New Testament #2: Pentecost

HIGHS AND LOWS: (15 minutes)
Write down one high and one low from your week in your prayer journal and share them with the group.  Pastor Breen or another student will gather them in prayer as we light our candles.

EXPERIENCE THE WORD: (5 minutes)
Today, we will watch a scene from the miniseries “AD:  The Bible Continues” which shows the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost.  I do not recommend the whole series because much of the material is fictional, but when they do get to the Bible sections of Acts, it is visually stunning and impactful.  Begin on disc one, and choose “play all.”  Fast-forward to 1:53:46 1:56:19 and watch until 1:56:19.

DWELLING IN THE WORD: (25 minutes)
First, read Acts 2:1-13 from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (take turns reading aloud, verse by verse).  Answer the following questions about the whole story as completely as possible (group activity:  do this with your parents):

Comprehension Questions:

1. Where were the disciples when the day of Pentecost had come? (verse 1)
2. What came from heaven? (verse 2)
3. What appeared among them? (verse 3)
4. What were the disciples filled with? (verse 4)
5. What did they begin to speak? How? (verse 4)
6. Where were the devout Jews who lived in Jerusalem from? (verse 5)
7. Why was the crowd bewildered? (verse 6)
8. How did the crowd feel about this miracle? (verse 7)
9. What was their main question? (verse 8)
10. What did the crowd hear? (verse 11)
11. What did those who sneered say? (verse 13)

Content Questions:

1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
2. What is my favorite part of this text?  Why?
3. What stories or memories does this text stir up in you?  You might remember a time when you experienced a fire, or the rush of a violent wind, or a time when you felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, for example.
4. What is God doing in this text?  What is God up to?

CONNECT BIBLE ACTIVITY (5 minutes)

Turn in your Connect Bible to page 1249 and do the activity titled “Tower of Babel.”  Share your results with your class (or make a copy to show Pastor Breen if you are doing this at home).

TAKING IT HOME (5 minutes)

1. During this week, in your prayers, try using “Holy Spirit” as your title for God. You might choose to pray with your hands open to receive the Spirit.
2. Write a one sentence summary in your prayer journal. In this sentence, describe your answer to the question “What did you learn about in Confirmation class this week?” in as much detail as possible.

OUT LOUD PRAYER: (10 minutes)
Spark Prayer:  For this prayer, I wanted to do something like what we witnessed when watching the movie today, without the need for expensive special effects.  We will pass the “spark” of the Spirit to one another by holding hands.  Practice sending the “spark” around the circle in the form of squeezing hands, passing the squeeze from right to left around the circle.  When you can do that, add the name of each person when they are in between the squeeze.  When you get good at that, do it in an attitude of prayer.

Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer (continuing passing the spark, if you think you are able!).