Pentecost 2026

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.(Acts 2:1-4, NIV)

So begins the New Testament account of the Day of Pentecost in the Book of Acts. Pentecost is often called the Birthday of the Church. We will be remembering this event next Sunday at the NDMC building as the First Presbyterian Church of Danvers joins us. It’s good to have a joint service, because it reminds us that the Church is one body.

Let me share a few things to notice in the account of the first Pentecost in Acts 2. First, from the beginning the Church was a universal movement. Pentecost is a Jewish festival. In the first century, people from all over had come to Jerusalem to observe this feast. When people begin to rush to see what had happened, the Scriptures tell us that “. . . there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” (Acts 2:5, NIV). So the 3,000 who were baptized on the Birthday of the Church were not a homogenous group, but they were from all over and spoke many different languages. They would have looked different from one another and they would have had different customs. Yet, on this day they became one body.

Second, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was the foundation of the Church. When Peter preached that though Jesus had been rejected and crucified, God had raised him from the dead and made him “both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36, NIV), the people were deeply affected and wanted to know how to respond. Peter told them they should “repent and be baptized. . . in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,” (Acts 2:38, NIV). As I said above, 3,000 responded to this call on that day and formed the nucleus of the Church that continues to this day.

Thirdly, the Church has, from the beginning, been empowered and led by the Holy Spirit. We see that in the beginning of this account. We hear in Peter’s sermon that God is fulfilling Joel 2 by pouring out his Spirit on all people. The promise is those who repented and baptized would be forgiven of their sins, but they would also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), and we are told that gift would continue.

Speaking to a divided congregation in Corinth, Paul reminds them of this truth: “16 Don’t you [plural: “all you all”] know that you yourselves [plural] are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your [plural] midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together [plural] are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, NIV).

Pentecost reminds us that when we are universal but united and empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, that God continues to work through his Church to make all things new. Praise God!

Make sure you mark your calendars for the weekend of September 11-13^th. We will have the opportunity then (if the Lord wills) to celebrate something that many congregations never have an opportunity to celebrate—particularly in this part of the world: 175 years as a congregation. It will be a special weekend. Make sure you can be there.

Hope to see you Sunday. It should be a great service. Bring along a friend.

God bless, Brian

Scripture readings for next Sunday

Psalm 69—Are there any parts of this psalm that you resonate with?

Acts 2:14-24—Describe how Peter begins his sermon on Pentecost.

Psalm 22:19-24—What is the message of this part of Psalm 22?

John 2:13-17—Why do you think Psalm 69:9 is the Scripture Jesus’ disciples are reminded of?