THOU SHALT PARTY | WEEK 2 | JUST WON THE LOTTERY PARTY
INTRO
We’re in week two of a three-part series that looks at three festivals celebrated in the Jewish calendar. We’re examining
the way those Old Testament themes were developed and then celebrated by the early Jesus followers, as well as today.
Our series title, Thou Shalt Party, reminds us that God is all about celebration. Far from being a heavenly party-pooper,
God designed us to periodically celebrate his goodness, his gifts and his provision for us.
This week, we’re looking at what began as the Feast of Weeks in the Jewish calendar. The Feast of Weeks, or Shavaut,
was a remembrance of the gift of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai – essentially the gift of God’s written Word. Today,
followers of Christ use the word Pentecost (the Greek word for the same festival), to remind us of the coming of the
Holy Spirit on the disciples, and to essentially celebrate the birth of the New Testament church.
Question (for fun): Spend a minute or two thinking about this – describe the oddest gift you’ve ever been given.
It could have been at a party, or maybe just some random gift that was given to you. Extra points for those really
gruesome gifts that you remember opening. Points taken off if you describe a bad gift… and then remember that the
giver is actually in your group right now! Oops.
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Just like last week, we will focus on both an Old Testament passage, and then a New Testament passage. Firstly, we
look at the Feast of Weeks description in Leviticus 23:15-22.
(Group leaders could consider shortening these readings if desired.)
From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. 16
Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD.
17
From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as
a wave offering of first-fruits to the LORD. 18 Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without
defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD, together with their grain offerings
and drink offerings—a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 19 Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering
and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. 20 The priest is to wave the two lambs before the LORD as a
wave offering, together with the bread of the first-fruits. They are a sacred offering to the LORD for the priest. 21 On
that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the
generations to come, wherever you live.
22
When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your
harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.
15
Interestingly enough, there is no direct link, either in Leviticus or in other early rabbinical writings, to the giving of the Torah.
However, today in Judaism they celebrate the giving of the Torah on this festival. Perhaps there’s a hint of “giving” expressed in
verse 22. Read it again
Thou Shalt Party - Week 2 - Page 2
The second passage is from Acts 2:1-21 and it describes The Day of Pentecost (same date as the Feast of Weeks) and
the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given to Jesus’ followers:
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a
violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be
tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this
sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly
amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in
our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus
and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews
and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”12
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
1
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live
in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose.
It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17
‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19
I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. N
otice in Acts 2:1 the disciples were “all together in one place.” How do you view the issue of unity when it
comes to the giving of the Spirit? Is it important?
2. T
he gifts of God’s Word and His Spirit are incredible gifts. What would be the result of experiencing just one of
them, and not the other?
3. A
s we ask for a continual filling of the Holy Spirit today, what gifts might we ask to receive? What should be our
focus?
4. D
oes the Holy Spirit still talk to us from the Old Testament today? What Old Testament scriptures have
blessed you recently?
5. H
ow can we make room for God’s gifts – the Word and the Spirit – in our everyday lives?
EFLECT
R
As you consider the God-given gifts of both His Word, and His Spirit, spend a few moments reflecting on these two
verses.
Thou Shalt Party - Week 2 - Page 3
Hebrews 4:12 (the Word)
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints
and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
1 Corinthians 2:13 (the Spirit)
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities
with Spirit-taught words.
CLOSING QUESTION / CHALLENGE
Everybody take a pen and paper. Reflecting on the two verses above, write down some ways that you, personally, intend
to engage with God’s Word, and with the Holy Spirit over the coming week. If you want to, share your thoughts with your
group.
PRAYER:
Close in prayer asking God for a re-filling of the Holy Spirit in your lives, as well as a fresh hunger for His Word.