Pentecost and Easter: Old Testament Bible Lesson Connecting Jesus and Acts 2
This curriculum unit bridges the historical celebration described in Leviticus 23 to the pivotal events in Acts 2, where the Holy Spirit descended as Jesus promised.
✍️ Students will explore the foreshadowing of Jesus through three consecutive spring festivals: Passover (when Jesus was crucified), Firstfruit (when Jesus was resurrected), and Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit descended on Jerusalem as Jesus promised ~ a "deposit" that He would return for His followers.
✝️This lesson is particularly appropriate around Easter and the weeks after as ties these important events together for your students in a fun, interactive way! ✝️
✍️This lesson begins with the historical narrative of the celebration as described in Leviticus 23 as well as how the celebration has changed over the millennia. This is all preparation for the all-important conclusion to this lesson which connects the festival to Jesus and the New Testament. Ultimately students are brought to Colossians 2:16-17 ~
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (ESV, emphasis mine).
✴️ LESSON PART A ~ INTRODUCTION: REMEMBERING
While it’s tempting to focus on the fun aspects of any celebration, it is important for your students to understand that holidays should cause us to remember. You will challenge your students to identify what is being remembered in nine major US holidays (which can be adapted for use elsewhere). Then your students will learn that the Israelite people in the Bible celebrated special days as well as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
✴️ LESSON PART B ~ BIBLICAL NARRATIVE AND HISTORICAL OBSERVANCE
The section focuses on the Biblical narrative as described in Leviticus 23:15-22. Students are introduced to Pentecost as a season of counting ~ 50 days from Passover. A grid worksheet is given to students on which they count out 50 pieces of cereal after which the principle of firstfruit is introduced: the very first of the crop is given back to God in faith that He will continue to provide for the people’s daily food needs. This same principle applies to the tithe (literally, a tenth). Everything we have has been given to us by God and He asks for a small portion back. God doesn’t need our money, but He does want our hearts! Students are asked to tithe one tenth of their cereal pieces. Finally, students learn about the Old Testament command in Leviticus 23:22 that land owners leave the very edge of the crop unpicked so that the poor and the sojourner could glean for their own food. The students can now eat the cereal pieces on their grid but NOT the ones on the edges.
✴️ LESSON PART C ~ MODERN CELEBRATION
A colorful worksheet “The Feast of Pentecost” provides students with a great review. Each of the feasts and festivals in our Leviticus series contains the same style worksheet so these can easily be made into a booklet; we have provided a colorful cover as well.
Students then learn about the modern observance of Pentecost which has moved away from the idea of an agricultural festival and is refocused as the day on which the law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. For that reason, you will give your students three choices of activities on which to vote: (a) read the first few and last few verses of the first five books of the Bible (b) read Exodus 19 and 20 which focuses on the giving of the law (c) read Ruth chapters 1 and 2. These activities are adapted but consistent with how Pentecost is celebrated in synagogues today. Afterward, students taste test traditional foods of Pentecost as suggested in the lesson.
✴️ LESSON PART D ~ NEW TESTAMENT CONNECTION: COLOR CODING THE PENTECOST
A hallmark of our Walking Alongside Jesus series is that students color code a passage in every lesson which trains them to see repeated words, phrases and important details that might be missed in a simple reading. In this lesson, your students color code Acts 2:1-12 and underline what was heard in purple, what was seen in green and the reactions of the people in blue.
✴️ LESSON PART E ~ ✝️ WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT JESUS?
In the Old Testament, the first fruit of the harvest ~ one sheaf of grain ~ was brought to the temple as an offering as they trusted God in anticipation of the rest of the harvest to come. The Feast of Firstfruit, celebrated the Sunday after Passover is the exact day Jesus rose from the dead. This sent a loud and clear message: Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb 2,000 years ago anticipates OUR resurrection from the dead in the future. As described in 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, Jesus received resurrection first as the firstfruit, and then with great expectation, His followers will also be resurrected at His second coming. Jesus is the Firstfruit. He sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost as a guarantee – He will come back for us!
⏰️ Timing: This is a three to five hour lesson that can be spread over several sessions, stopping and starting where you left off or stopping at the labeled sections.
✔️ Included in this lesson:
Colorful 16-page lesson plan is written with clear DO/SAY/READ wording that can be adapted to fit your voice if necessary. This includes a three page preparation guide that includes items to gather, photocopies students will need, pre-class preparations and instructions organized by "Lesson Part A", "Lesson Part B" etc.
7 pages of worksheets, answer keys and supplemental material
Season of Counting Worksheet
Bible Feasts and Festivals Cover
Pentecost Worksheet and Answer Key
Color Coding Pentecost Worksheet and Answer Key
The Firstfruit Stepping Stone
This curriculum unit bridges the historical celebration described in Leviticus 23 to the pivotal events in Acts 2, where the Holy Spirit descended as Jesus promised.
✍️ Students will explore the foreshadowing of Jesus through three consecutive spring festivals: Passover (when Jesus was crucified), Firstfruit (when Jesus was resurrected), and Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit descended on Jerusalem as Jesus promised ~ a "deposit" that He would return for His followers.
✝️This lesson is particularly appropriate around Easter and the weeks after as ties these important events together for your students in a fun, interactive way! ✝️
✍️This lesson begins with the historical narrative of the celebration as described in Leviticus 23 as well as how the celebration has changed over the millennia. This is all preparation for the all-important conclusion to this lesson which connects the festival to Jesus and the New Testament. Ultimately students are brought to Colossians 2:16-17 ~
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (ESV, emphasis mine).
✴️ LESSON PART A ~ INTRODUCTION: REMEMBERING
While it’s tempting to focus on the fun aspects of any celebration, it is important for your students to understand that holidays should cause us to remember. You will challenge your students to identify what is being remembered in nine major US holidays (which can be adapted for use elsewhere). Then your students will learn that the Israelite people in the Bible celebrated special days as well as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
✴️ LESSON PART B ~ BIBLICAL NARRATIVE AND HISTORICAL OBSERVANCE
The section focuses on the Biblical narrative as described in Leviticus 23:15-22. Students are introduced to Pentecost as a season of counting ~ 50 days from Passover. A grid worksheet is given to students on which they count out 50 pieces of cereal after which the principle of firstfruit is introduced: the very first of the crop is given back to God in faith that He will continue to provide for the people’s daily food needs. This same principle applies to the tithe (literally, a tenth). Everything we have has been given to us by God and He asks for a small portion back. God doesn’t need our money, but He does want our hearts! Students are asked to tithe one tenth of their cereal pieces. Finally, students learn about the Old Testament command in Leviticus 23:22 that land owners leave the very edge of the crop unpicked so that the poor and the sojourner could glean for their own food. The students can now eat the cereal pieces on their grid but NOT the ones on the edges.
✴️ LESSON PART C ~ MODERN CELEBRATION
A colorful worksheet “The Feast of Pentecost” provides students with a great review. Each of the feasts and festivals in our Leviticus series contains the same style worksheet so these can easily be made into a booklet; we have provided a colorful cover as well.
Students then learn about the modern observance of Pentecost which has moved away from the idea of an agricultural festival and is refocused as the day on which the law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. For that reason, you will give your students three choices of activities on which to vote: (a) read the first few and last few verses of the first five books of the Bible (b) read Exodus 19 and 20 which focuses on the giving of the law (c) read Ruth chapters 1 and 2. These activities are adapted but consistent with how Pentecost is celebrated in synagogues today. Afterward, students taste test traditional foods of Pentecost as suggested in the lesson.
✴️ LESSON PART D ~ NEW TESTAMENT CONNECTION: COLOR CODING THE PENTECOST
A hallmark of our Walking Alongside Jesus series is that students color code a passage in every lesson which trains them to see repeated words, phrases and important details that might be missed in a simple reading. In this lesson, your students color code Acts 2:1-12 and underline what was heard in purple, what was seen in green and the reactions of the people in blue.
✴️ LESSON PART E ~ ✝️ WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT JESUS?
In the Old Testament, the first fruit of the harvest ~ one sheaf of grain ~ was brought to the temple as an offering as they trusted God in anticipation of the rest of the harvest to come. The Feast of Firstfruit, celebrated the Sunday after Passover is the exact day Jesus rose from the dead. This sent a loud and clear message: Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb 2,000 years ago anticipates OUR resurrection from the dead in the future. As described in 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, Jesus received resurrection first as the firstfruit, and then with great expectation, His followers will also be resurrected at His second coming. Jesus is the Firstfruit. He sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost as a guarantee – He will come back for us!
⏰️ Timing: This is a three to five hour lesson that can be spread over several sessions, stopping and starting where you left off or stopping at the labeled sections.
✔️ Included in this lesson:
Colorful 16-page lesson plan is written with clear DO/SAY/READ wording that can be adapted to fit your voice if necessary. This includes a three page preparation guide that includes items to gather, photocopies students will need, pre-class preparations and instructions organized by "Lesson Part A", "Lesson Part B" etc.
7 pages of worksheets, answer keys and supplemental material
Season of Counting Worksheet
Bible Feasts and Festivals Cover
Pentecost Worksheet and Answer Key
Color Coding Pentecost Worksheet and Answer Key
The Firstfruit Stepping Stone
This curriculum unit bridges the historical celebration described in Leviticus 23 to the pivotal events in Acts 2, where the Holy Spirit descended as Jesus promised.
✍️ Students will explore the foreshadowing of Jesus through three consecutive spring festivals: Passover (when Jesus was crucified), Firstfruit (when Jesus was resurrected), and Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit descended on Jerusalem as Jesus promised ~ a "deposit" that He would return for His followers.
✝️This lesson is particularly appropriate around Easter and the weeks after as ties these important events together for your students in a fun, interactive way! ✝️
✍️This lesson begins with the historical narrative of the celebration as described in Leviticus 23 as well as how the celebration has changed over the millennia. This is all preparation for the all-important conclusion to this lesson which connects the festival to Jesus and the New Testament. Ultimately students are brought to Colossians 2:16-17 ~
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (ESV, emphasis mine).
✴️ LESSON PART A ~ INTRODUCTION: REMEMBERING
While it’s tempting to focus on the fun aspects of any celebration, it is important for your students to understand that holidays should cause us to remember. You will challenge your students to identify what is being remembered in nine major US holidays (which can be adapted for use elsewhere). Then your students will learn that the Israelite people in the Bible celebrated special days as well as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.
✴️ LESSON PART B ~ BIBLICAL NARRATIVE AND HISTORICAL OBSERVANCE
The section focuses on the Biblical narrative as described in Leviticus 23:15-22. Students are introduced to Pentecost as a season of counting ~ 50 days from Passover. A grid worksheet is given to students on which they count out 50 pieces of cereal after which the principle of firstfruit is introduced: the very first of the crop is given back to God in faith that He will continue to provide for the people’s daily food needs. This same principle applies to the tithe (literally, a tenth). Everything we have has been given to us by God and He asks for a small portion back. God doesn’t need our money, but He does want our hearts! Students are asked to tithe one tenth of their cereal pieces. Finally, students learn about the Old Testament command in Leviticus 23:22 that land owners leave the very edge of the crop unpicked so that the poor and the sojourner could glean for their own food. The students can now eat the cereal pieces on their grid but NOT the ones on the edges.
✴️ LESSON PART C ~ MODERN CELEBRATION
A colorful worksheet “The Feast of Pentecost” provides students with a great review. Each of the feasts and festivals in our Leviticus series contains the same style worksheet so these can easily be made into a booklet; we have provided a colorful cover as well.
Students then learn about the modern observance of Pentecost which has moved away from the idea of an agricultural festival and is refocused as the day on which the law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. For that reason, you will give your students three choices of activities on which to vote: (a) read the first few and last few verses of the first five books of the Bible (b) read Exodus 19 and 20 which focuses on the giving of the law (c) read Ruth chapters 1 and 2. These activities are adapted but consistent with how Pentecost is celebrated in synagogues today. Afterward, students taste test traditional foods of Pentecost as suggested in the lesson.
✴️ LESSON PART D ~ NEW TESTAMENT CONNECTION: COLOR CODING THE PENTECOST
A hallmark of our Walking Alongside Jesus series is that students color code a passage in every lesson which trains them to see repeated words, phrases and important details that might be missed in a simple reading. In this lesson, your students color code Acts 2:1-12 and underline what was heard in purple, what was seen in green and the reactions of the people in blue.
✴️ LESSON PART E ~ ✝️ WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT JESUS?
In the Old Testament, the first fruit of the harvest ~ one sheaf of grain ~ was brought to the temple as an offering as they trusted God in anticipation of the rest of the harvest to come. The Feast of Firstfruit, celebrated the Sunday after Passover is the exact day Jesus rose from the dead. This sent a loud and clear message: Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb 2,000 years ago anticipates OUR resurrection from the dead in the future. As described in 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, Jesus received resurrection first as the firstfruit, and then with great expectation, His followers will also be resurrected at His second coming. Jesus is the Firstfruit. He sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost as a guarantee – He will come back for us!
⏰️ Timing: This is a three to five hour lesson that can be spread over several sessions, stopping and starting where you left off or stopping at the labeled sections.
✔️ Included in this lesson:
Colorful 16-page lesson plan is written with clear DO/SAY/READ wording that can be adapted to fit your voice if necessary. This includes a three page preparation guide that includes items to gather, photocopies students will need, pre-class preparations and instructions organized by "Lesson Part A", "Lesson Part B" etc.
7 pages of worksheets, answer keys and supplemental material
Season of Counting Worksheet
Bible Feasts and Festivals Cover
Pentecost Worksheet and Answer Key
Color Coding Pentecost Worksheet and Answer Key
The Firstfruit Stepping Stone
FAQS:
What Christian perspective is used for these Bible lessons?
I am an evangelical Christian who writes Bible curriculum for older students, and I do not take this tremendous responsibility lightly. Each lesson has a clear focus on what God says in His Word and the lessons are presented age appropriately, thoughtfully and biblically.
What translation of the Bible is used? 99% of the time I use the ESV although on rare occasion I might use another translation such as the NIV.
How can this Bible lesson be used?
Each lesson unit in our Walking Alongside Jesus series is divided into five sections, each section takes between 30 minutes to an hour. This allows homeschool and Christian school teachers to use it daily in the classroom (thereby completing an entire unit in a week) OR in a Sunday School classroom or youth group once a week (thereby completing an entire unit in a month).
These lessons are flexible enough to be used in the following settings:
Children's Sunday School class
Youth Group
Private Christian school Bible class
Chapel for Christian schools
Children's Church
Homeschool Bible class
Family Bible time
