Let’s Celebrate Pentecost!

What? You don’t celebrate Pentecost? We never did either…until now. We celebrate Jesus’ birthday and His resurrection. Shouldn’t we celebrate the life and power He sent to live inside of us?

What is Pentecost?

It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7 ESV

Pentecost took place 50 days after Easter. This year, it’s celebrated May 15, 2016. It is a celebration of the day that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus’ apostles. Some people actually refer to it as the birthday of the church.

We should celebrate Pentecost because, when we become believers, the Holy Spirit enters our hearts too! The first Pentecost paved the way for us.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4 ESV

There you have Pentecost in a nutshell. I highly recommend that you read all of Acts 2. It describes what happened after the Holy Spirit arrived. There is some great stuff in there!

What Does Pentecost Mean for Us?

Perhaps nothing. But if you are a committed follower of Christ-everything! We have a living, powerful God who sent His Spirit to live inside of US! It is the same spirit that healed the sick and raised the dead. That’s something worth celebrating!

Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,

and how small a whisper do we hear of him!

But the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job 26:14 ESV

I don’t want my kids swayed by the news. I want them filled with the life-giving power of God! Click To Tweet

Parents, we have to pass this on to our children. We live in a crazy world that is shouting at our children everywhere they turn. The verse above reminds us that God’s voice is a whisper. A whisper! I don’t want my kids swayed by the latest happenings in the news. I want them filled with the life-giving power of God! Celebrating Pentecost is a small, fun way to help our children begin to see that God is worth celebrating. Not only that, but God-in-us warrants celebration as well. Who are we that God would want to live in us? Nobody. Regardless, God did send us His Holy Spirit to us. Thank you, Lord!

Let’s Celebrate!

• Straight from the Book: Read Acts 2, or at least the first 4 verses. Older children can handle a bit more. You can supplement your reading with a great Bible video, but don’t underestimate the power of the reading the Word straight from the Bible to your children.

• Discuss: Talk about His Spirit with excitement. This is exciting stuff! Share personal experiences where you have been lead by the Holy Spirit. Some of our children may have their own stories to tell. God uses children as well!
• Worship: Sing to God and shout His praises from the rooftops. If you are more of an artist, create a work of art for God. Whatever your talent is, find a way to pray, tap into God’s spirit, and use it for the glory of God.

• Pray: Pray for an outpouring of God’s spirit on your family. Pray that you will be listening for the whisper of God, hear it clearly, and be able to follow the Holy Spirit when He leads you.
• Eat: What’s a celebration without food!? It makes everything more festive! You could enjoy birthday cupcakes to celebrate the birthday of the church or make some heart shaped and fire-colored sugar cookies. For older kids, bring out spicy, fiery chips and hot sauce!

Share the whisperings of the Holy Spirit with your children. When they are focussed on that whisper instead of the shouting going on around them, you will be glad that you did! Click To Tweet

Drive the Point Home

Don’t let the celebration stop there. Unless you are part of a Pentecostal church, you may not discuss the Holy Spirit very much. But the Holy Spirit is alive and real. When you sense the Holy Spirit, act on it. Share the whisperings of the Holy Spirit with your children. One day, when they are focussed on that whisper instead of the shouting going on around them, you will be so glad that you did!

Have you ever celebrated Pentecost? How do you celebrate the Holy Spirit?