Waiting on the Wind: Becoming a Pentecost People

Follow Along with the Message

Pentecost Sunday – Take Home Notes
"Waiting on the Wind: Becoming a Pentecost People"
Rev. David Hockett – Davidson UMC

1. Before Anything Else, They Waited
The disciples didn’t act, teach, or preach until they waited on the Spirit. Pentecost reminds us that the Church is not fueled by human effort but by divine power. Waiting is not passive—it is faithful preparation.

2. The Church is Spirit-Breathed
Unlike any other institution, the Church exists and thrives only through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Our work is not about what we can do for God, but what God can do through us.

3. The Spirit Transcends Time, Language, and Culture
At Pentecost, people from all nations and histories heard the gospel in their own languages. God's Spirit breaks down every barrier to form one Church with one mission: love.

4. The Spirit Empowers Us to Live Like Jesus
Being Spirit-filled means more than emotion or experience—it means embodying Christ’s radical love, forgiveness, compassion, and mercy in everyday life.

5. God’s Imagination is Unleashed Through the Church
Pentecost is a glimpse into what God dreams the world could be. When we say “yes” to the Spirit, we become participants in that divine dream—bringing hope, justice, and peace to a hurting world.

6. Surrender is the Starting Point of Freedom
We receive the Spirit not by earning it, but by letting go—of control, fear, ego—and receiving grace as a gift. In surrender, we find our truest selves.

7. The World Needs a Spirit-Filled Church
In a weary and divided world, the Church is called to be a cooling breeze—a community of love and possibility empowered by the Spirit. But it only happens when we wait on God.

Reflection Questions for the Week:

• When was the last time I truly waited on God before making a decision?

• What might I need to let go of to be more open to the Spirit’s movement?

• How can I embody God’s dream in my relationships, my work, and my community?

Closing Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill our hearts. Kindle in us the fire of your love, that we may be the body of Christ in the world, living signs of your hope, your power, and your imagination. Amen.