YEA Lesson Library
Harvest Blessings
About This Lesson
This lesson relates the events that took place the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection, as related in Acts 1-2. The point is made that the Holy Spirit was given to empower the first century church to be more effective witnesses for Jesus. Similarly, the Holy Spirit empowers believers today.
Scriptures
Leviticus 23:15-21
Numbers 28:26-31
Proverbs 15:30
Acts 1:8
Acts 2:1-8
Acts 2:36-41
Ephesians 4:1-8
1 Thessalonians 5:19
Words to Know
ASCEND - to go up
APOSTLE - one sent
KUDOS - credit or praise for achievement; glory; fame
The Lesson
At school on Monday. Jamie saw his friend Alexis in the hall. She looked really down so he called to her from across the hall, "What's up, Alexis?”
"Oh, it's my family. My dad just got a new job and everyone's all stressed out. My mom hasn't had time to cook or go shopping, so we ate TV dinners last night which were really gross. We'll probably have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches tonight.”
Jamie frowned and sighed. "I've got to go. Hope you have something better for supper tonight.”
When Jamie arrived from school he told his mom about Alexis' situation. Before long they had a plan and Jamie helped his mom cook double portions for supper. They stuffed a large picnic basket with half of the food they'd prepared and loaded it into the car. Jamie and his mom grinned at each other as they drove over to Alexis’ house.
When Alexis opened the door she was totally surprised. Her mom cried as she unloaded the picnic basket. She must have hugged Jamie's mom a dozen times. Jamie was so happy to share with his friend and her family. Dinner tasted even better that night because he knew someone else's family was eating well too. Before Jamie went to bed he thanked God for all the blessings in his life. He also thanked God that he could share his blessings with others.
Pentecost is one of three harvest festivals. In the spring people reaped the harvest they had planted earlier in the year. In the Bible, Pentecost is mentioned as one of three appointed feasts on which God commanded every man to come before Him with offerings. After Christ's ascension, Pentecost marked the birth of the New Testament church.
Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus' death and resurrection. He had ascended into heaven just ten days prior to Pentecost. Before His ascension, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until He empowered them with the Holy Spirit. They did as they were told and gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Suddenly a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm filled the house. What looked like tongues of fire appeared and sat upon each of their heads. Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in languages that those present from other nations could understand. It was the Holy Spirit that gave them the ability to speak in foreign languages. This had to happen for Jews from many other nations to understand and learn about the mighty miracles of God! Can you imagine how surprised, maybe a little frightened, but yet grateful the people must have been?
Luke tells us, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit wasn't given to those people to make them more important. It was given to them so they could do a job - spread the good news about Christ dying for their sins and being resurrected.
The Holy Spirit moved Peter to speak strong words that day. The minds and hearts of people were opened to believe on Christ as their Savior. On that Pentecost day 3,000 people repented of their sins and were baptized! Can you imagine the awe each person must have felt that day? How wonderful it must have been to have been a part of such an event. Everyone must have felt truly blessed.
On this day of Pentecost, everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit so they could do God's work. We too can be empowered with the Holy Spirit. But we must know God, repent of our sins, love and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, and be baptized. God doesn't call us and give us His Spirit to do nothing. We too have a very important job to do. We are called to share the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection with others so they can know and love God the Father and Jesus His Son too. Jamie was so happy to share the good things his family had with his friend Alexis. He shared the blessings God gave him and that made them both very happy. We have the opportunity to do the same every day.
There are so many things we can do to share God's love. You can encourage and support a depressed friend with kind words and comforting scriptures. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." A simple smile or hug does wonders for the lonely and downcast, or as Proverbs 15:30 says, “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." Your example- the way you live your life - can also be a witness to God's love. How you act under stress, fatigue, and loss will impress people much more than what you say during the good times. As the saying goes, "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day.”
When we are baptized, a minister lays hands on us and asks God to give us the Holy Spirit. When you receive the Holy Spirit, it is for a purpose. God doesn't give His Spirit as kudos to you. He gives it to you so that you can live the Christian life to the full and do His will in everything. We should never underestimate the power or importance of the Holy Spirit. We have a truly rewarding job as witnesses for, or example of, God.
Paul warns us to, "Quench not the Spirit" (I Thessalonians 5:19). "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). How can you be sure that you don't grieve or quench the Spirit? You must always keep God's commandments and do your part in getting the Gospel out. You can make a big difference even through seemingly small acts of kindness. In the story of Christ's suffering and death there is a theme of love and hope of salvation. That's the story we get to tell to others: a story of hope, a story of love, and the story of salvation. How are you going to share that story with others?
Student Prayer
Dear God in heaven,
Thank you so much for all the blessings in my life. Help me to share what I have with others and let them know how much God loves them.
In Jesus Christ's name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Leviticus 23:15-21
Monday - Numbers 28:26-31
Tuesday - Acts 2:1-8
Wednesday - Acts 2:36-41
Thursday - Proverbs 15:30
Friday - 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Saturday - Ephesians 4:1-8
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Describe how the New Testament church was empowered with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
2. Explain that Pentecost is one of three harvest festivals in the Bible.
3. Discuss the possibility that many who were baptized on Pentecost could have been teenagers.
4. Give examples of how the Holy Spirit can work through teenagers.
Topics & Themes
Baptism
Harvest
Holy Days, Pentecost
Holy Spirit
Jesus, Ascension of
Pentecost
Repentance
Witnesses
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students' and Teacher's books. attendance and memory verse charts, music player and CD or cassette, songbook, paper, pencils
How to Teach This Lesson
Open the class with prayer. Ask for a show of hands for those who have read their lesson. If most of the students haven't read it, give them about five minutes to read it. Then ask: What three major things happened on this Pentecost? Write each one on the chalkboard as they give them. Guide them in a discussion to narrow the events down to three things: 1) the Holy Spirit empowering the church; 2) 3000 people were baptized; 3) everyone heard the Gospel taught in his own language.
Now divide the class into three groups and assign each group one of the above subjects to brainstorm. Give each group the slip of paper with appropriate instructions to follow, a larger piece of paper, and a pencil, and send them to different corners of the room to work on their projects. Give them a few minutes to brainstorm and arrive at their answers. You, as the teacher, may want to check on each group to see if they need a gentle suggestion so they can arrive at the correct answer.
When time is up, bring the class back together to sit in a semicircle for discussion and debriefing. Begin with group one and ask: What was the impact of the Holy Spirit empowering the church in 30 A.D. on Pentecost? And what kind of empowerment can the Holy Spirit give the church and teens today? Write these on the chalkboard.
Ask group two: What was required of each of the 3000 people who were baptized on Pentecost? (Repentance.) Ask: What scripture can you give to support this? (Acts 2:38). How many teenagers do you think were among the 3000 people who were baptized on Pentecost?
Ask group three: How do you know that foreigners understood the Gospel taught to them in their own language, rather than people just speaking gibberish? What languages were spoken on Pentecost? (Acts 2:9-11.) List these on the chalkboard.
Debrief - Ask: How did you feel about this method of learning more about the Feast of Pentecost? How was this experience like or unlike any other experience you have had? How will it help you to better remember the events of this day?How will it help you to value the part the Holy Spirit plays in your life? Ask a student to read 1 Corinthians 12:3-11.
Application - In what way, if any, do the requirements to receive the Holy Spirit today differ from the day of Pentecost 30 A.D.? What advantage do you think you will have after you receive the Holy Spirit in resisting sin and peer pressure? Ask a student to read Romans 8:27 from the Living Bible. How will it help you, when you are tempted, to know the Holy Spirit is pleading for you? Then what part do you play in resisting sin? (You have to resist and the Holy Spirit will help you, but it won't force you.) The Holy Spirit isn't given to you just to make you a better person. It is also given to you so you can help others make it into God's Kingdom. What are some things, with God's Spirit working in you, that you can do to help others understand the Gospel as the Apostles did on Pentecost?
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight: Acts 1:8
Look up the word “witnesses.” Write down the Greek word and its meaning. Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used. How else is this word translated in the New Testament. Do you think you are a witness for Jesus Christ? Why or why not?
Where in the World? Acts 2
When you read the account of that first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection, it’s amazing to see how many different places were named - these devout Jews who were living in Jerusalem, but who had been born in different places! Find a map and mark the locations (Acts 2:9-11). Put this map in your Bible notebook.
They Did What Back Then? Hearing or Speaking
Read Acts 2:6-11 carefully. Were the disciples speaking in all of those languages? Or were the people hearing what was spoken in all of those languages? How many times is it recorded exactly the same - hearing or speaking? What do you think? Was the miracle in the speaking? Or was the miracle in the hearing? Does it make a difference?
Making It Mine: Hearing and Speaking
Have you ever experienced trying to explain what you believe about God and it’s just like the person isn’t listening? Have you ever experienced taking a friend to church and then talking with them afterwards about the sermon - and they never even heard what you heard? Have you ever experienced trying to share the gospel with someone, but you couldn’t put the words together correctly; it was almost like you’d forgotten how to talk? Or have you performed special music and thought you did a terrible job, but lots of people came up to you afterwards to tell you how good they thought you did? I truly believe that sometimes God opens people’s ears to hear and sometimes He prevents them from hearing. Sometimes He allows them to hear only what He wants them to hear. And then sometimes He takes our offering and makes it beautiful.
Talk with someone who has been in the church for a long time. Ask them about their experiences with hearing and speaking. Write about it in your Bible notebook.
Worldview Collisions: Go and Come
Some “Christians” believe that whenever you decide that you want to be a Christian, you just have to make that decision for Christ. You choose to become a Christian.
Other “Christians” believe that it is God who does the choosing. God draws whomever He wills. We don’t have anything to do with it.
Read John 6:44; Matthew 4:19; Ephesians 1:3-4; 1 Peter 2:9; Deuteronomy 7:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:4. What do you think? Do you agree more with the first or the second worldview? Write about this in your Bible notebook.
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
“Give Thanks" is on page 78 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Before prayer ask each child to think of one blessing in their life. Join hands in a circle and then have each one thank God for that
blessing during the closing prayer.
Printable Pages
