Devotion: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions. You can do this alone, as a couple, as a family; in the morning, during the day, or at night. Find a routine that works best for you.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.
Holy Spirit, breath, wind, and fire of God:
set our hearts aflame with you,
shape our tongues to speak words of praise and welcome,
that we may witness to your magnificent salvation.
Amen.

Reflect: Reflect on the key verses from Sunday’s reading.
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” (Acts 2:4, NRSV)

Study: Study the reading and consider the background.
Pentecost was the Greek name for the Jewish Festival of Weeks. This festival celebrated the beginning of the wheat harvest and, at least in later Judaism, the giving of the law. It was one of three yearly “pilgrimage festivals,” for which Jewish males were expected to travel to Jerusalem. Thus on the day of Pentecost, when the spirit descends on the disciples, the city is full of Jewish pilgrims from all over the know world. While nearly all of them would have spoken at least some Greek, the Spirit leads the disciples to share the good news of Jesus their native languages. So far from home, these pilgrims hear the gospel in their own tongue. God’s Spirit met them where they were at, even as the Spirit compelled the disciples to stretch past their own comfort or abilities to share the good news with others.

Read: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text.

Read more about the work of the Spirit

Sunday, Acts 2:1-21 Pentecost

Monday, Acts 2:37–39 The Promise for all

Tuesday, Acts 4:23–31 Strength in Persecution

Wednesday, Acts 8:14–24 The Spirit not for Sale

Thursday, Acts 10:44–48 The Holy Spirit and Gentiles

Friday, Acts 13:1–4 The Holy Spirit sends

Saturday Acts 19:1–7 Baptism and the Holy Spirit

Connect: Connect in conversation with others in your household. Discuss the following questions, or simply check in with “Highs” and “Lows.”

• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• Have you studied another language? If so, what did you like about the language? What did you find difficult or different?
• How do you feel when you hear people speaking another language? Why?

Do: By acting on what we learn, we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.
Listen to a language you don’t speak, or music you don’t usually listen to. Imagine the Holy Spirit making use of that language or music.

Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.
Spirit of God, give me wisdom to see the gifts you have given me,
and courage to use them as you direct. Amen.