1. Pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you might behold wondrous things out of his Word (Ps. 119:18). 

2. Read Sunday's passage. Feel free to read it more than once, or in another translation.

3. Review the sermon outline. Try to see how the points came out of the text.

4. Answer the questions below. Focus on personal application.

5. Pray. Praise and thank the Lord, then ask him to work in mighty ways. 

Remember, we live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4).

This is a lengthy passage, so let me encourage you to read it in a physical Bible.

Intro: How would you like to live everyday in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, faithfully living out the mission God has givein you in this life? Sounds great, but how? To find out, we turn to Luke's account of Pentecost in Acts 2. He's structured the passage like this: 

I. The Pouring Out of the Spirit at Pentecost (v.1–4). This is what Jesus spoke about in John 16:7 and in Acts 1:4–5. The fact that it happened on Pentecost (the Jewish Feast of Weeks, a celebration of the firstfruits of the harvest) is significant, as it speaks to God's abundant provision. Except here, it's not food he has provided; it is his own presence! The wind and fire are powerful biblical symbols of God's presence, signifying that God is here. Jesus' followers have been "baptized in the Holy Spirit." He's come to indwell them (see Ezek. 36:26–27).

II. The People are Perplexed (v. 5–14). Understandably, the people are astonished. They've just heard a group of men from Galilee speak in their own native languages. So they ask in v.12, "What does this mean?" That's the question for us too!

III. Peter Preaches (v. 15–36). Peter stands up to answer the question. This isn't the foolishness of drink, but the fulfillment of prophecy! He cites Joel 2:28–32, showing that this event signifies that the last days are here, and judgment day is coming, but that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Then he shows them from Psalms 16 and 110 that Jesus of Nazareth is the Lord on whom they must call! There is a way to be spared the judgment of God: call on the name of the Lord Jesus!

IV. The People Respond (v. 37–41). The listeners are cut to the heart and ask what they should do. Peter tells them: if they repent and be baptized, they will be forgiven of sins, and will receive the Holy Spirit. By God's grace, about 3,000 people did! Applying this passage to ourselves, Peter shows us how we can live in the power and presence of the Spirit: repent and believe in Jesus! If you beieve in Jesus, then God's Spirit has come to live in you, and to enable you to live for him. If you believe in Jesus, then you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12:13). If you believe in Jesus, you have all you need! You don't need to go looking for the Holy Spirit––he's already living in you! You were sealed with the Spirit when you believed (Eph. 1:13). You received him through hearing with faith (Gal. 3:2). He was poured into your heart by God (Rom. 5:5). He is the firstfruits of your salvation (Rom. 8:23). It's only by him that you can see or enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:1–5). It's only by him that you can call Jesus your Lord (1 Cor. 12:3). If you trust in Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God lives in you!

Conclusion: If we trust in Jesus, we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Do we realize what we have? We have fellowship with the living God! We cultivate our relationship with the God who is with us. We come back to his Word, and to prayer, and to communion with him. We don't need to go looking for something we lack; we need to live by the power we already have. This is how we live in the power and presence of the Spirit each and every day. 

1. The Pouring Out of the Spirit at Pentecost

- What do you notice about the tongues the Apostles speak in Acts 2:1–4? 

- How is this different than what is often presented as "tongues" in modern televangelist or pentecostal settings? 

- Why does this matter?

2. The People are Perlexed

- What did the crowd say the Apostles were saying? (see v. 11)

- Go back and read Jesus' commission in Acts 1:8. What is the connection to Acts 2:11?

- To ask it another way, what is the Spirit's role in the Great Commission? What does he enable the church to do? 

3. Peter Preaches.

- Describe Peter's view of Scripture. 

- What role does Scripture play in Peter's preaching? 

- What is the Gospel, according to Peter in this sermon? 

4. The People Respond.

- What should everyone who hears about Jesus do? 

- What happens for everyone who responds?

- If you are a believer in Jesus, did you know that you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit?

- How does the Spirit's presence impact your head, your heart, or your hands? 

- How can you live with more awareness of the Spirit's presence?

1. Praise and thank God for pouring out the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

2. Ask God to give you greater awareness of the Spirit's presence with you. 

3. Ask for help to devote yourself to prayer, scripture, worship, and fellowship. 

4. Rejoice in the gifts of God!

Thanks for reading the Bible Study Guide! I pray it helps us "continue to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Eph. 4:15).

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Tom Hansen, Senior Pastor