By Thomas Moll
Director of Content & Innovation

We observe Pentecost on our June 8 program. This is a time for celebration! On this day, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In Dr. Lawrence Rast’s message for this day, he reminds us of the wild ride the disciples had been on over the last 50 days. They had experienced all the events of Holy Week, from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem to seeing the crucifixion of their teacher, mentor, friend, and Savior. But then came a reason to celebrate—Jesus rose from the dead!

Then, 40 days after Easter, Jesus ascended into heaven. There, He made a promise that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” Acts 1:8 (ESV).

Read about the Pentecost account in Acts 2. Jesus keeps His promise. His followers are filled with the Holy Spirit, and about 3,000 were baptized and given the gift of a new life in Christ that day.

So, what do we celebrate now? Dr Rast points to John 14:23 (ESV), “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” We celebrate that God makes His home in us. We will never be alone.

Just as the disciples were filled with the gift of the Spirit without earning it or deserving it, we also receive God’s gift of the Spirit, not because we loved Him perfectly but because of His perfect love for us. This is our reason to celebrate!

Tune in to hear guest pastor, Dr. Lawrence Rast, lead our program with a “Reason to Celebrate!” Dr. Rast currently serves as a professor of American Christianity and American Lutheranism at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.