When we look at the Old Testament, we often refer to and think of Israel as God’s Nation or Chosen People. However, if you look at the first few chapters of Genesis this is not really the case. In fact, the world was made up of “one people” until God created diversity and separated the nation at the Tower of Babel to ensure the continued fulfillment of His order to Noah and his descendants “be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth”.

In fact, God’s plan to work through Abram and create a nation through which he would provide a Savior comes immediately after this dispersion! Though we don’t see it, God is always at work.

In today’s passage, we see God lift the curse of separation and end the era of a single “chosen nation” when God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell amongst all believers, of all races, colors, and languages.

This unity manifests in our passage today through the people's ability to speak to and hear each other from different nations but points us to a greater truth revealed back in Genesis.

Before God chose to separate the people at Babel He said “Behold, they are one people, and they have one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them”

Friends, we may speak different languages, but we have been connected and brought together by something even more powerful - the love and grace of God - with a purpose to live a life of holiness and share the good news of Jesus, healing, and reconciliation to the world. But we can only do that together.

[Acts 2.1-13]

2.1 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. 5 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.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What did the Holy Spirit do?

+ What is the Holy Spirit doing today?

+ What is the command God brought us together to complete?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How is God calling you to obedience?

+ How is the Lord calling you to deeper unity with the Body of Christ? Is it attending Church more regularly, meeting in community more often, being more intentional in discipleship, spending more time on mission together? Or, is it a combination of all the above?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who do i consider my local body and who can i lean into more deeply?

+ Who has God placed in my life that I can welcome into a place of unity in a broken and isolated world?