Pentecostal Bible Study Lessons

The term Pentecostal refers to Christians who believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, as described in the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 2, verses 1 through 4. Most Pentecostal Christians study the Bible study as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Pentecostal Bible study lessons tend to focus on key topics related to the participants' faith and how it affects how they live their lives.

Salvation is the most fundamental lesson for Pentecostal Christians. Bible studies focus on understanding the sinless creation of humanity, the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, the futility of animal sacrifices to remove the nature of sin and the death of Jesus on the cross for the salvation of humanity.

Some Bible studies focus on understanding water baptism as a command to the believer from Jesus. Participants study the symbolism of water baptism as death to the sinful nature, water baptism as a public witness the recipient has decided to follow Christ and the symbolism of baptism as resurrection to the newness of life.

In studying baptism, Pentecostal Christians also discuss the concept of baptism in the Holy Spirit. They believe that the Holy Spirit comes to those who follow Jesus Christ, studying God's promises in the Old and New Testaments to send his Spirit to humanity, the fulfilling of that promise on the day of Pentecost with the ability to speak in other languages and the personality, gifts and workings of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecostal Christians consider Christian service the main purpose of baptism in the Holy Spirit. In Bible studies, participants read and discuss scriptural passages that call for every believer to be a witness for Christ and bear much fruit in His kingdom through an understanding of the individual gifts, callings and talents God has given them.

In studying biblical texts such as Galatians 5:22-23, Pentecostal Christians study the importance of having Christian character, without which they believe Christian service is unfruitful. Believers attempt to live by the standards they read when they study the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their understanding of biblical teachings and in the lives they live in response to that understanding.

Pentecostal studies of the biblical concept of tithing and giving encourage the believer to partner with God in the expansion of His kingdom in the earth by tithing--giving 10 percent of all money they earn or receive--and willingly giving in addition to their tithe. Pentecostal Christians teach that tithing and giving reveal each individual’s position as a steward of their resources, acknowledging God as owner. Studies of tithing and giving highlight the benefits of wise stewardship while at the same time showing the disadvantages of unwise stewardship.

In lessons on the New Testament book of Revelation, Pentecostal Christians teach about the rapture, or the belief that God will take believers from the earth and punish the wicked in the earth, that Jesus Christ will return to the earth and that all people will face final judgment at the throne of God.