ICEBREAKERS
Make sure to start off with prayer. Then choose one or more questions to open up with.
- What did you do for Mother's Day?
- What is your earliest childhood memory? Why do you think that is the first thing you remember?
Message Review
Main points and scriptures from this week's message.
If you’re a Christian, chances are you have heard about the Holy Spirit, but in your mind, there’s a lot of mystery about who the Holy Spirit is.
We can relate to God the Father, because we have a father or are a father. Most people can relate to Jesus who is called the Son of God. We read about him as a person in human form just like us. He ate. He slept. He lived life like we do.
BUT there’s a lot of mystery in most people’s minds about the Holy Spirit.
Our hope is that this series will help demystify the Holy Spriit and help make you more aware of who He is and how He can change your life.
POINT 1: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE INVISIBLE PRESENCE OF GOD.
The Spirit of God is mentioned over 800 times in scripture.
John 4:24 (KJV)
God is a Spirit . . .
1. When we say Jesus: we’re referring to God in the flesh.
2. When we say Father: we’re referring to the creative and Father like nature of God.
3. When we say Holy Spirit: we’re referring to the invisible presence of God that surrounds us, is with us, and wants to live in us.
POINT 2: THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS LIKE WATER IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
Jesus used the water analogy in other passages when he talked about the Holy Spirit.
John 7:37–39 (NIV)
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Water is a great and biblical analogy that can help demystify the Holy Spirit.
POINT 3: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR HELPER.
JOHN 14:25–26 (ESV)
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
POINT 4: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR TEACHER.
One of the ways he helps us is to teach us. He doesn’t want to teach us anything that doesn’t help us. His teaching is what creates the fruit of his spirit in our lives.
Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
POINT 5: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR REMINDER.
As a believer, you will hopefully learn a lot more than you can actually retain in your own memory. The good news is that when you put yourself in a place to keep drinking in the knowledge and wisdom of God.. You will be amazed at how things will pop up in your mind, courtesy of the Holy Spirit!
TALK-IT-OUT
The following questions will help guide your discussions and give your group some opportunities to open up and share.
- What kind of mystery has surrounded the topic of the Holy Spirit in your life?
- Have you ever felt the invisible presence of God? Did you recognize it as the Holy Spirit?
- What kind of help do you need to ask of the Holy Spirit in your life right now?
- What is the Holy Spirit teaching you right now? This could be something that keeps coming up on your heart or in conversations with others.
- What do you need to constantly be reminded of during difficult times in your life and tests that you face?
WRITE-It-Out
Encourage your group to start writing things down. In a journal or on paper, do the following exercises.
- Write about a moment where you really felt the invisible presence of God. Where were you? What were you doing? What did it feel like?
- Write out a prayer to the Holy Spirit. Ask for an increased ability to feel His presence more and more in your life. Ask, in a personal way, for Him to continue to help, teach, and remind you.
Live-It-Out
Encourage your group to start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
- Spend a few minutes each morning asking for the presence of the Holy Spirit and for Him to help, teach, and remind you.
- In prayer, thank the Holy Spirit specifically this week when you feel the presence of God or when you recognize His supernatural help, teaching, or reminding
- Complete Growth Track. Every Saturday in Tacoma 6:00pm, and every Sunday at all of our campuses. Bellevue 9:45am & Tacoma 11:30am.
- Serve together as a group. To view serving opportunities with Champions Foundation, click HERE.
Closing Thoughts
- Finish group with prayer requests and praise reports.
- More resources are always available here: Group Resources.