Mark Woods at the Bible Society writes: "After the Ascension of Jesus, the disciples went into a strange time of waiting. All their old routines had broken down; they knew they had a message to share, but they weren’t sure what it was, and they didn’t know what was going to happen next.
"This Sunday the Church in the West celebrates Pentecost. In Acts 2 we read: ‘they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.' (The Message)
"And the rest is history."
Here are some resources for today ...
"These are strange times too: believers can’t meet in person, we’ve had to find new ways to worship and minister, and we too aren’t sure what’s going to happen next. But we’re still Pentecost people, hopeful for the future.
"We have some Bible Society resources to help you unpack that Pentecost hope. Here’s an article about the link between Acts 2 and Genesis 11 – Pentecost: When Babel went into reverse.
"Our Refocus book The Holy Spirit comes in a digital edition so you can download and read it straight away – it’s a study guide that explores the significance of Pentecost.
"And the brilliant Dai Woolridge tells the story of the early Church in just three-and-a-half minutes! Watch it online or download it to play in your Sunday service.
"May God fill you with his Spirit as he filled the disciples at the first Pentecost.
"Blessings."
Mark Woods
Bible Society Editor