Scripture Passages - not all of these scriptures are referenced in this resource however these are all the relevant scriptures for your own information
John 14:15-17 Another Advocate
Acts 2:1-13 The Pentecost Story
Romans 6:3-4 Baptism: We die with Christ and rise with Christ
Ephesians 1:13-14 The Seal of the Holy Spirit
Isaiah 11:1-2 The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Exodus 14 Moses leads Israel through the Red Sea Samuel 16:1-13 David is anointed King
John 14:15-17 Another Advocate
The setting of these verses is the Last Supper discourse – the last words of Jesus as recorded in John’s gospel. The other gospels do not have anything like these long parting speeches of Jesus. The promise of Jesus to ask the Father for another Advocate (the Greek word paracleitos) means also helper, comforter, encourager is presumed fulfilled. For this comforter will be with them and us, forever. Thus we have much help on our side. This is the meaning of Confirmation- a confirming of the grace of Baptism with extra reassurance.
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-13 The Pentecost Story
The feast of Pentecost is a Jewish festival called Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks as it is five weeks after Passover. It was probably originally a feast to celebrate summer and an early summer harvest (in the northern hemisphere). The Acts of the Apostles was written decades after the events it describes here. So the author, who was not a witness, is relying on what has been passed down. Thus the writer grapples with words to describe what happened. “They heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven” (2:2)“and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire” (2:3). The author suggests that it was not exactly a wind nor flames of fire. Thus we must be careful that students do not think of the Holy Spirit as a powerful wind or tongues of fire.
These of course are symbols or metaphors for a reality and mystery we cannot fully describe. Furthermore the Greek word ‘pneuma’ that is used here for Spirit also means wind and breath as does the Hebrew ‘ruach’ which is used in Genesis 1 – “And God’s spirit hovered over the waters” (Gen. 2:1). Another noteworthy feature of this event is the emphasis on speaking and hearing. Not only were the apostles gifted with languages but so were those who listened gifted to hear them speak in their own tongue. An important possibility of the coming of the Spirit then seems to be excellent communication where speaking and listening are accurate and in harmony. The courage to speak and listen “clearly” would seem to be part of the gift of Pentecost.
Romans 6:3-4 Baptism: We die with Christ and rise with Christ
Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome is philosophical and mystical, and indeed difficult to easily comprehend. These few verses carry the profound theme that we as ordinary human beings share in the effects of the Christ-event through Baptism. It is as if we die with Jesus and are raised to new life with him as a result of being baptised. This metaphor may sound simple but the implications are great. We at the present time, simply because we are Baptised, are given the rewards of Jesus’ life and death. Confirmation, of course, reinforces the effects of the Christ-event in us through the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14 The Seal of the Holy Spirit
These few verses of the first chapter that we are considering here are at the end of a long blessing. The operative words are the verbs ‘you
have heard’ … ‘you have believed’ … ‘you have been stamped or sealed’ and as a result given freedom. The process is a logical sequence to adult Baptism, a practice of the early Church. For us today it not only reflects Baptism but Confirmation as well. Freedom is certainly God’s gift to us in Baptism and Confirmation.
Exodus 14 Moses leads Israel through the Red Sea
The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible and the second book of the Torah (Law) or Pentateuch (5 books). The Torah or Pentateuch is made up of five books – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It was composed over a long period of time from oral, tribal stories as well as other sources, both written and oral. By the time these texts were finally edited in the sixth century, hundreds of years had passed since the events they relate.
As the title of Exodus suggests the Book recounts the story of the Israelites’ escape or exit from slavery in Egypt to freedom and eventually their homeland in Canaan. The Exodus theme permeates the rest of the Bible. The ideas of freedom, coming home, being chosen by God and covenant are all linked to the Exodus. The background to the Exodus story is told in the first fourteen chapters. It is an epic narrative in which God and Moses are the major characters and certainly the heroes. It is written, largely, to show the greatness of God and how God loves the people.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 David is Anointed
The story of King David’s anointing is quite surprising. God chooses David to be king when he is only a boy - the youngest in his family. King Saul, the current king has been rejected. God sends Samuel, the last of the judges, to Jesse who is David’s father, to anoint one of his sons as king. All of Jesse’s sons are brought in except David who is considered not old enough to be king. Jesse has fine looking sons but God does not choose any of them. Instead God chooses the one no one expected. He chose David, as king – because “God does not see as people see; people look at appearances but God looks at the heart” (v7).
Acts 2:1-13 The Pentecost Story
Romans 6:3-4 Baptism: We die with Christ and rise with Christ
Ephesians 1:13-14 The Seal of the Holy Spirit
Isaiah 11:1-2 The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Exodus 14 Moses leads Israel through the Red Sea Samuel 16:1-13 David is anointed King
John 14:15-17 Another Advocate
The setting of these verses is the Last Supper discourse – the last words of Jesus as recorded in John’s gospel. The other gospels do not have anything like these long parting speeches of Jesus. The promise of Jesus to ask the Father for another Advocate (the Greek word paracleitos) means also helper, comforter, encourager is presumed fulfilled. For this comforter will be with them and us, forever. Thus we have much help on our side. This is the meaning of Confirmation- a confirming of the grace of Baptism with extra reassurance.
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-13 The Pentecost Story
The feast of Pentecost is a Jewish festival called Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks as it is five weeks after Passover. It was probably originally a feast to celebrate summer and an early summer harvest (in the northern hemisphere). The Acts of the Apostles was written decades after the events it describes here. So the author, who was not a witness, is relying on what has been passed down. Thus the writer grapples with words to describe what happened. “They heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven” (2:2)“and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire” (2:3). The author suggests that it was not exactly a wind nor flames of fire. Thus we must be careful that students do not think of the Holy Spirit as a powerful wind or tongues of fire.
These of course are symbols or metaphors for a reality and mystery we cannot fully describe. Furthermore the Greek word ‘pneuma’ that is used here for Spirit also means wind and breath as does the Hebrew ‘ruach’ which is used in Genesis 1 – “And God’s spirit hovered over the waters” (Gen. 2:1). Another noteworthy feature of this event is the emphasis on speaking and hearing. Not only were the apostles gifted with languages but so were those who listened gifted to hear them speak in their own tongue. An important possibility of the coming of the Spirit then seems to be excellent communication where speaking and listening are accurate and in harmony. The courage to speak and listen “clearly” would seem to be part of the gift of Pentecost.
Romans 6:3-4 Baptism: We die with Christ and rise with Christ
Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome is philosophical and mystical, and indeed difficult to easily comprehend. These few verses carry the profound theme that we as ordinary human beings share in the effects of the Christ-event through Baptism. It is as if we die with Jesus and are raised to new life with him as a result of being baptised. This metaphor may sound simple but the implications are great. We at the present time, simply because we are Baptised, are given the rewards of Jesus’ life and death. Confirmation, of course, reinforces the effects of the Christ-event in us through the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14 The Seal of the Holy Spirit
These few verses of the first chapter that we are considering here are at the end of a long blessing. The operative words are the verbs ‘you
have heard’ … ‘you have believed’ … ‘you have been stamped or sealed’ and as a result given freedom. The process is a logical sequence to adult Baptism, a practice of the early Church. For us today it not only reflects Baptism but Confirmation as well. Freedom is certainly God’s gift to us in Baptism and Confirmation.
Exodus 14 Moses leads Israel through the Red Sea
The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible and the second book of the Torah (Law) or Pentateuch (5 books). The Torah or Pentateuch is made up of five books – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It was composed over a long period of time from oral, tribal stories as well as other sources, both written and oral. By the time these texts were finally edited in the sixth century, hundreds of years had passed since the events they relate.
As the title of Exodus suggests the Book recounts the story of the Israelites’ escape or exit from slavery in Egypt to freedom and eventually their homeland in Canaan. The Exodus theme permeates the rest of the Bible. The ideas of freedom, coming home, being chosen by God and covenant are all linked to the Exodus. The background to the Exodus story is told in the first fourteen chapters. It is an epic narrative in which God and Moses are the major characters and certainly the heroes. It is written, largely, to show the greatness of God and how God loves the people.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 David is Anointed
The story of King David’s anointing is quite surprising. God chooses David to be king when he is only a boy - the youngest in his family. King Saul, the current king has been rejected. God sends Samuel, the last of the judges, to Jesse who is David’s father, to anoint one of his sons as king. All of Jesse’s sons are brought in except David who is considered not old enough to be king. Jesse has fine looking sons but God does not choose any of them. Instead God chooses the one no one expected. He chose David, as king – because “God does not see as people see; people look at appearances but God looks at the heart” (v7).