Pentecost: Birth of the Church

Pentecost – coined from the Greek word ‘pentecoste’ which means “fiftieth”
- To suit some particular events that occurred on that day in the history of the Israelites.
- It is a festival observed on the seventh Sunday (50th week) after easter when the Israelites
celebrate their ancient Jewish feast of Shabuoth.
- In the early church it was a time for administration of the sacrament of baptism, the
festival is called White Sunday in reference to the white robes traditionally worn by the
newly baptized.
- It was a time many believers look forward to and consecrate themselves to the service of
the Lord.
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit by Jesus on His apostles
- Transformed this celebration from a Jewish festive event a universal Christian Event that
has shaped Christianity in recent years
Feast of Pentecost is a Christian adaptation of the fiftieth day feast celebrating Moses’ reception
of the Law on Mt. Sinai.
- Moses ascended and returned with the gift; the Law.
- Jesus ascended and sent the gift of the Holy Spirit
The Pentecost Spirit
- Signaled the beginning of the Church’s mission.
- The prime mover of the mission of the church to the whole world.
- Source of the strength to endure Persecution
- Emboldened the Apostles to proclaim the message of salvation as they were fully
converted to faith in Christ.
- With the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Apostolic Church was Born.
o As both signal and instrument of salvation
o As the principal agent of evangelization
o To bring the work of Christ to completion
Church teaching
- Christ is the light of all nations, and it is by proclaiming his gospel to every creature that
the light of Christ which shines out visibly from the Church may be brought to all men
and women.
- The church is a community of men and women united in Christ and guided by the Holy
Spirit, press onwards the kingdom of the father and are bearers of a message of salvation
intended for all men and women.
 Key points to note about the Pentecost
1. That God gave the Ten commandments through Moses
2. That god chose that day to fulfill his promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit to mankind
3. That the Holy Spirit was given to equip the Christian with powers to minister for the
living Christ and to make disciples of all nations for him – the Great Commission
4. That the apostles and others who were waiting for this promise of the ‘promise of the
father’ after receiving the Holy Spirit, began to speak in different tongues as to be
able to minister to the different tribes that will be attending the Pentecost festival in
Jerusalem.
5. That the occurrence on the Pentecost was the beginning of Christianity because they
(the Apostles) were commissioned to spread good news.
6. That without any Holy Spirit from God, no one can please God and that was why
Christ has to instruct his disciples to wait patiently and prayerfully in one accord for
the out pouring of the spirit.
o The power and presence of the Pentecostal Spirit inaugurates the era of the Church’s
mission to the world which seeks to overcome every division of humankind.
o The Pentecostal spirit empowers us to be witnesses and bearers of the message of
salvation of Christ, the light of the world.
o The spirit is the force of the missionary work of the church
The church
- Born of the love of God
- Is the community of men and women united in Christ through the power of the Holy
spirit
- Called to a common mission of being bearers of salvation to one another and to the
world.