Pray
Pray to open
To Start
Read the Apostles’ Creed individually or aloud together.
Share any particular reflections on Sunday’s sermon
Discuss
As we discovered in Study 5, Jesus’ ascension—his return to the Father—was the catalyst for the arrival of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8). In this study, we focus on the character and work of the Spirit.
Our studies on the Father and the Son have revealed that we cannot understand the members of the Trinity in isolation. We only grasp them in relationship with each other. Just as the Son lives to obey and glorify his Father, and the Father loves the Son and gives him all authority, so also in this study we encounter the Holy Spirit whose drive is to reveal Jesus and make us like him.
*Note—it’s all too common for people to refer to the Holy Spirit as ‘it’, but the Spirit is a person and part of the Trinity. We follow Jesus’ lead and refer to the Spirit as ‘he’.
In John chapters 14 – 16, Jesus prepares his disciples for his return to the Father’s side.
Read John 14:15-27. What do the titles ‘another Counsellor/Advocate’ and ‘the Spirit of truth’ reveal about the Holy Spirit’s character and activity?
What will God do through the Spirit?
John 14:23
John 14:26
Read John 16:4 -15.
What will the Spirit do regarding the world (v. 8-11)?
How do the Spirit, Jesus and the Father work together for our good and Jesus’ glory (v. 12-15)?
Discuss
By the Holy Spirit, God makes himself present in us and speaks clearly to us by his word. The work of the Spirit is indivisible from the word of God. Every time we open the Bible, we are handling “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).
It is by the Spirit that we can now call God ‘Abba, Father’, and know ourselves to be his children and heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:12-17). As such, the Spirit equips us to live holy lives and to act decisively in the face of temptation and sin.
Read Galatians 5:13-26. What are the characteristics of a life
led by the sinful nature?
led by the Holy Spirit?
When you consider the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23), who do they remind you of? As you grow as a wholehearted disciple of Christ, which fruit do you desire most at this time?
Reflect
Read Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2.
What sorts of things grieve the Holy Spirit?
What sorts of things please the Holy Spirit?
Close
Share one thing from the study that stood out to you.
In light of Galatians 5 and Ephesians 4, encourage one another to repent of those things that grieve the Spirit and ask him for the fruit most needed.
After prayer, read the Creed together (if you didn’t at the start).