This Sunday School lesson was designed for parents to use with their children at home on the week of May 31, 2020. It’s based on Acts 2:1-21 where the Holy Spirit empowers the early church to share the message of Jesus.
Everything is included in the PDF download below (teaching notes, coloring pages, craft directions, game ideas, and worksheets). Use what is most helpful for your kids and ignore the rest. Families can also watch our children’s message, suggested music, and craft demonstration in the video playlist below.
“Rushing Winds and Tongues of Fire”
Pentecost Bible Lesson for Kids from Acts 2:1-21
It’s Pentecost! There are many exciting elements to examine when it comes to this church event. The Holy Spirit comes, the church kicks off, tongues of fire appear and tongues of language are spoken…whatever you hone in on, this is a blessed and beautiful occasion. For kids, we celebrate Pentecost for its historical importance, as well as recognition of how God wants us to continue sharing the Gospel with others.
Lesson focus: At Pentecost, the promise of Jesus was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples. We recall these events in order to understand how we, too, have the Holy Spirit and should share the Gospel with one another.
Passage: Acts 2:1-21
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (or whoever you might have at home!)
Materials Needed: Candles, balloons, straws, construction paper, decorative materials, streamers, party horns, hair dryer, cups, beads, scissors, pencils, balls, Bible (all optional, depending which activities you choose to use—except for the Bible, you need that for sure).
More Teaching Ideas about Pentecost
- See our video playlist with lessons and crafts about Pentecost
- Browse all our teaching ideas about Pentecost for Kids
- See another Pentecost Children’s Sermon
- Compare our full Sunday School Lessons about Pentecost
- Compare our Object Lesson Children’s Sermon on Pentecost
Game and Lesson Introduction
Lesson Opening: In this story, the Holy Spirit helper came to the disciples, just like Jesus had promised. The events of Pentecost are remarkable: flames on heads, speaking in other languages, enthusiasm and excitement…this could only come from God! Celebrate the story. Sprinkle some of these bonus items in before, during, or after the Scripture exploration.
Here are some potential activities to enjoy…(select the best ones for your audience and age group):
- Try your hand at some language fun! Pick a foreign language, and learn some new words in it. Learn about the culture and people who speak that language, too.
- Make a fun craft to accompany the story (see ideas below). You can also make some “blown painting” by using a straw to spread paint across a paper (hint: cover your work area well!)
- Light some candles! With supervision, of course…
- Have a windy race…Using a straw, see how fast you can blow a ping-pong ball or pom-pom from one side of a room to the other!
- Fill a balloon with air…let it go, and see where it lands! With multiple people, see whose balloon can reach farthest across a playing area.
- Some people call Pentecost the birthday of the church. Celebrate with party favors and classic birthday games (pin the cross on the steeple? Get creative!).
Explain that Jesus had promised, before going to Heaven, that He would send the Holy Spirit for the disciples. He kept that promise, and in this lesson we will explore how Pentecost energized people to spread the Gospel good news. This message was not just for the early church, but for us, too, as we shine God’s love to one another.
Ask: The Holy Spirit entered like a rushing wind…what is so important about air? (It gives us life! We have to breathe…God gives us life, too!)
Pentecost Bible Lesson (Acts 2:1-21)
As always, how you choose to experience the story will vary according to the ages and abilities of your children (and how many are participating). You may wish to share video clips, children’s versions, or other methods to communicate the story of Pentecost.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. -Acts 2:1-4
Ask: The Holy Spirit entered in this event, just as Jesus had promised to send His presence. How do we know that God is always present? (This could be a tricky question! Consider elements of prayer, knowing all we have comes from Him, and the Bible.)
Amazing things were happening here. Tongues of fire and rushing wind? Speaking other languages? Of course, we don’t experience these things on a daily basis. This was a remarkable and special event in the life of the church. We may not see this all the time, but it’s still amazing and exciting to learn about in order to consider how Christ still can and does work through us today.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” -Acts 2:4-13
Sometimes people don’t understand what God is doing in our lives. They might criticize or critique what confuses them. The disciples were filled with power to do amazing and remarkable things, like speak in other languages. A lot of people believed the things that they shared, but there are always some who will be skeptical or grumpy. Explain to kids that even in this experience, God gave the disciples wise words to help them explain what was happening.
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ -Acts 2:14-21
Peter uses Scripture prophecies to remind the onlookers that God had promised what was happening would happen. The Holy Spirit enabled it, and that was only the beginning of the growth of the church.
*Ask: The disciples were excited to tell everyone who would listen about Jesus. Who do you tell about Him?
Remind kids that all of us are called to celebrate what God has done. The church is not just one place, but is the way Jesus uses us and our love to continue spreading the joy and love of Christ everywhere. We can tell people about God, and we can also live as His people by demonstrating genuine care for one another. Everyone, everywhere is our mission field!
Crafts: “Spirit Wind” Pinwheel; party noisemaker shaker, tongue of fire headband, blown painting.
Snack Ideas for this Lesson
Make yourself a “flame in a cup” with some fire-colored fruits or veggies like strawberries, oranges, carrots, and peppers.
- Have some flaming hot Cheetos!
- It’s the birthday of the church…enjoy some cupcakes!
- Top crackers with orange and yellow cheese
- The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove…how about some Dove chocolates?!