Week 13

 

Bible Reading

Daily readings from the last week:
Acts 19-25

Reflect

  • What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?

  • How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?

Discuss

John 14:15-17

Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text:

  • S - Scripture (read scripture together)

  • O - Observe (what do we see? What does it make us think?)

  • A - Apply (what does this mean for my life?)

  • P - Pray (pray together)

Don’t miss
The Holy Spirit

Jesus promised that after his ascent into heaven, he would send the Holy Spirit. The word translated as “another” in verse 16 means another just like Jesus but also distinct from Jesus. This means that the Holy Spirit—here referred to as another Advocate–is God, just like Jesus but also another person in himself. Verses like this help us to build a belief that God is one God but revealed in three distinct and separate persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is known as the Trinity.

Learn

Over the coming sessions, we’re going to learn about the Holy Spirit. Who he is, what he does and how we relate to him. Today, we’ve learned that he is a distinct person within the Trinity. This means he is God, equal in value and position to the Father and the Son, yet he does a different role from the Father and the Son.

Have a look at the following verses and discuss what it tells us about the Holy Spirit.

  • Romans 8:9-11 (He gives life, he confirms we belong to Christ).

  • Romans 8:14-17 (He confirms our adoption into God’s family).

  • Acts 1:8 (He empowers us to share the message of Jesus).

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul instructs the church to be filled with the Spirit. There are three aspects to this. Firstly, we are to be filled with the Spirit, secondly, we are to live in relationship with the Spirit; and thirdly, we are to keep on being filled with the Spirit.

Pray

  • Spend time praying about what you’re learning.

  • This is a good time to pray for one another to be filled afresh today with the Holy Spirit.

Next Steps

  • Spiritual gifts are a unique mix of tools that God gives to each follower of Jesus to enable them to do God’s work. Before we get together next time, complete this survey and bring your results with you. The results aren’t definitive but can be a helpful start to a conversation.
    Spiritual Gifts Assessment

  • What is a key takeaway from today?

  • Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?

  • Read Acts 26 - Matthew 4  before you come back next time

 
Andrea MullerFoundations