Lessons from Pentecost

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Lessons from Pentecost

Herb Montgomery | May 15, 2026

If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:

Our reading this week is from the book of Acts.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.  And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.  Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?  Parthians, Medes, 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 Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”  All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”  But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Acts 2:1-21)

Our reading this week is the story of Pentecost from the book of Acts. This reading offers a powerful vision of the kind of world Jesus’ followers imagined in the wake of of his ministry. It was a world rooted in inclusion, shared humanity, and collective transformation. The gathering of diverse individuals “all together in one place” suggests the importance of community as their starting point and grounding for the kind of change they would be working toward. This holds meaning for Jesus- followers today who are working for a just world. Justice movements begin when people come together across differences, united in purpose, with hope for social transformation.

Today, we could interpret the dramatic arrival of the Spirit in our reading, like a rushing wind, as a disruptive force that challenges the status quo. Justice often emerges in moments that unsettle comfort and expose inequality. The wind filling the entire house could symbolize how movements for justice cannot remain contained but spread, reaching into every corner of society and demanding attention.

The image of “divided tongues, as of fire” resting on each person is also especially meaningful in this context. Each individual receives the same Spirit, affirming their equal worth and shared empowerment. This speaks to the idea that no one is excluded from the capacity to speak, act, and lead. Power is not centralized but distributed among the people. Yet in our time, the major sectors of Christianity still fail in this area. Whether by not granting women the same access to ministry as men, or in excluding those of faith who also identify as LGBTQ, Christians fail to grasp the full imagery and lessons of Pentecost.

Perhaps the most striking detail in our story is the ability that these followers received to speak in different languages. This reflects a radical inclusivity: people are not required to conform to a single dominant culture or voice. Instead, their differences are honored and made intelligible to one another. This story calls for listening across barriers, whether linguistic, cultural, and social, so that marginalized voices are not erased but amplified.

Ultimately, Pentecost reveals a vision of unity that does not erase diversity. It models a community where differences become strengths and collective empowerment leads to transformation. In this way, the passage challenges us to build a more just world grounded in equity, participation, and the courage to embrace our human diversity.

Debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) often reveal a tension between fear of change and the hope for a more just community. Critics sometimes object to DEI by arguing that it disrupts tradition, lowers standards, or creates division by emphasizing differences. Beneath these objections, thought, there is often a deeper concern: uncertainty about shifting cultural norms and a perceived loss of familiarity or control. Diversity, equity, and inclusion, however, are not division, but efforts to ensure that people of different backgrounds are seen, heard, and treated fairly.

A striking parallel appears in our Pentecost narrative this week. In that moment in the Book of Acts, a diverse crowd in Jerusalem hears a message spoken in many languages, each in their own native tongue. The reaction is mixed: amazement, curiosity, and openness coexist along with skepticism and mockery. Some ask, “What does this mean?” while others dismiss the event, claiming the speakers are simply drunk. This range of responses mirrors contemporary reactions to DEI efforts. When confronted with unfamiliar expressions of identity or inclusion, some people lean in with curiosity while others reject or ridicule what they do not understand.

Our reading this week can be read as a powerful image of inclusion where communication occurs across difference without erasing those differences. The miracle is not that everyone suddenly speaks the same language, but that each person is addressed where they are. In a similar way, DEI seeks not uniformity, but equity. It seeks to create conditions where diverse voices can be acknowledged and valued. Read in this context, Pentecost tells us that resistance to diversity stems more from the challenge diversity poses to the status quo. Pentecost invites us to answer the question again: will people respond to difference with openness, curiosity, respect, and reflection, or with dismissal and/or ridicule. 

Lastly, let’s consider Peter’s reference to the words of the prophet Joel as a means to interpret this outpouring of the Spirit on ordinary people. This passage carries deeply transformative implications. Peter declares that God’s Spirit is being given not only to religious elites or political rulers, but to “all flesh”—sons and daughters, young and old, servants and laborers alike. This is a radical vision of inclusion, dignity, and shared humanity.

Joel’s prophecy challenges systems built on hierarchy, exclusion, and domination. In the ancient world, power was concentrated in the hands of wealthy men, religious authorities, and empire. Yet Peter announces that God’s Spirit is now empowering those who were often marginalized or silenced. Women speak prophetically. The young are given vision. The elderly are honored. Enslaved people receive the same Spirit as everyone else. The movement of God is democratized.

This vision speaks powerfully to modern struggles for societal justice. It affirms that every person possesses sacred worth and a voice that matters. The Spirit is not reserved for the privileged. In our language today, we would say the Spirit is poured out on all people regardless of sex, class, ethnicity, orientation, gender identity, or social status. Peter’s use of Joel points toward a community where liberation, mutual care, and shared participation replace domination and exclusion.

The passage also carries an urgent moral warning. Joel speaks of upheaval and judgment, reminding listeners that unjust systems cannot endure forever. Yet the prophecy ends with hope: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Salvation here is not merely private or individual; it points toward collective healing, restoration, and a new social reality shaped by justice and compassion.

In this way, Peter’s sermon presents Pentecost as more than a mere religious or spiritual event. It is the announcement of a new humanity where God’s Spirit empowers ordinary people to participate in the transformation of the world in genuine, material and concrete ways. 

In the end, our Pentecost story reveals that the Spirit of God is not confined to the powerful, the privileged, or the religious or political elite. People from many nations hear the good news in their own languages, and the Spirit breaks barriers of culture, class, and exclusion. In Acts, this Spirit goes on to create a community where resources are shared, poverty is eradicated, dignity is regained and restored, and no one is left invisible. Pentecost is therefore not only a spiritual event but also a social vision: a world transformed by radical inclusion, collective care, and courageous truth-telling. And it still calls to us today to resist our present-day systems of oppression and create communities in our context that embody justice, compassion, and liberation for all people.

Discussion Group Questions

1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.

2. How does Pentecost inform your own justice work, today? Share and discuss with your group.

3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone? 

Thanks for checking in with us, today.

I want to say a special thank you to all of our supporters out there. And if you would like to join them in supporting Renewed Heart Ministries’ work you can do so by going to renewedheartministries.com and clicking donate. 

My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.

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If you’d like to reach us here at Renewed Heart Ministries through email, you can reach us at info@renewedheartministries.com.

Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.

I love each of you dearly,

I’ll see you next week.

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New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast

A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice. 

This week:

Season 3 Episode 22: Lessons from Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21

The Pentecost story reveals that the Spirit of God is not confined to the powerful, the privileged, or the religious or political elite. People from many nations hear the good news in their own languages, and the Spirit breaks barriers of culture, class, and exclusion. In Acts, this Spirit goes on to create a community where resources are shared, poverty is eradicated, dignity is regained and restored, and no one is left invisible. Pentecost is therefore not only a spiritual event but also a social vision: a world transformed by radical inclusion, collective care, and courageous truth-telling. And it still calls to us today to resist our present-day systems of oppression and create communities in our context that embody justice, compassion, and liberation for all people. In our language today, we would say the Spirit is poured out on all people regardless of sex, class, ethnicity, orientation, gender identity, or social status. Peter’s use of Joel points toward a community where liberation, mutual care, and shared participation replace domination and exclusion.

Available on all major podcast carriers and at:

https://the-social-jesus-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/lessons-from-pentecost

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Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.

 

by Herb Montgomery

Available now on Amazon!

In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.

Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.

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