Embracing the Holy Disruption of Pentecost

Devotional

Day 1: The Spirit Unleashed: Pentecost as Holy Chaos

Pentecost is not a gentle or predictable event; it is a wild, disruptive force that sweeps through the lives of Jesus’ followers like wind and wildfire, upending the ordinary and ushering in holy chaos. In times of uncertainty and upheaval, the Spirit’s arrival reminds us that God often moves most powerfully in the midst of our confusion and unknowns, inviting us to embrace transformation rather than fear it. [04:23]

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel chaos or disruption right now, and how might you invite the Holy Spirit to move in those places rather than resist the change?

Day 2: Radical Belonging: The Miracle of Many Tongues

The miracle of Pentecost is not just about speaking in different languages, but about everyone being able to hear and understand the good news in their own tongue—a sign that God’s dream is for radical inclusion and belonging for all people, no matter their background or identity. This is a call to create communities where no one has to shrink, pretend, or conform, but can belong fully and authentically. [05:58]

Acts 2:5-12 (ESV)
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Reflection: Who in your life or community might feel left out or unseen, and what is one concrete way you can help them feel a deeper sense of belonging this week?

Day 3: The Spirit’s Movement: Transformation and Newness

The Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost is not a one-time event but an ongoing invitation to transformation, calling us to stretch our wings and embrace new rhythms, new ways of being church, and new paths that God is opening before us. Just as a butterfly emerges from its cocoon and takes time to stretch before flying, we are invited to patiently allow the Spirit to transform us, even when it feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable. [10:38]

Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life or community involvement where you sense God inviting you to try something new, and how can you take a first step toward that transformation?

Day 4: Pride as Holy Fire: Embracing God-Given Identity

Pride is a holy fire that burns away shame and silence, empowering each person to boldly embrace and celebrate the identity God has given them; it is a continuation of Pentecost’s fire, manifesting in queer joy, trans resilience, and every act of radical self-love in the face of hate. To live with pride is to refuse to hide your light, to affirm that you are good and beloved in God’s eyes, and to help create a community where all are affirmed and healing is possible. [12:30]

Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Reflection: What is one part of your identity or story that you have hidden or felt ashamed of, and how can you begin to honor and celebrate that part of yourself as God’s good creation?

Day 5: The Spirit Sends Us Out: Love in Action

The Spirit does not fill us just for our own comfort, but sends us out to serve others, build deep relationships, and live out our faith with our hands as well as our hearts—centering our lives around spiritual development, social connection, and service. True transformation leads to action, inviting us to show up again and again with radical love and deep belonging, wherever the Spirit leads. [09:57]

James 2:14-17 (ESV)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Reflection: What is one practical act of service or connection you can offer this week to someone in your community, putting your faith and love into tangible action?

Sermon Summary

Pentecost is a day of holy disruption—a wild, untamable wind and fire that sweeps through the lives of Jesus’ followers, transforming confusion and uncertainty into boldness and belonging. The Spirit’s arrival in Acts 2 is not a gentle breeze but a hurricane, a wildfire that refuses to be contained. In that upper room, the Spirit’s power is not just about miraculous speech, but about radical inclusion: every person hears the good news in their own language, signaling that God’s dream is for everyone to belong, just as they are. This is not a polite or predictable holiday; it is a call to embrace the chaos of transformation and to trust that God is doing something new, even when it feels unsettling.

This vision of belonging is at the heart of our community at Salt. Inclusion is not just a value—it is our theology, our way of being. We are committed to creating a space where people of every age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, and ability are welcomed without shrinking or pretending. The Spirit’s work is ongoing, not a one-time event. We are invited to live Pentecost as a way of life, continually open to the Spirit’s movement, even when it means shifting our rhythms, reimagining worship, and listening for new ways to be church together.

Our life together is anchored in three “S’s”: spiritual development, social connection, and service to others. We seek depth in our faith, honest conversations, and a place where doubts and questions are welcome. We build community around tables, laughter, and shared life, knowing that faith grows in relationship. And we serve, not just to feel good, but because the Spirit sends us out to embody love in tangible ways.

Transformation is rarely instant. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, we stretch our wings slowly, learning to fly in new ways. Pride Month is a living example of this Spirit-led transformation—a holy fire that burns away shame and silence, making space for boldness, joy, and radical self-love. The same Spirit that ignited the early church is alive in every act of affirmation, resilience, and love today. We are called to be bold, to speak the language of radical love, and to show up again and again, trusting that the Spirit is already present and leading us forward.

Key Takeaways

1. Pentecost is not a tame or predictable event; it is a holy disruption that invites us to embrace chaos and transformation. The Spirit’s arrival is a reminder that God often moves in ways that unsettle our comfort, pushing us into new territory where growth and change are possible. When life feels chaotic, it may be the Spirit stirring us toward something new. [04:23]
2. The miracle of Pentecost is not just about speaking in tongues, but about creating a community of radical belonging. God’s dream is for every person to hear and understand the good news in their own language, culture, and experience. True inclusion means making space for people to belong without shrinking or conforming. [05:58]
3. Living by the Spirit means continually adapting and being transformed, both as individuals and as a community. Our three anchors—spiritual development, social connection, and service—help us stay rooted while remaining open to the Spirit’s movement. Transformation is a process, often slow and stretching, but it leads us into deeper freedom and purpose. [08:32]
4. Pride is a work of the Spirit, a holy fire that burns away shame and silence, making room for boldness and joy. Affirming our God-given identities and refusing to hide is an act of faith and courage. The Spirit’s fire is alive in every act of radical self-love and resilience, especially in the face of hate or exclusion. [12:30]
5. We are called to be bold, to speak the language of radical love, and to show up for one another again and again. The Spirit is not finished with us; Pentecost is an ongoing invitation to trust, to risk, and to be transformed. As we continue to gather, serve, and love, we participate in God’s dream of a community where all are affirmed and healing is possible. [14:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:24] - The Pentecost Story: Wind, Fire, and Tongues
[02:39] - Peter’s Bold Response and Joel’s Prophecy
[04:23] - Holy Chaos and the Disruption of the Spirit
[05:19] - The Miracle of Belonging
[05:58] - God’s Dream: Radical Inclusion
[06:36] - Inclusion as Theology at Salt
[07:26] - Embracing Change and New Rhythms
[08:32] - The Three S’s: Spiritual Development, Social Connection, Service
[09:57] - Serving Others: Faith in Action
[10:38] - Transformation: The Butterfly Metaphor
[11:57] - Pride as Spirit Work
[12:30] - Pentecost and Pride: Holy Fire
[13:15] - The Spirit Speaks in Many Tongues
[13:58] - Courage to Embrace Change
[14:30] - Radical Love and Deep Belonging
[15:22] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[17:24] - Gospel According to Dolly Parton Series Preview

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 2:1-21 — (The story of Pentecost: the coming of the Holy Spirit, wind, fire, and the miracle of everyone hearing the good news in their own language.)

Observation Questions

What are the sights and sounds described when the Holy Spirit arrives in Acts 2? How do the people react to this event? ([01:24])
According to the sermon, what is the deeper miracle at Pentecost beyond just speaking in different languages? ([05:58])
What prophecy does Peter quote to explain what is happening, and what does it say about who receives the Spirit? ([03:12])
In the sermon, what are the “three S’s” that anchor the Salt community’s life together? ([08:32])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon describes Pentecost as “holy chaos” and a “wildfire.” Why might God choose to move in such disruptive and unpredictable ways? How does this challenge our expectations of how God works? ([04:23])
The miracle at Pentecost is described as a “miracle of belonging.” What does it mean for a church community to practice radical inclusion, and how is this connected to the work of the Spirit? ([06:36])
The sermon connects Pride Month to the work of the Spirit, calling it a “holy fire that burns away shame and silence.” How does affirming our God-given identities relate to the transformation described at Pentecost? ([12:30])
The process of transformation is compared to a butterfly slowly stretching its wings. What does this metaphor suggest about the pace and nature of spiritual growth? ([10:38])

Application Questions

The Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost was disruptive and unsettling. Can you think of a time when your life or faith felt chaotic or unpredictable? Looking back, do you see any signs that God was at work in that chaos? ([04:23])
The Salt community is committed to radical inclusion—welcoming people of every age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, and ability. Are there ways you have felt pressure to “shrink or pretend” in church or other communities? What would it look like for you to show up as your full self? ([06:36])
The “three S’s” are spiritual development, social connection, and service. Which of these comes most naturally to you, and which one do you find most challenging? What is one step you could take this month to grow in the area that’s hardest for you? ([08:32])
The sermon says, “Pride is a holy fire that burns away shame and silence.” Is there an area of your life where you feel called to step out of hiding and embrace boldness or joy? What support would you need from your community to do this? ([12:30])
The Spirit speaks in “many tongues”—sometimes through drag shows, devotionals, service, or even TikToks. Where have you experienced God’s presence in unexpected places or people? ([13:15])
The sermon invites us to “not be afraid of the fire” and to embrace change. Is there a change or new rhythm in your life or faith that you are resisting? What might it look like to trust the Spirit and take a step forward? ([13:58])
The call is to “speak the language of radical love and deep belonging” and to “show up again and again.” Who in your life needs to hear or experience this kind of love from you this week? How can you show up for them in a tangible way? ([14:30])

Sermon Clips

Pentecost. It isn't a polite holiday. It's not gentle. It's not predictable. Pentecost is a wind. It's a wildfire. And if you live in the Wilmington area and you've lived here any length of time, you know what it's like to be in wind and a hurricane. Wind that can take a straw and run it through a telephone pole. And wildfire. We just suffered wildfires down in Boiling Springs Lake. We drove through there the other day. The devastation was crazy. It's a disruption. It's holy chaos. [00:04:00]

And the followers of Jesus, these were the people who had been hanging out with Jesus all this time. And they had all gathered up in one place because they didn't know what they were doing next. They were trying to figure out what comes next. And then, bam! The Holy Spirit crashes in like a hurricane. Flames resting on every person. I'm telling you, I wish I could see that. [00:05:03]

But there they are, different languages. People can understand them. People they didn't even know were coming running because they're like, what is going on in there? We got to go check it out. And everyone who showed up was hearing it in their native language. This is more of a miracle of tongues. It's a miracle of belonging. [00:05:44]

You see, the first sermon of the church, the first sermon ever preached, it was this message that was loud, and it was a message that everyone got to hear in their own tongue. They got to understand it in their own language because everyone gets to belong. And that's not a coincidence. That, my friends, is God's dream. [00:06:11]

Because inclusion for us isn't just something we believe. It's our theology. It's the heart of who we are. We are creating a space where all people of every age, of every race, of every gender identity, of every sexual orientation, people who are neurodivergent, who are of any ability level, they all get to belong without shrinking, without pretending, without conforming, without having to get in some box that we say they belong in. [00:06:38]

And I believe, and I hope you believe, that the Spirit isn't done. Pentecost isn't a one -time event. It's a way of life. Because when the Spirit shows up, things change. And so do we. [00:07:09]

Why? Because we believe that God is doing a new thing among us. We believe that the Spirit is moving and inviting us to join in that movement. [00:08:07]

It's around spiritual development, which is building communities of depth. Where people don't have to check their doubts at the door, or check their identities at the door. Where Bible studies, or through our Seasoned with Stories book club. It's about delving into honest conversation, where the Spirit meets us in wisdom, and wonder, and in questions. [00:08:32]

Because faith doesn't grow in isolation. The early church was built around tables, around laughter, and life together. And at Salt, we're leaning into that. Every week we go to lunch together after church. We do pride gatherings together. We do bike rides together. And this, my friends, is where we become friends and where we become community. [00:09:07]

Because the Spirit doesn't land on us just to make us feel good. The Spirit lands on us and fills us up to send us out. And we do that with roadside cleanups. We do that with worshiping with folks down at the anchor. We do that through participating in partnership with students at UNCW. This is where we live out our faith with our hands. and not just with our hearts and our minds. [00:09:46]

In all of this, we're adapting because we're being transformed. And when we're in our transformation, we're moving from one thing to the next, much like a butterfly does. A butterfly transforms from a cocoon to a beautiful butterfly. [00:10:22]

Now, transformation is amazing. And that's what Pentecost does. It transforms us. It gets us to stretch our wings. [00:11:45]

Pride is a spirit work. We're in Pride Month. Pride Month. Pride Month. Pride Month. Pride Month. And that's what happens when people refuse to hide their light any longer. It's what happens when someone says, I am who God made me to be, and that is good. Because that creation God told us when God created us that we were good. [00:12:05]

Pride is a holy fire. It's a holy fire that burns away the shame and the silence. It is bold, it is disruptive, and it is beautiful. [00:12:27]

And if Pentecost is the church's coming out, then pride is that continuation. It's the fire that landed on the early disciples, and it is the same fire that lives in queer joy and trans -resilience and every act of radical self -love that happens in the face of hate. [00:12:41]

We don't exist to do church as usual. We exist to be the kind of spiritual community where people who didn't believe it existed find it. Where all are affirmed. Where worship is real. Where healing is possible. [00:13:11]

One where the Spirit still speaks in many tongues. Which may look like drag shows or devotionals. Or through service or through science. Maybe it's coming to us through TikToks or theology books. The Spirit shows up everywhere. [00:13:35]

So today I'm asking you to not be afraid. To not be afraid of the fire. Don't be afraid of the change. Don't be afraid when the Spirit says, Hey, here's a new language. Here's a new scripture. Here's a new path for us to take. [00:13:58]

Because that's Pentecost, y 'all. So Salt, be bold. Let us be transformed. Let us speak the language of radical love and deep belonging. And let's continue to show up. Again and again and again and again. because the Spirit already has. [00:14:30]

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