The Day of Pentecost
God gave His Spirit so that ordinary believers could do what they could not do alone.
Bible passage: Acts 2:1-41
Memory verse
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me.”
Acts 1:8
Roman Urdu Lekin jab Ruh-ul-Quds tum par nazil hoga to tum quwwat paoge aur mere gawah hoge.
Teaching the lesson
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Waiting in one room
Jesus told them to wait, and about a hundred and twenty of them did, praying together for days. God's power came to people who were already gathered and already praying.
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Wind, fire and languages
Describe all three signs. Then focus on the third: they spoke in the languages of the visitors, so that every person present heard about God in their own tongue. God's first miracle in the church was making the message understandable.
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Why that matters here
This is worth pressing in Pakistan. God is not an English-speaking God. He speaks Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi and Pashto. That is why we teach children in the language of their home and sing in Urdu.
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Peter stood up
The man who had denied Jesus a few weeks earlier preached to thousands, and three thousand believed. The difference was not more courage u2014 it was the Spirit. Ask the class what they would attempt if they knew God was with them.
Activity
Every language. List on the board all the languages spoken by families in your church and neighbourhood. Then teach the class to say "Jesus is Lord" or "God loves you" in two of them. Point back to Acts 2:8.
Craft
Flame headbands from red, orange and yellow paper, with Acts 1:8 written inside the band. Children wear them for the rest of the session.
Closing prayer
Lord God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that You speak my language. Fill me with Your power, and make me a witness where I live. Amen.
This lesson is free to use
Print it, photocopy it, retype it or translate it into Punjabi, Sindhi or Pashto for your own class. You do not need permission and you do not need to tell us. The only thing asked in return is that it is never sold to a teacher who cannot afford it.
Lessons to teach next
Saul Meets Jesus on the Road
The church's worst enemy became its greatest missionary, and God did it in three days.
Acts 9:4
The Last Supper
On His last night Jesus washed feet and gave us a meal to remember Him by.
Luke 22:19
The Good Samaritan
Your neighbour is whoever is in front of you needing help, especially if you were raised to dislike them.
Luke 10:37