3. Keeping in Step with the Spirit

LOOKING BACK

+ Praise

Read Psalm 66:4 - “Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises . . . in glorious songs.”

Care

Choose one of the following for sharing about last week:

What are you thankful for this week?
What difficulties did you face this week?
What would you ask from Jesus to do for you this week?

Pray for each other’s needs.

Celebrate Faithfulness

What are you celebrating in terms of mission? (NOTE: ‘mission’ is the idea of learning to think in a prayer-care-share mindset as we relate to those who need Jesus.)
What happened as you trusted God with your goals and ‘I will by when’ statements?

+ Motivation and Encouragement

One day a woman went to visit her neighbor. As they were talking she shared the gospel with her neighbor and she placed her faith in Christ. But then the woman started crying. “My husband just died 2 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

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 and why?
What can we learn about God or people?
How can we live differently in light of this passage?

+ Retell the Story

Read the story again and ask someone to tell the story.

+ 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.

We can use 3 circles to help us remember the 3 types of people described in 1 Corinthians (draw the 3 circles). See Satisfied booklet , page 7 for 3 circles diagram.

LOOKING FORWARD

+ Preparing

Highlight who the Holy Spirit is from the Satisfied Booklet or GodTools App.
Teach the Spiritual Breathing principle
- 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
Let's ask God to fill and empower us with 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 in 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. (refer to page 12 of Satisfied booklet )
Practice drawing the 3 circles and teaching the Spiritual Breathing principle.

Pursuing

Who might you initiate with to share what you have learned about the Holy Spirit or share about Jesus?
Write “I will by when” statements and tell them to your small group.

Notes:

Praying

Commit everyone’s goals to the Lord.

In Your Time With God

Consider reading for further study Transferable Concept #3: How you can be filled with the Holy Spirit

3.

Keeping in Step with the Spirit