Finding Faith ... in the wonder and endless possibilities of the Holy Spirit

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Oct. 23, 2021, I was ordained as a minister of word and sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and installed as pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. I also served the same church for four years from October 2017 to October 2021 a synodical authorized minister. The journey together these past seven years has been an amazing one, full of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on June 11, 2025.

This week's scripture: Acts 2:1-21

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, 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, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon 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 upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

The message:

My friends, we have entered my favorite liturgical season: Pentecost!

Maybe you remember that already. … After all, I tend to make a big deal out of it every year!

Oh, I know that probably doesn’t sound very Lutheran of me. … After all, as a protestant denomination, we are pretty Christ-centered. And deservedly so!

But I’ve always loved the Holy Spirit. It’s the one expression of our celebrated Triune God that I understand on a very intimate basis.

God? … Too infinite and vast for me to wrap my head around.

Jesus? While I’m forever grateful of his sacrifice for me and for all people, and also for the model he provided as to how to live an inclusive, faithful life, I don’t find myself talking to Christ as much.

But the Holy Spirit? … Now, there is an expression of the Godhead that I can dig!

Omnipresent; always pushing and nudging us toward a more faithful life. Active, engaged, the provocateur that shakes up this earthly living.

That I get! That I feel in my bones! That is how I ended up in seminary and was convinced to stop running from my call after 25 years.

And Pentecost is where it all begins!

Unfortunately, in my humble opinion, for too many Christian denominations, Pentecost is an afterthought. Once a year, we give the Spirit a nod on Pentecost, and maybe occasionally we’ll call on the Spirit in a prayer.

Yes, I do understand the hullabaloo over Christmas and Easter, but if you think about the impact of Pentecost on our faith … its importance simply cannot be overlooked.

After all friends …. to me Pentecost is where the church took root, a festival that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon a room full of a great many varied faithful people who were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Book of Acts 2:1--21.

If this introduction doesn’t give you chills, well I wonder what will!

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”

That’s the power of the Holy Spirit: To bring together “devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem” and astonish them to such an extent that they ask, “And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?”

And that is the promise of church that makes my heart soar!

Now, how can you not be excited about Pentecost … my fellow Jesus followers and believers?!?! … Why aren't there Pentecost parties? And why aren’t the pews packed? … Why does this particular festival pass every year without barely a notice?

In my humble opinion, I think that Peter and the rest of Jesus’ gang would be dumbfounded if they witnessed our nonchalance over Pentecost. … Oh, ho hum, the festival of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Faith Family! … Today is Pentecost!

This is the day in our church year when we celebrate that God gave us an Advocate -- an even greater advocate than Jesus -- to accompany us in our everyday lives.

This means that despite all of the fears that those first century followers of Christ had after his crucifixion, they were not left alone. … Our loving God fulfilled his promises and delivered us His presence daily in the form of the Holy Spirit!

Fellow believers, God … is … among … us … every … single … moment … of … every … single … day!

And it all began right here this week on Pentecost some 2,000 years ago!

How can you not be jazzed about that!

Talk about extravagance! … Talk about over abundance!

Pentecost … The day when the Holy Spirit poured out in wind and fire and even in the baptismal waters. … The day when the  Holy Spirit abides in the bread and the wine in which we will take part in later here today.

The day when the Holy Spirit began abiding in and among us in every living, breathing moment in which we reside here in this earthly kingdom.

Is that not miraculous!?!?

Regardless of where we come from, what language we speak, the customs that we have, what nationalities we might be … the Holy Spirit weaves us all together into one, gigantic Body of Christ, and stands with us in the times of trial as well as the times of joy.

And for this amazing, stupendous, awe-inspiring gift … all God asks of us is to take that Spirit of truth, and go out from this worship to proclaim the saving power of Christ’s love and the freedom of God’s grace with all of the world.

That is it! … That is all God asks of us in return for giving us an Advocate even greater than Jesus.

Faith Family … this Pentecost I pray that you are filled with the wonder of what is possible when we allow the Holy Spirit to inspire us to hear others in their own language, which is such a lovely metaphor. Happy Pentecost everyone!

And that is the Good News for this week … this Pentecost week 2025. … Amen.