The students will be able to explain what power for service is and how to receive this blessing.
Introduction: Show your class a circle which you have cut into three equal sections, but hold back one of the sections. Label the two portions you have displayed with the words "Salvation" and "Sanctification." Point out that it appears something is missing to make a complete circle. This is the special blessing God has provided which you will be talking about today: the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Show the third piece, which is labeled with those words.
Climax: They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as a witness to this.
Conclusion: Peter confirmed to the multitude that this was a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. This special anointing of power for service is available today for the one who is saved and sanctified.
Response: The students will be able to describe the special blessing which was received on the Day of Pentecost. They will be able to tell what the experience does for the one who receives it.
Jesus Christ was crucified on the day of the Passover feast. The next great festival on the Jewish calendar was the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, meaning fiftieth, because it was exactly 50 days after Passover. It was a time when Israel was to gather at Jerusalem, rejoice in the Lord, and give freewill offerings in thanksgiving for the harvest (Deuteronomy 16:9-12). It was also associated with the giving of the Law to Moses which happened 50 days after the nation left Egypt.
The Lord chose this day to begin a new era in His dealings with man. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon special men in order to accomplish specific tasks. (Judges 13:25; 14:6; 1 Samuel 16:13; Ezekiel 3:12) Now, as God had promised (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 11:19; 36:27; Joel 2:28; Mark 1:8; and John 15:26) He was sending the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, to dwell within those who would believe (Acts 2:38-39). The purpose was to empower the believers not just for a limited time for a specific task, but to be witnesses of Jesus in every area of their lives (Acts 1:8). Note the dramatic changes in the lives and witnessing of the Apostles before and after Pentecost.
It is said that the Holy Spirit:
comforts us (John 16:7)
guides into truth (John 16:13)
directs our affairs (Acts 13:2; 16:7)
is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9)
will raise us from the dead (Romans 8:11)
illuminates and teaches (1 Corinthians 2:11-13)
causes our lives to be fruitful (Galatians 5:22-23)
can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30)
makes us holy (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2)
What a wonderful day it was when God baptized those 120 people on the Day of Pentecost and opened to every believer the ministry of the Holy Spirit. God chose that feast day when so many Jewish pilgrims were in Jerusalem, to manifest His power. The news of the great event must have spread throughout the whole Roman Empire in a very short time.
Put portions of the memory verse on pieces of paper and have a contest between classes as to who can put the verse into the right order first. The verses can be taped to children's fronts or hung on a clothesline or pinned on a board. This could be used at the end of the five lessons. Give each group (or five individuals) a memory verse and time them for a winner.
Bring a white glove and a Bible. When we are saved we become like a white glove but without the Holy Spirit (typified by your hand) we aren't very effective. Show that as the Holy Spirit enters a life there is power for service. The hand enters the glove and it is then able to act—it has power!
Illustrate the importance of a power source by setting up a toaster in front of your group. Leave the cord obviously dangling, unplugged. Put a piece of bread in the toaster, and tell the students you are going to make a piece of toast. They may immediately tell you to plug it in—if they do not, go ahead and "make" the toast, and then inquire of them why it isn't brown. Bring out that the toaster will not work unless it is plugged into the power source. Christians also need to be plugged into a power source.
Wrap three gifts, in three graduated sizes. Have each successively larger gift also be a little more decorative or beautifully wrapped. Explain that God has three experiences for each of us. We can take just one or two, but all three are there for us if we will just seek for and accept them from Him.
Pretend with your group that you are going to write a recipe for power. Draw a large recipe card on your chalkboard. Have students suggest some ingredients that should be included, and in what amount. These may include faith, prayer, action, etc. Write out directions for combining as if you were writing a recipe.