3. Keeping in step with the Spirit

LOOKING BACK

+ Praise

Psalm 66:4 “Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises ... in glorious songs.” Let’s pause and praise God with a simple song

Caring for each other

What is one highlight from this week?
What is one challenge from this past week?
What do you want Jesus to do for you this week?
Pray for each other’s needs.

Celebrating God's Faithfulness

What happened as you trusted God with your goals and I will statements?

+ Motivation and Encouragement

One day a woman went to visit her neighbour. As they were talking, she shared the gospel with her neighbour and her neighbour placed her faith in Christ. But then the woman started crying. “My husband just died two weeks ago. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” You see, we never know when people’s last day will be. That’s why we must share the gospel when we have the chance.

LOOKING UP

+ Context

When we place our faith in Jesus, God’s Spirit begins to live inside of us. He is called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth and our Helper. His ministry in our lives is so important that we will take time to study our relationship with Him.

Read

Read 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 two times as everyone listens.

¹⁴The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.¹⁵The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,¹⁶for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

^3:1Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.²I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.³You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

What caught your attention (or what did you like best) and why?
What did you learn about the Holy Spirit?
What did you learn about people?
How will you obey Jesus now that you know this?

Read, Tell and Correct

Read the story again. Have someone tell the story and ask the group to correct if necessary.

+ Summary

Though all Christians have the Spirit living in them, not all Christians are directed and empowered by the Spirit. When we trust in our own efforts or take control of our lives, the Bible calls us carnal and we don’t experience an abundant or fruitful life. Read Galatians 5:22-24.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

We can use 3 circles to help us remember the 3 types of people described in 1 Corinthians.

LOOKING FORWARD

+ Preparing for Mission

Review Spiritual Breathing

Exhale – 1 John 1:9

⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

confess our sins, agree to change our attitude or actions
Inhale – surrender control of your life to Christ
Pray to be controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit

Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have been in control of my life; and that I have sinned against you. Thank you for forgiving my sins through Christ’s death on the cross. I invite you to take control of my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I pray this is the name of Jesus as an expression of my faith. Thank you for taking control of my life and filling me with your Holy Spirit.

Practice drawing the 3 circles and teaching the Spiritual Breathing principle

Going on the Mission

Who can you tell what you have learned about the Holy Spirit?” (use “I will __ by __”)
Identify additional faith actions they will take with others (use “I will __ by __”).

Praying for the Mission

Commit everyone’s goals to the Lord. Ask the Lord to help us be faithful and use us to start a movement of disciple-makers.

For further enrichment: Read Transferable Concept #3: How you can be filled with the Holy Spirit and discuss with another group member.

3.

Keeping in step with the Spirit