The story of Pentecost

QUALITY OF LIFE

Steps 1. and 2.

Work together to make a list of the various strands which go to make up “quality of life”.  Include community and world concerns as well as personal ones. 

Then, work together and from memory to make a list words and phrases in the bible which describe the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Step 3.

Now put together the two lists and see where they overlap.  (Do this before reading on!)

The group may wish to fill out its work from memory by members taking it in turn to read the bible passages together with the accompanying notes:

            1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 19…..your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you which you have from God.

            1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 4-10…. gives examples of different gifts of the spirit within the fellowship of the church.

            John chapter 20 verses 21-29 …. peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me even so I send you.  And when he had said this he breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

John chapter 14 verses 16-17….. I will pray the Father and he will give you another Counsellor, to be with you forever, even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. 

            John chapter 14 verses 26-27…… the Holy Spirit with teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…..

Read Galatians chapter 5 verses 16-25 to be reminded of what walking by the spirit involves and to notice the fruits of the spirit.  This leaves us with questions about conflict.  Does conflict have a place within the Christian fellowship?   If so, how can it be used creatively? 

Jottings:

Spirit/breath/wind – are all translations of one word in Hebrew and Greek …and are usefully inter-changeable…..the Spirit (or wind) of God was moving across the face of the waters… God breathed into Adam the breath (spirit) of life.

God’s spirit upon Moses/the judges/the prophets/the kings/on Jesus “the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor…”

Talk together, in the light of these notes and anything else that has come up for you, adding further insights to your earlier list of features which go to make up quality of life.

Someone reads the story of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 verses 1-11.  Notice in verse 3 the image of fire (energy) and that each one receives the spirit uniquely. 

We have each received the gift of the Holy Spirit at our Baptism.  Do we experience the Spirit as creative energy in our lives?  What are the unique gifts which he has given YOU?

On the whole, Christians do not find it easy to say what they are good at and what their gifts and talents are.  Two areas of common difficulty might begin to explain this:

1.         A mind-set which goes something like, “only the saints have gifts; I am a small person with very little to offer.”  And yet, throughout history, God has done extraordinary things through ordinary people.  His power working through them made all the difference.

2.         Perhaps we have misunderstood the meaning of humility.  The word comes from “humus” meaning earthly, grounded, knowing our need of God, drawing on his energy and gifts coursing through us, and so leading to the teaching that humility is a virtue.  Unfortunately many Christians carry an understanding of humility which leads to acting as “a doormat” and denying their own God given gifts/talents.  This clearly is not what God intends.

Working individually, make a list of ten things which you are good at.  Be aware of the feelings which arise in you as you set about this task.  Choose two of these and each person present speak them out to the group “I am good at….. and good at…..”

Talk together about the feelings that have come up as a result of doing this last exercise.

Reflect on the fact that the first disciples were EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit and SENT OUT to proclaim the good news of salvation.  We do this as much, if not more, by how we live our lives, by what we DO,  as by what we SAY. 

Step 4.

Reflect individually for a few moments asking yourself, what new insight/s has this study given you?  What difference will it make in your daily life?

Talk together about anything that emerged.

The group could end by recalling words from St Luke’s Gospel which bring together the inner work of The Great Fifty Days:

Then he OPENED THEIR MINDS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES and said to them, “thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sin should be preached in his name to all nations…. You are witnesses of these things.  And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”  Luke chapter 24 verses 45-49. 

The prayer for Pentecost could be used:

            Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost

            Sent your Holy Spirit to the disciples

            With the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame,

            Filling them with joy and boldness to preach the Gospel;

            Send us out in the power of the same Spirit

            To witness to your truth

            And to draw all men to the fire of your love;

            Through Jesus Christ our Lord.      Amen.