When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” (Acts 2:1–13 NIV)

The kingdoms of the world demand conformity. The Kingdom of God becomes all things.

The point: We need a new generation of gospel translators.

The front edge of evangelism is where the most miracles happen!

Share with people how Jesus is the source and standard for some of their strongest values.

Jesus is the source and standard for my highest values, and maybe even yours, too.

Holy Spirit, we confess that we resist Your powerful work in our lives. We fear the changes You bring, and we fail to trust Your power and grace. Forgive us, we pray, and renew within us Your transformational presence. We pray this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.