QUESTION: How does the Holy Spirit help us?
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.
WARM-UP
Denver is a city where a lot of people live great lives, have plenty of money, do many enjoyable things, and don’t necessarily look like they are in need. Assess these two questions as a group.
WORD
BIG IDEA
READ
Denver is a city where a lot of people live great lives, have plenty of money, do many enjoyable things, and don’t necessarily look like they are in need. Assess these two questions as a group.
- If someone asked, “why do I need to follow Jesus?” -- How would you answer this question?
- It might be a common experience in Denver that we are great at building relationships, hosting people in our homes, but struggle to fulfill Jesus’ words of sharing the Gospel with those who are closest to us. Why is this the case?
WORD
BIG IDEA
- The Holy Spirit fills our life and points us to God.
- The Holy Spirit guides us as a counselor and gives us gifts that support our ministry.
- The Holy Spirit is the giver of confidence to share the Gospel with those around us.
READ
John 16: 4-15
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
WATCH/LISTEN
OLD SELF
NEW SELF
Think about the people in your life who you interact with most who do not know Jesus or are not part of the church.
WORLD
Pray for the people mentioned above this week, ask God to guide you into a conversation with them where you could share the good news of Jesus.
PRAYER
God the Spirit, have your way in us. Shine your light on the secret sins of our hearts. Equip us for tasks that are too large for us. Make us glad in what delights you. Intercede for us and open our eyes to rightly understand the Word of truth. Amen.
- Can you name the work that the Spirit has done in your life? Reflect on the three convictions that the Holy Spirit brings concerning:
- Sin (v. 9)
- Righteousness (v. 10)
- Judgment (v.11)
- In your “Old Self” where had most of the Spirit’s work been done in your life?
NEW SELF
Think about the people in your life who you interact with most who do not know Jesus or are not part of the church.
- Have you had the opportunity to share the gospel with them? If yes, tell the story! What made you excited or nervous during this conversation?
- Have you not had the opportunity to share the Gospel with them?
- Who are these people?
- What about this conversation brings up nerves, difficulties, or hesitations?
- What would this ideal conversation look like?
- What does it change in your confidence to know that the Holy Spirit is present and does change in these conversations?
WORLD
Pray for the people mentioned above this week, ask God to guide you into a conversation with them where you could share the good news of Jesus.
PRAYER
God the Spirit, have your way in us. Shine your light on the secret sins of our hearts. Equip us for tasks that are too large for us. Make us glad in what delights you. Intercede for us and open our eyes to rightly understand the Word of truth. Amen.