Preaching Articles

25 Best Pentecost Sermon and Worship Resources

On Pentecost, the Church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit's power to proclaim the risen Christ to the ends of the earth. For your worship services on Sunday, May 20, 2018, here are 25 best Pentecost sermon and worship resources. 

Sermons 

1. What's So Important About Pentecost?

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Summary: A look at the importance of this sometimes missed church holiday.

"We also find that the Holy Spirit came in the fire. Not only did they hear the Spirit come but they saw it as well. They saw fire appear and a little flame came to each of them and rested on them. The fire meant something very important." 

2. The Holy Spirit 

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Summary: In this message, we explore who the Holy Spirit is and who we are in the Holy Spirit.

"Who is the Holy Spirit? When we talk about God the Father, we can understand the concept of a Father, when we talk about God the Son, again we can understand a Son, but what happens when we say, God the Holy Spirit? People can understand something they see or know, but we can’t see the Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit is God, He’s not an it, but a person of the Godhead, and He is in every believer. The Holy Spirit does today what Jesus did 2000 years ago."

3. The Need of Pentecostal Power

Scripture: Acts 2:1-4

Summary: This message reminds the church of the need for God’s power in order to really do God’s work.

"The Church was born at Pentecost and now Pentecost has become a Sacred Holiday on the church calendar. Of course, Pentecost has always been a holiday that celebrated the harvest of grain. It was one of the three official feasts that called the men of Israel to worship three times a year. For Israel, it was a harvest of grain, but for the Church, Pentecost is a great harvest of the Spirit. Because of Pentecost, we reap a harvest of Power to be a witness; an ability to be renewed, transformed, and live Life in his presence. Because of Pentecost, His power is abundantly available to us that believe."

4. Pentecost: A Day Of Prayer, Praise And Proclamation

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Summary: Pentecost explained as a festival celebration pointing to the time of the Spirit’s coming to empower believers to bring forth a harvest of souls.

"The word for spirit or breath in that scripture is translated “pneuma” from which we derive our word pneumonia. This was the gentle breeze of birth. Now on the day of Pentecost it was a “rushing mighty wind” and the word used is not “pneuma,” but dunomas from which we derive our word dynamite! Once Jesus had ascended, he sent the “dynamite” of his power to enable the small band of followers to “turn the world upside down” with their witness."

5. A Miracle of Understanding

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 12:3-13

Summary: A sermon for Pentecost.

"It is God’s desire that everyone be included in the Church of Jesus Christ. God is no respecter of persons. It doesn’t matter to God where we have come from.....the only thing that matters to God is where we are going."

6. The Holy Spirit

Scripture: Acts 2:1-18

Summary: The seventh phrase of the Creed: "I believe in the Holy Spirit"

"So, when we say “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we not only affirm that God’s Spirit is the force behind and within all life, but we also state our belief that the calling that God’s Spirit brings to each life differs." 

7. Staying Awake in Church

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Summary: How the excitement of the Day of Pentecost can continue in the church today.

"I believe church ought always to have an element of excitement! I don’t believe church has to be boring to prove the true spirituality of our worship. On the contrary. Where the Holy Spirit is, there will be genuine enthusiasm, dynamic power, and no one will fall asleep!" 

8. Knowing the Holy Spirit

Scripture: John 16:5-15

Summary: The importance and divinity of the Holy Spirit - introduction to series on the Holy Spirit

"We joke that the Evangelical church believes in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Scriptures. But the Charismatic church isn’t really a whole lot better; we often regulate the role of the Spirit to a few spectacular gifts and to ecstatic experiences. As we will see in this series, the Spirit is an integral person in the Trinity and He is much bigger than we think." 

9. Pentecost in Joel

Scripture: Joel 1:1-2:1, Acts 2:1-42

Summary: A look at the prophecies of Joel in light of Peter’s speech on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has been made available to all who will repent and turn to God.

"Well, ok, I get the first bit about the outpouring of the Spirit and the bit about people being saved but what about these heavenly signs? We’ll look at the Spirit and the saving bit in a few moments time but first these signs? Aren’t these rather dramatic, if the Sun was darkened and the moon turned blood red then shouldn’t there be a record of it somewhere? Isn’t this pretty remarkable stuff." 

10. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Scripture: Acts 13:52

Summary: The Holy Spirit is not a feeling, a ghost or an evil spirit. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and had a radiant and balanced personality. The Holy Spirit will make you like Jesus.

"In spite of opposition and hardships Paul and Barnabas did not walk around flatfooted bemoaning the resistance they faced in preaching the Gospel. They moved forward empowered by the Holy Spirit. Joy is not something static. Joy is dynamic. Joy is a by-produce of being filled with the Holy Spirit."

11. Pentecost

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13, Acts 2:22-32

Summary: a simple and basic outline of what happened on Pentecost.

"The coming of the Holy Spirit in the bible is often accompanied by physical signs and on the day of Pentecost it was no different. In each of the three verses there is an accompanying sign or manifestation of the presence of God."

12. The Impact of Pentecost

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, Acts 2:1-4

Summary: To call believers to the realization that it is God’s will that they all experience their own personal Pentecost.

"Perhaps no event has been more misunderstood and maligned than Pentecost. Some folks equate it with “holy rollers.” Others equate it with emotional extremism. Still others view it as a denomination or movement. And then there are many who have no idea at all whit it is all about."

13. Understanding Pentecost

Scripture: Acts 2:14-21

Summary: Responding to False Truths with the Truth of God. 

"Some in the crowd has said they were drunk, full of wine, and that was the explanation for their behavior. Peter began to offer an explanation for their question, a launching pad for the Gospel he was preparing to share. When people ask questions concerning your faith, are you ready to respond to the question which can lead to the next step of a Gospel presentation?"

14. Power from Above

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Summary: This morning we are going to look at the event which sparked the beginning of the Church, pouring out of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

"Sometimes from the smallest of things come the greatest of movements. People often misevaluate the potential for success."

15. How to Stay Filled with the Spirit

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-20

"what if I never plugged in my laptop to let its battery recharge? You guessed it none of them would work. The batteries may start out strong, but as they are used they get weaker and weaker. The battery must be recharged in order to be effective."

16. From the Upper Room onto the Streets

Scripture: Acts 2:1-14

Summary: A look at the challenge of Pentecost for us as Christians today.

"What is very obvious is that God’s intention was that his people be filled with his Spirit. They were promised power, guidance, presence – that was God’s specific purpose. When you are full of the Spirit it makes a difference. You know when someone is excited about something, they are passionate about it, they are full of 'it.'"

17. Square Pizza and Mystery Meat

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7:1

Summary: Acts is the record of incredible miracles by incredible people. But what if the greatest miracle took place in the lunch line? The guy pushing square pizza and mystery meat shows us that the Holy Spirit can use us too!

"There is a major problem with the record of Pentecost! The dilemma is that when you read through the book of Acts from beginning to end the book of Acts reads like a chronicle of super heroes and extraordinary people used by God to accomplish the seemingly impossible."

18. Calling All Glasses and Gloves

Scripture: Acts 2:1-8 

Summary: A Pentecost sermon for a service of Baptism, confirmation and Ordination/Installation of Elders.

"I'd like to start today by asking you a question. How can I get the air out of this glass? One of you might suggest sucking the air out with a pump. Of course that would create a vacuum and shatter the glass. Anyone have an idea? Well, how about this? (fill glass with water) There, now all the air is removed. Victory in the Christian life is not gained by sucking out a sin here or there, but by being filled with the Holy Spirit."

Media 

20. PowerPoint Package: The Work of the Holy Spirit

A set of backgrounds, including title, sermon, and blank slides for a sermon on the Work of the Holy Spirit. 

21. Video: Names of the Holy Spirit

"The Holy Spirit is perhaps the most mysterious persons of the Godhead, and one of the more elusive elements of the Christian faith. Yet, scripture outlines the characteristics and character of the Holy Spirit in detail, revealing that we have a close counselor and friend in this mysterious ally. Music by Ryan Kingsmith."

22. PowerPoint Package: Pentecost Match

"Describe the Holy Spirit's fire when it came to believers on Pentecost with these backgrounds." 

23. Video: Pentecost

"This brief, stylized mini movie retells the events of Pentecost, emphasizing God's revelation of Himself to the world and the birth of the church."

24. PowerPoint Package: Pentecost

"A brightly colored and dramatic background for your message on Pentecost." 

25. Video: The Story of Pentecost

"A creative take on the story of Pentecost."

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