THREE TRUTHS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

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MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

Acts 4:8-15 (NLT) - 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” 13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What did you learn from what we just read?

TRUTH #1

THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES US WHAT TO SAY (V. 8)

  • When Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit,” he was experiencing something that all believers can also experience.
  • DEFINITION - filled (Gr. pimplēmi) - to fill a thing with something, to wholly take possession of the mind, to completely fill up
  • In other words, as Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit filled his mind and thoughts completely. He was not speaking on his own. It was the Holy Spirit speaking through him! 
  • Jesus promised us that this was something that the Holy Spirit would do for each of us.
Luke 12:11-12 (NLT) - 11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”
  • As believers, we must learn to rely on the Holy Spirit to teach us what to say.
  • When we do, we will find that the words we speak will be supernaturally empowered to change hearts and transform lives.
  • Peter’s response to the Jewish council is still preaching to us today because it was completely empowered by the Holy Spirit.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Can you think of a time when you needed the right words to say in a difficult or important moment? How do you think relying on the Holy Spirit can help you speak with wisdom and confidence in those situations?

TRUTH #2

THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE (V. 11-12)

  • Peter was able to explain the Scriptures in a unique and powerful way through the power of the Holy Spirit.  
  • Jesus had previously revealed to His disciples that He was “the stone that the builders rejected,” (Mark 12:10) and as Peter shared this Scripture before the Jewish rulers, its meaning filled his mind.
  • This is also something that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would do for us.

John 14:26 (NLT) - But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

  • As the Holy Spirit reminded Peter of this Scripture, he was able to point to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the Messiah that these men had rejected.
  • As you read your Bible, you should ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how it points to Jesus too.
  • Remember Jesus Himself said that all the Scriptures point to Him!

John 5:39 (NLT) - “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Have you ever read a part of the Bible and felt confused about what it means? How do you think asking the Holy Spirit for help could change the way you understand Scripture?

TRUTH #3

THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES US BOLD WITNESSES (V. 13)

  • The Jewish leaders were amazed at the boldness that they saw in Peter and John.

  • These disciples were able to witness for Jesus so courageously and with such profound wisdom that the council couldn’t even believe what they were seeing.

  • They recognized in these men the same authority that Jesus had taught with.

Mark 1:22 (NLT) - The people were amazed at his (Jesus) teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

  • Once again, this is something that Jesus promised all believers would experience.

Acts 1:8 (NLT) - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

  • Our life’s chief purpose is to be a bold wit

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Why is hearing God’s voice one of the most important skills we can develop in life?

CLOSING QUESTION

What is one thing you have learned from today’s lesson?

GIVING



Giving generously ensures that we will have all that we need and that we become channels through which God's abundance flows to the lives of others.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?