Beyond Sunday
Discovering God's plan for our lives can be frustrating, but it doesn't have to be. As your Father, God wants you to know His will for your life. This week, we continue our Imagine series by focusing on the internal leading of the Holy Spirit.
1. How would you describe the Holy Spirit in 5 words or less? What image comes to mind? Why do you believe or struggle to believe that the Holy Spirit really exists?
2. Reflect on John 16:7, 12-14. Why do think it was necessary for Jesus to go away for the Spirit to come? Why would we need an Advocate? From this passage, what is mysterious about the role of the Spirit and what is obvious to you?
3. The primary role of the Holy Spirit is to act as a guide. Ponder Gary’s statement: “It’s not my nature to want a guide. The fact is a guide will show you things and take you places you could never get to on your own.” How have you seen this to be true in your life?
4. One of the ways the Spirit guides us is through promptings that act as internal leadings. Read each of these passages: Acts 8:29-30, Acts 11:12, Acts 13:4, Acts 15:28, Acts 16:7. How can you relate to being guided by the promptings of the Holy Spirit?
5. What is your most natural way to connect with the Spirit of God? Where, when, and how could you do this more? Who could you share your internal leading (promptings) with?
Pray: Lord, may the Spirit of God guide me. Make clear your internal leadings within me.
Resources
---Want to rewatch the video on the Holy Spirit shown in the message? Click below
---Want to discover how to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Click below
---The four primary ways the Holy Spirit guided Jesus' followers in the book of Acts:
1. He guides us through His Word
John 16:12 The Spirit of God will take the word of God to guide you into the work of God.
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!
Acts 8:35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
2. He guides us through promptings in our spirit
Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness...
Acts 8:29-30 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
Acts 11:12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
Acts 13:4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements...
Acts 16:7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
3. He guides us through communal spiritual experiences
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
4. He guides us through our gifting
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.