. The Spirit is a church affair.
Outline: Consider the Spirit's relation to the church.
a. The Spirit comes to the church - v. 1. It is a community affair and corporate experience.
b. The Spirit creates the church - v. 21. The Spirit gathers believers into a community.
c. The Spirit works through the church - v. 14. The church proclaims the Word and administers the sacraments through which the Spirit grants forgiveness and eternal life.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 12:3b--13
A Spirit--made Christian. 12:3b--13
Need: How does one become a Christian? Must we have an ecstatic emotional experience? Do we decide to accept Christ? Do we have a choice to be or not to be a Christian? Is accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior a human accomplishment? Often television evangelists and prolonged invitations given at revivals lead one to think that becoming a Christian is the result of one's decision. The truth is that the decision has already been made by God who through the Spirit calls the prospect to respond in repentance and faith. This sermon on Pentecost Sunday explains the statement of the hymn, "I Was Made A Christian."
Outline: How the Spirit makes you a Christian -
a. Enables you to confess Jesus as Lord - v. 3.
b. Gives you gifts to serve - v. 7.
c. Baptizes you into Christ - vv. 12--13.
