Read Acts 2: 1-8

Waiting is a gift! The disciples had been promised, “But you will receive power 
when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and 
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). After waiting 40 
days, the Holy Spirit empowers the community by giving them the ability to speak to 
all. The Holy Spirit could have come the day Jesus ascended (Acts 1), but instead 
the disciples are asked to wait. Waiting gives God, the opportunity to remind them 
who this story was about. It wasn’t power to build their own glory, but power for a 
specific reason, to be God’s witnesses. 

• Looking at the response, why were the people amazed and perplexed? 
• Looking back to Acts 1:8, how does the gift of speaking tongues align with 
  the command Jesus gave them? 
• Why did God give them the power to speak in tongues? Suggestion: look at 
  the story of Babel (Genesis 11), what are the differences and similarities? 
• There are some descriptive words about how the disciples waited. Why do 
  you think God had them wait together in one place?

Go and do

Leading by waiting feels very contradictory, especially since Jesus gave us a call to 
make disciples, which might feel like a very active thing to do. But when we look at 
Jesus’ overall ministry, we see that he often waited—on people, on timing, on his 
own body’s need for rest, on his father’s will. Jesus’ leadership was opposite of what 
everyone assumed they would see in the Messiah. Following Jesus’ leadership 
means being willing to both wait and go as the Holy Spirit leads. 

• Ask, in community if possible, “Where is God inviting us to actively wait on 
  the LORD?” 
• Unlike the disciples, we already have the Holy Spirit and are empowered by 
  the Spirit to go into the world. List out the ways God has empowered you to 
  go! 
• Pray this breath prayer: (inhale) Lord, let me wait on you. (exhale) Holy Spirit, 
  guide me in all my actions. Repeat several times.
   

Reflect on what you learned

• Where is God inviting you to wait? 
• How are people perplexed and amazed by how God is empowering you? 
• Community question: How can we encourage each other in 
  sensing Holy Spirit’s presence and leading?