Pentecost Week 1 - Every Nation Under Heaven

*Pentecost Sunday is a special hinge day which both ends the Easter season and begins the Pentecost season. See the "Pentecost Season Family Worship Guide" for more information.

Scripture Reading

Acts 2:1-11, 41

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Big Idea (For Parents)

The Spirit’s ever-growing redemptive work until Christ’s return is meant to bring Kingdom transformation into “every nation under heaven” as foreshadowed in the broad international impact of this first Pentecost event. Confronted by Word and Spirit, these representatives of the nations were the firstfruits of more to come.

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Family Reflection

(Read aloud or summarize)

Pentecost means 50th and was a Jewish holiday celebrated 50 days after Passover in which people travelled to Jerusalem from all over the known world to worship and bring offerings of the firstfruits of their harvest. Jesus poured out the Spirit at this time because he wanted the words of his Spirit-filled disciples to transform all the nations. These initial converts to Christianity from the first Pentecost preaching represent the firstfruits of the Spirit’s long and steady, slow but sure work to transform every nation under heaven by the power of the Word of God.

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Discussion Questions

(Choose 1-2. Adjust for age)

1- Here, the Spirit inspired the disciples’ words resulting in transformation. Do we have any Spirit-inspired words for our transformation today?

2- What does it mean to say that these initial Christian converts from all the nations were the “firstfruits”?

3- Why is it important to God that the Spirit’s transforming work reaches all the nations?

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Practice—Celebrate with an International  Meal

These early Christian converts were in Jerusalem for a festival. Their joyful celebration was only magnified when they received forgiveness and renewal in Christ. We can remember them, and God’s international mission, with a festive meal of our own.

-Enjoy a meal or treat from one of your favorite international cuisines and praise God for his work to disciple the nation(s) from which the dish came.

-As a family, pray for more glad obedience to Christ among those people(s).