The Power and Purpose of Pentecost
Sermon June 8th, 2025
Sermon June 8th, 2025
Pentecost; Acts 2:1-21; The Power and Purpose of Pentecost
You’ve probably been asked by others, “Where were you when JFK was shot?” “Where were you on 9/11?” “Where were you when the news hit that everything was shutting down for COVID?” Each of these events was transformative in some way or another. I remember sitting in NSL government my sophomore year of high school when the teacher, Miss Mattes, turned on the TV to CNN and we witnessed the second plane hit the other WTC tower. I remember sitting in one of my ethics classes at seminary when we were told to go home and the seminary (along with many other things) were closing for two weeks (which ended up being much, much longer). And just for fun, when the Nationals won the World Series in 2019, the commentators said, “remember where you are so you can remember where you were.” And I was in my living room, jumping up and down and shouting, wearing the brand new jersey I just got.
Outside of those events, have you ever experienced a moment that changed everything? Well, for the followers of Jesus, the day of Pentecost changed everything.
Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, the followers of Christ were gathered together in Jerusalem. They were obediently waiting for the promise Jesus had given them: that they would be clothed with power from on high, which is from Luke 24:49. They did not know exactly what to expect. But what happened that day would not only change them—it would change the whole world. This day—Pentecost—is not just an ancient story or a liturgical holiday, or an excuse for us to wear red to church. Today is the birthday of the Church, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the launch of God’s mission into every nation. This passage reveals both the power and purpose of Pentecost. This is the moment that transformed fearful disciples into bold witnesses, igniting a movement that continues to shape the world today.
They all were in Jerusalem at this time for the Festival of Weeks, which is a yearly Jewish festival that required pilgrimage when the temple was standing. It occurs after Passover (50 days!) and is connected to the covenant given at Sinai. Thus, the Jewish community was gathered together in one place in order to celebrate this festival.
“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” Imagine being in that moment and having no clue what was about to happen. This is one of the three signs that marked the arrival of the Holy Spirit. The first, “a sound like wind:” this is reminiscent of the Spirit hovering over creation in Genesis 1, and Jesus’ words in John 3: “The wind blows where it wishes…” One of my favorite Hebrew words is ruakh which means wind, spirit. The second is “tongues of fire:” Fire often represents God’s presence (burning bush, pillar of fire). Now, that presence rests on each believer, not just a prophet or a priest. The final one is “speaking in other tongues:” They spoke in languages they did not know, declaring the wonders of God.
This was not emotional hype or mere spectacle—it was a visible and audible inbreaking of heaven. The Spirit’s power came to dwell in people permanently, not occasionally. No longer was God’s presence limited to a temple—now the people are the temple. Have you ever received the Spirit? Not just intellectually, but personally? Pentecost means every believer can walk in the power of God: boldness, conviction, transformation, and spiritual gifts.
“We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Jerusalem was full of Jews from every nation under heaven. They were bewildered—not because the disciples were speaking, but because they were speaking their languages. Pentecost reversed the curse of Babel—not by creating one language, but by making the gospel accessible in every language. This shows us the missional heart of God. The Spirit came, not just to thrill the Church, but to send the church. The gospel is for all peoples, and the Spirit empowers believers to be His witnesses everywhere.
In the list of nations, it goes from east to west. It includes place and area names that were archaic by the first century and omits other important areas, such as Achaia, Macedonia, Cilicia, Syria, and Galatia. Proselytes were converts to Judaism from paganism. And of course there is always a divided response to the gospel: some people are open and believe, while others close themselves off to the message. Being filled with new wine, meaning drunk, was not something unusual. Wine was sometimes viewed at an enhancement to prophetic speech. So, what is the ultimate purpose of this powerful outpouring?
First, there is empowerment for witness. Jesus had told his disciples, “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.” Pentecost was the fulfillment of this promise. The disciples were no longer timid; they were courageous, equipped to boldly proclaim the Gospel. The miraculous speaking in tongues served to gather a diverse audience and demonstrate God’s power, paving the way for Peter’s clear message.
Second, there is unity in diversity. The miracle of tongues, where people heard the Gospel in their own languages, broke down linguistic and cultural barriers. It demonstrated that the Gospel is for everyone, transcending human divisions. The Holy Spirit creates a unity that celebrates diversity, bringing people from every tribe and tongue into one family of God.
Third is the inauguration of the church. We often celebrate Pentecost as the birthday of the Church. It was on this day that the scattered believers were knit together by the Spirit into a living body, empowered to carry our Christ’s mission in the world. The Church is not merely an organization; it is a Spirit-filled organism, alive with divine power.
Finally, it is a call to salvation. The purpose of the Spirit’s outpouring, the signs, and the preaching, is ultimately to draw people to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The power of Pentecost is not an end in itself, but a means to an end: the expansion of God’s kingdom and the salvation of souls.
This whole section about the speaking in different languages and being accused of being drunk prompts Peter to publicly preach about Jesus Christ for the first time. Just weeks ago, Peter was hiding in fear. Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, he boldly declares: “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel…” Peter says this is not drunkenness—it is fulfillment. Joel prophesied a day when God would pour out His Spirit on all people: young and old, male and female, slave and free. That day has finally arrived. The age of the Spirit had begun.
And the climax of the message is this: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The purpose of Pentecost is not just power for the church—it is salvation for the world. The Spirit fills us so that Jesus can be proclaimed, and souls can be saved.
Notice the radical inclusivity of Joel’s prophecy: “all people.” The Spirit’s outpouring was not limited to a select few, to prophets or priests, but was now available to everyone who believes. This was a revolutionary concept, breaking down barriers of age, gender, and social status. The Spirit is for all. Peter connects the events of Pentecost directly to God’s long-standing plan, revealed through the prophets. He shows that what they are witnessing is not random, but a deliberate act of God, a sign of the “last days”—an era inaugurated by Christ’s first coming and culminating in his second coming. Are we proclaiming the name of the Lord? Do we believe that everyone—regardless of background, past, or present—can be saved? Pentecost empowers evangelism, not just emotion.
The story of Acts 2 is not just history—it is identity. The Church is a Spirit-filled, global, gospel-proclaiming people. And every believer is invited into this story. We are called to be filled with the Spirit—not just once, but daily. We are called to be led by the Spirit—by stepping into boldness, holiness, and witness. We are called to be used by the Spirit—to cross boundaries, speak truth, and love deeply. Pentecost is not just a memory, it is a movement. Like Hamilton sings in “My Shot” in the musical, this is not a moment, its a movement.
The Holy Spirit empowers us for witness, unites us in diversity, builds up the Church, and ultimately leads people to salvation. Let us not be like those who mocked, but rather like those who were amazed and perplexed, asking, “what does this mean?” And then, like Peter, let us respond to the Spirit’s leading, boldly proclaiming the wonders of God. May we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, live lives that declare the glory of God and draw others to call on the name of the Lord and be saved.
To God be the glory this day and always. Amen.