Study f Gd s Hly Days Family Study Guide Pentecst THE THIRD STEP IN GOD S PLAN OF SALVATION May 2018 [This Family Study Guide is an edited cpy f the 2017 Pentecst Family Study Guide. It cntains a lt f material, s cncentrate n the areas yu feel wuld be mst helpful fr yur family studies r that yu did nt study last year. Yu d nt need t cver every aspect, discussin r scripture presented. Select the aspects r principles mst relevant r helpful t yur family as yu prepare fr Gd s Day f Pentecst.] We understand frm the Bible that Gd s annual festivals shw the seven steps f His plan f salvatin fr all mankind. In this Study Guide we will study Pentecst, the third step f that Plan. Objectives: Help yur family determine the unique ways that Pentecst is a step in Gd s plan f salvatin. Describe the New Testament Pentecst and identify what changes were instilled. Explain why Pentecst is imprtant t us tday. Study Verses: Leviticus 23:15 And yu shall cunt fr yurselves frm the day after the Sabbath, frm the day that yu brught the sheaf f the wave ffering; seven Sabbaths shall be cmplete. Leviticus 23:21 And yu shall prclaim n the same day that it is a hly cnvcatin t yu. Yu shall d n custmary wrk n it. It shall be a statute frever in all yur dwellings thrughut yur generatins. Acts 2:17 I will pur ut my Hly Spirit n all peple. Rmans 5:5 because the lve f Gd has been pured ut in ur hearts by the Hly Spirit which was given t us. The great event that ccurred n the Day f Pentecst: Exdus 19-20; Hebrews 12:18-21 Seven weeks had passed since the Israelites left Egypt and it was nw time fr Gd t teach them abut His third Hly Day, Pentecst. The clud that had been guiding them came t a halt right ver Munt Sinai, a rcky muntain. At the ft f the muntain was an area with numerus water springs, a level area fr pitching tents and grass fr the animals. Shrtly after the peple were settled in, Gd asked Mses t cme up t Munt Sinai alne t receive instructins directly frm the Creatr. As Mses climbed a distance up the muntain away frm the peple, a Vice spke ut, Remind the Israelites that I, the Creatr f all, have freed them frm the Egyptians and have brught them safely here. Tell them if they bey My laws, they will becme a special peple that I will treasure abve thers. They shall becme a kingdm f priests and a hly natin! Exdus 19:3-6 Mses hurried dwn t deliver the message. Upn hearing what Gd had said, the excited Israelites slemnly agreed t bey whatever Gd asked f them. On the third day Pentecst there was a spectacular shw f thick dark cluds, lightning blts and earsplitting thunder. A blast that sunded like a giant trumpet annunced that Gd was descending Munt Sinai. The peak brke ut int giant flames that spiraled upward. Then all became still and quiet. A thunderus Vice said t the peple, I am the Eternal, yur Gd, wh brught yu ut f slavery in Egypt. 1
His vice filled the air as He began t cmmunicate the Ten Cmmandments t the Israelites revealing the way t happiness, gd health, prtectin and prsperity. Hwever, the Israelites were afraid f Gd s thunderus vice, and asked if Mses culd finish telling them Gd s wrds. When He was finished, Gd said t Mses, Cme up the muntain alne. Fr 40 days and nights Mses listened intently as Gd instructed him in the many things he must teach the peple. Gd gave him rules n hw t live, cvering many circumstances and situatins requiring Gd s wisdm. At the end f the 40 days Gd presented Mses with tw stne tablets n which were written the Ten Cmmandments. Why did the Israelites celebrate Pentecst? Pentecst is knwn by several names that derive frm its meaning and timing. Als knwn as the Feast f Harvest (Exdus 23:16), it represents the first fruits (Numbers 28:26) gathered as the result f the labr f thse wh cmpleted the spring grain harvests in ancient Israel (Exdus 23:16). It is als called the Feast f Weeks (Exdus 34:22), with this name cming frm the seven weeks plus ne day (50 days in all) that are cunted t determine when t celebrate this festival (Leviticus 23:16). Similarly, in the New Testament, which was written in Greek, this festival is knwn as Pentecst (Penteksts in the riginal), which means fiftieth (W.E. Vine, Vine s Cmplete Expsitry Dictinary f Old and New Testament Wrds, 1985, Pentecst ). Amng Jews the mst ppular name fr this festival is the Feast f Weeks, r Shavut, in Hebrew. When celebrating this festival, many Jewish peple recall ne f the greatest events in histry Gd giving His laws, the Ten Cmmandments, at Munt Sinai. But Pentecst desn t just picture the giving f the law; it als shws, thrugh a great miracle that ccurred n the first Pentecst in the early Church, hw we can live the spiritual intent f Gd s laws. Additinally, anther name fr Pentecst is Feast f First Fruits, which signifies that nly a few are being called t salvatin nw. They are the first fruits f Gd s spiritual harvest. Pentecst in the New Testament: The giving f Gd s Spirit and the start f the New Testament Church Read Acts 2: It was n the first Pentecst after Christ s death and resurrectin that the Hly Spirit was given t the New Testament Church. The church is made up f called and faithful peple wh Gd identifies as His "first fruits," His early harvest f children He is bringing int his family (Hebrews 11:13-16, 39-40; Revelatin 6:9-11). What is the Hly Spirit and why is it s imprtant fr Gd s family? Read Acts 2:38-41 abut the prmise f the Hly Spirit. The Hly Spirit is Gd s pwer that enables us t bey His law. The Bible tells us that this is the way we are placed int Gd s family. When we are baptized, we receive the same Spirit that Jesus had. That Spirit is als called the Spirit f adptin [snship] Rmans 8:14-15. If we are led by the Spirit which was in Jesus, we are called sns (children) f Gd. We belng t Jesus and Gd and can inherit the earth alng with Jesus. Since we are children f Gd we are in Gd s family. We are nt exactly sure f what we will be like in the resurrectin, but fr sure, when we see Jesus, we will lk like and be like Him in many ways (1 Jhn 3:2; Revelatin 1:14-16). 2
Suggested family discussins r activities: Jewish traditin says that the Ten Cmmandments were given t the children f Israel n the Pentecst. Read Exdus 19-20 r a Bible stry based n it. Review the Ten Cmmandments. Talk abut hw Gd s Hly Spirit gives us the pwer t bey Gd s law. As a family, read tgether an example f a Pentecst in the Bible. Sme questins t talk abut: What is Gd s Hly Spirit? What can we think abut t learn what the Hly Spirit is? [electricity, wind] Hw des Gd s Spirit help us? What des the Church represent? [the Bdy f Christ] What des Gd s Spirit help yu t d? [bey Gd] What des the wrd Pentecst mean? Hw d we knw when t keep Pentecst? What wnderful, miraculus things happened n the day f Pentecst? Have a family discussin f hw Gd s Spirit helps yur family. Think f as many ways as pssible. Yu may want t discuss hw Gd s Spirit verflws s that we may help thers, and maybe even talk abut starting a family service prject. When yu see a windstrm, talk abut hw wind can remind us f Gd s pwer, the Hly Spirit. Read Acts 2:38-39. Gd has a very special prmise fr "first fruits" (thse wh have been called and receive Gd's Hly Spirit nw) and their families in this passage. What is it, and what des it mean fr yu and yur family? Cmpare the agricultural grain harvests utlined in the Old Testament and the "harvests" f family members that Gd is building in His plan. Hw des this add meaning t yur understanding f Gd's plan fr building His family? Hw des it add meaning t yur relatinship with Gd? Hw des it affect the way yu treat thse wh may nt knw r understand Gd's ways right nw? Read the fllwing article fr a little mre infrmatin: https://www.ucg.rg/beynd-tday/the-feast-f-pentecst-and-its-meaning-fr-allmankind Talk with yur child abut Gd s feast days and what they enjy abut them. Have yur child share what he/she knws abut Gd s plan f salvatin. 3
PENTECOST Cmparisn Chart Review this chart t visually rganize the infrmatin with the cmparisns. Cmmanded in Old Testament: Leviticus 23:15-22 The ancient Israelites had their first harvest f the year in late spring r early summer. This prduce was called their first fruits. Observed by Jesus Christ, the apstles, and the Church in the New Testament: Acts 2:1-21; Acts 20:16; 1 Crinthians 16:8 The peple called during this age are knwn as Gd s firstfruits. On this day we learn that the firstfruits will be like lder brthers and sisters t the many peple called later t be a part f Gd s big family after Jesus returns! Additinal Family Study Materials: UCG Bklet Gd's Hly Day Plan: The Plan f Hpe fr All Mankind https://www.ucg.rg/bible-study-tls/bklets/gds-hly-day-plan UCG Shrt Vide Ply, Cl y Tly: Pentecst: https://www.ucg.rg/members/kids/ply-clytly/ply-cl-y-tly-pentecst-episde-03 UCG Bible Study Tl: https://www.ucg.rg/bible-study-tls/bklets/gds-hly-day-planthe-prmise-f-hpe-fr-all-mankind/the-feast-f-1 UCG Teen Bible Study: https://www.ucg.rg/teen-bible-study/teen-bible-study-vlume-4- gds-festivals-hly-days/pentecst UCG Bible Study Tls: https://www.ucg.rg/bible-study-tls/teen-bible-studyguides/the-hly-spirit UCG Beynd Tday Prgram: https://www.ucg.rg/beynd-tday/beynd-tdaytelevisin-prgram/pentecst-the-pwer-f-gd-in-yur-life 4
Optinal Class Activities ACTIVITY: Gd s Spirit Overflws in Us Scriptures t Cnsider: Jhn 14:16-17 (KJV) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give yu anther Cmfrter, that he may abide with yu fr ever; Even the Spirit f truth Jhn 14:26 But the Cmfrter, which is the Hly [Spirit], whm the Father will send in my name, he shall teach yu all things, and bring all things t yur remembrance, whatsever I have said unt yu. 2 Crinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the Gd and Father f ur Lrd Jesus Christ, the Father f mercies and Gd f all cmfrt, wh cmfrts us in all ur tribulatin, that we may be able t cmfrt thse wh are in any truble, with the cmfrt with which we urselves are cmfrted by Gd. Objective: T shw hw the Hly Spirit reacts when we use it. T help illustrate hw the gd things that cme frm Gd s spirit can be used t help and bless many ther peple and nt just be kept fr ne s wn benefit. Needed Supplies: Glass jar Large baking pan with sides Measuring utensils Baking sda Vinegar Fd clring Cntainer Prepare: 1. Pre-measure ne tablespn f baking sda and place it in the glass jar. Pre-measure ne cup f vinegar and add fd clring. 2. Place the vinegar and fd clring in a separate cntainer t bring t class. Let s think abut: Gd s Spirit verflws in us. What are sme things that yu have seen verflw? [Sinks, rivers, trash cans, glass f milk, etc.] Let s see what verflws in this experiment. Set the jar in the middle f the baking pan (with ne tablespn f baking sda already in it). Pur the premeasured cup f vinegar with fd clring int the jar. Watch the liquid bubble up and verflw. When the vinegar and sda mixed tgether, it frmed a gas called carbn dixide. The gas pushed the liquid ut f the jar s that the liquid verflwed. This experiment can help us understand hw Gd s Hly Spirit reacts when we use it. It helps Gd s way t cme ut f us! The Hly Spirit helps us t d things that we can t d by urselves. It flws in us s we can be mre like Gd and verflws s we can help thers t. What are sme things that yu need Gd s Spirit t help yu with? When yu hear the wrd Pentecst, yu shuld think f hw Gd shwed His lve by sending us the Hly Spirit. 5
Acts Chapter Tw Activity May 2018 Fill in the blanks with the crrect wrds frm the Wrd Bank belw. (Hint: If yu need help, pen t Acts 2. This was taken directly frm the NIV). When the f came, they were all tgether in ne. Suddenly a like the blwing f a vilent came frm and filled the whle where they were sitting. They saw what seemed t be f that separated and came t rest n f them. f them were filled with the and began t speak in ther as the enabled them. WORD BANK Fire, day, Spirit, languages, tngues, sund, Pentecst, Hly Spirit, each, wind, All, heaven, place, huse NEXT: 1) Describe in yur wn wrds what happened n the day f Pentecst. 2) Why is this event s imprtant fr Gd's peple? 6
TEEN SUMMARY LESSON Gal: Apply the cncepts f Pentecst and the Church t every day questins. Intrductin: Give yur best descriptin f Pentecst in 20 wrds r less. Main Activity: Place teens int small grups. Give each grup ne f the fllwing scenaris. After 15 minutes, teens will present their skits/dialgues t the grup. After the presentatins, discuss bservatins and strengths f the presentatins, as well as what can be learned t be ready fr a future discussins. A friend says t yu, If there is a Gd then why is the wrld s terrible? Hw culd yu use yur understanding f Pentecst t best answer them? D sme research (printed ut family study guide, plus any internet search n ucg.rg) and prepare a skit/dialgue illustrating what a friend r grup f friends might say, and what can be said in respnse. Pssible Resurces: Pentecst Family Study Guide; Excerpt f UCG Bklet Why Des Gd Allw Suffering When Will Suffering Cease? ; Pentecst Excerpt f UCG Bklet Gd s Hly Day Plan. A friend in church says t yu, I think I m just ging t cnnect t the webcast and stay hme fr church nce I graduate. It s way easier and I dn t really see the pint f shwing up every week. Hw culd yu use yur understanding f Pentecst and the rle f the church t best answer them? D sme research (printed ut family study guide, plus any internet search n ucg.rg) and prepare a skit/dialgue illustrating what a friend r grup f friends might say, and what can be said in respnse. Pssible Resurces: Pentecst Family Study Guide; Relatinships Part III Family Study Guide. A friend in church says t yu, I m thinking abut getting baptized. Hw culd yu use yur understanding f Pentecst, the Hly Spirit, and baptism t help them discuss their thughts? D sme research (printed ut family study guide, plus any internet search n ucg.rg) and prepare a skit/dialgue illustrating what a friend might say, and what can be said in respnse. Pssible Resurces: Pentecst Family Study Guide; Pentecst Excerpt f UCG Bklet Gd s Hly Day Plan. A friend asks yu, S, yu say yu re a Christian, but yu dn t believe in the Trinity. D yu nt believe in the Hly Spirit? Hw culd yu use yur understanding f the Hly Spirit t best answer them? D sme research (printed ut family study guide, plus any internet search n ucg.rg) and prepare a skit/dialgue illustrating what a friend r grup f friends might say, and what can be said in respnse. Pssible Resurces: Pentecst Family Study Guide; Pentecst Excerpt f UCG Bklet Gd s Hly Day Plan. A friend at camp says t yu, I m nt sure the Hly Spirit is really influencing me. I mean, I really dn t have any srt f feeling that anything s different like sme f my friends at schl talk abut. Maybe I m nt really being called. Hw culd yu use yur understanding f the Hly Spirit t best answer them? D sme research (printed ut family study guide, plus any internet search n ucg.rg) and prepare a skit/dialgue illustrating what a friend r grup f friends might say, and what can be said in respnse. Pssible Resurces: Pentecst Family Study Guide; Pentecst Excerpt f UCG Bklet Gd s Hly Day Plan; UCG Article Oh What a Feeling! Reflect: Why is understanding Pentecst persnally imprtant t yu? 7
8 May 2018