Pentecost: The birthday of the Church

1 Pentecost is known as the birthday of the Church

Pentecost is known as the birthday of the Church. The Church did not start with Jesus’ birth, resurrection or ascension but when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers.

2 The Holy Spirit is God

The Holy Spirit is not something sent by God, the Holy Spirit is God, part of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit).

3 The meaning of Pentecost

The word Pentecost is found in the New Testament. From the Greek pentecostē, meaning 50th day, it happens 50 days after Easter (If you count Easter Sunday as 1).

4 Shavout

The Jewish festival of Shavout is the Hebrew name for Pentecost. Shavout is when the Jews celebrate the giving of the law on mount Sinai during the Exodus from Egypt.

5 Signs of the Holy Spirit

The wind and fire, signs of the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost were also signs in the Exodus. Fire in the burning bush where God spoke to Moses and fire in the pillar that led them through the desert.

6 Whitsun

Pentecost is also known as Whitsun. The word Whitsun has two possible meanings:
i) From the word white, after the white clothed people wore at baptisms that took place at that time
ii) From the Anglo-Saxon wit, meaning understanding, from the disciples being filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

7 Indwelling

Christians have the Holy Spirit living inside them.