SERIES TITLE
Some Things Never Change Week 2: The Spirit Still Empowers
SERIES OVERVIEW
It feels like everything is changing all the time. Seasons change, people change, and society changes. It can be hard to keep up. It can also be unsettling. However, The Bible tells us that while everything changes around us, God remains the same. No matter how uncertain our lives look, we can count on God to remain the same yesterday, today, and forever! When you join us for this new series, you’ll discover the amazing, reassuring consistency of God.
SERMON TITLE
The Spirit Still Empowers
WEEKEND IN REVIEW
Last week, Mike Breaux laid a great foundation for this series when he spoke about how “The Bible Still Speaks. He explained that the Bible has AMAZING UNITY, enjoyed LONG-STANDING POPULARITY, and maintained INCREDIBLE DURABILITY in spite of all the attacks aimed against it. The Bible we have today can be trusted as the authentic, reliable Word of God. It continues to be fresh and relevant as it addresses human needs and it still has the power to change the lives of those who will study it!
WARM UP
Begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here are a few potential questions to get the conversation going.
- If someone with no background in Christianity asked you what the Holy Spirit is, what would you say?
- The King James Bible refers to him as “The Holy Ghost.” What is your reaction to that title? Do you think it’s helpful, problematic, confusing, or ????
- Why is important to recognize the Holy Spirit as a person?
DISCUSSion
- How did Jesus describe the person and work of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17?
- What did Jesus promise would be the future residence of the Holy Spirit?
- Jesus said in John 16:7 that “it is BETTER that I go away and send the Holy Spirit to you.” How could it be BETTER?
- What did Jesus say was the 3-fold mission of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8-9?
- What does the Holy Spirit do to empower a Believer’s transformation (or sanctification, i.e. What does He do to make us holy)? See John 16:13
- What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the distribution of Spiritual gifts and what is his purpose for their distribution? See 1Corinthians 12:4-7
- What is the Holy Spirit’s role in our prayer life? Romans 8:26-27
Application
- What are some specific things you could do to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work to make you holy?
- More specifically, what would a person do to put to death the misdeeds of the body as Paul counsels us to do in Romans 8:13-14?
- What could you do to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work to produce more of His fruit in your life?
- What could you do to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work in equipping you to serve others?
wrap up | prayer
Share prayer requests and close your time together by praying for one another.