Big Idea: What you believe about the Holy Spirit is essential to your faith.

            John 16:7

            Acts 1:4-5, 8

The Spirit:

• Regenerates Sinners
  Titus 3:4-5
• Illuminates the Scriptures
  John 16:13
  1 Corinthians 2:9-10
• Indwells
  1 Corinthians 6:19-20
• Guides
  Galatians 5:16
• Convicts
  John 16:8-11
• Equips
  1 Corinthians 12:4-7
• Comforts
  Romans 8:16-17
• Empowers
  Acts 1:8

Why does this matter?

The Holy Spirit is the path to every aspect of a flourishing life.

            Galatians 5:22-23

Message Questions

This week we are continuing our Essential Doctrine series by talking about the Holy Spirit. Here is this week’s statement:

Jesus has ascended to the Father and given his Holy Spirit to all who follow him. The Holy Spirit is constantly at work to glorify Jesus and accomplish the will of the Father. He regenerates sinners, illuminates the scriptures, and indwells, guides, convicts, equips, comforts, and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.

This Sunday, the big idea is: What you believe about the Holy Spirit is essential to your faith. Passages include John 16:7-11, 13-15; Acts 1:4-5, 8; Romans 8:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; 6:19-20; 12:4-7; Galatians 5:16, 22-23; and Titus 3:4-5.

Use these questions to discuss the message from Sunday, focusing on how you can grow as an everyday follower of Jesus and how you can go accomplish what Jesus calls you to do.

1. Have someone in the group read John 16:7. Why do you think Jesus said it would be for our benefit that he leaves and that the Holy Spirit would come?
2. Have someone read John 16:14-15. Here we see the Spirit glorifies Jesus. What does this tell us about the character of the Spirit?
3. In our doctrinal statement, we say that the Holy Spirit “regenerates sinners, illuminates the scriptures, and indwells, guides, convicts, equips, comforts, and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.” In looking at this list, which of these verbs jump out to you the most or has resonated in your personal experience with the Holy Spirit the most?
4. Wyatt ended his message by encouraging those of us who don’t seem to be experiencing the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to ask themselves, 1) Do you have too high a view of yourself? 2) Is your life too comfortable? 3) Is your life too noisy? Take time to contemplate these questions and share how you can grow in experiencing the Holy Spirit more in your life.
5. Have someone read Acts 1:8. How can the Spirit’s presence in your life empower you to go be on mission for Jesus this week?