WEEK 1 Share your reflections Watch DVD Life Questions:

Transcription

1 Life in the Spirit

2 Life in the Spirit Jesus promised that His Father would give his Holy Spirit to His followers, to live in them when He was gone. The Holy Spirit would guide them as they continued to follow Him and to give them the power to fulfil His purposes in the world. Jesus claimed that the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives would actually be better than Him being with them in the flesh. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, He will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you Romans 8:11 When you place your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead actually comes to live in you. He guides us and gives us power to follow Jesus and fulfil His purposes in the world today. Sadly, many people don t understand the work of the Spirit and lack confidence in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. My prayer is that through this series we will grow in confidence to live and minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jason

3 New Life in the Spirit WEEK 1 You however are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ Romans 8:9 When we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We no longer live under the condemnation and control of our sinful nature, but find a new life in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a wonderful gift that we have been given and a relationship we are to enjoy. Share your reflections from hearing the first message of the Life in the Spirit series on Sunday. Watch DVD * What do you find most encouraging from the DVD? * What do you find most challenging? * Were any questions raised for you out of the DVD or the Sunday message? Life Questions: 1. What intrigues you about the Holy Spirit? Discuss areas where you would like to have a greater understanding, or questions you have about the Holy Spirit that you would like to find answers to during this series.

4 2. Consider these prophecies about the Holy Spirit: Ezek 36:26-27 Joel 2:28,29. What can you glean from them? 3. Who is the Holy Spirit? (John 14:16-17,26-27; 15:26; 16:7,13-14) How do you know He is a person and not a force or impersonal power? (See 1 Cor 2:11; 12:11; Rom 15:30) 4. Read Romans 8:1-27. What does this tell us about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives as followers of Jesus? Share some specific times when you were aware of the Holy Spirit at work in your life in these ways? 5. How would you like to grow in confidence to live and minister in the power of the Spirit? What could help you to see this happen? Life in the Spirit challenge: Ask God to help you pay attention to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life this week. What do you notice?

5 Gifts of the Spirit WEEK 2 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good 1 Cor 12:7 The Holy Spirit has given each person one or more gifts to use for the good of others. Every gift is good. Every gift is important. Everyone must use their gift if the Church is going to be healthy and strong and fulfil its purpose in the world. Share your reflections: How were you impacted by doing the Life in the Spirit challenge over the past week? Watch DVD * What do you find most encouraging from the DVD? * What do you find most challenging? * Were any questions raised for you out of the DVD or the Sunday message? Life Questions: 1. Share your results from the gift inventory. How do you feel about them? Do they seem right to you or are you surprised, confused, disappointed? 2. Can you think of a time when you felt released and empowered to use your gift in a way that impacted other people?

6 How did that experience impact on you? 3. What has hindered you (now or in the past) from stepping out and using your gifts? 4. What are the risks of going through life and not using your God given gifts? 5. Read 1 Cor 12: How can we encourage each other in using our gifts? Life in the Spirit challenge: Look for opportunities this week to say yes to God and use your gift to build others. Make plans to attend workshops next week that will give you more understanding of your gifting and how you might use it to serve others.

7 Filled with the Spirit WEEK 3 (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-17; Ephesians 5:18) Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit Ephesians 5:18 Paul commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. To be constantly and continually directed, controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is not a one off experience for Christians, but an ongoing command. WEEK OF PRAYER AND IMPARTATION 8:45 9:15 a.m. Prayer in the Welcome room 1:00 1:45 p.m. Prayer in the Upper Room 7:00 8:00 p.m. Spiritual gift workshops: Come and meet with others with the same gift to be better equipped to use your gift for the good of others (See timetable). 8:00 9:00 p.m. Prayer and Impartation: We will all come together to pray for one another for an impartation of the Holy Spirit, to grow us in confidence and boldness for using our gifts in the Church for the good of others. A timetable for the Gift Workshops is included, and handouts with information about the gift will be available at each workshop. Tea & Coffee will be available each evening if you want to have a group catch up afterwards.

8 Timetable for Workshops: Monday Discernment Tongues & Interpretation Giving Evangelism Leadership Wisdom Hospitality Teaching Tuesday Music Pastoring Prayer Helping & Serving Prophecy Administration Healing Encouragement Wednesday Missions Mercy Miracles Encouragement Craftsmanship Faith Evangelism Tongues & Interpretation Thursday Administration Teaching Healing Apostle Hospitality Knowledge Encouragement Leadership (note that some of the workshops are repeated)

9 Walk in the Spirit WEEK 4 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23 If we have faith in Jesus, all of the fruits of the Spirit live within us. As we allow the Spirit to guide and control us in our struggles and challenges with sin, He will enable us to walk in the ways of Jesus and become more like Him in our character. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to have victory over sin in our lives. Share your reflections: How were you impacted by the week of Prayer and Impartation? Watch DVD * What do you find most encouraging from the DVD? * What do you find most challenging? * Were any questions raised for you out of the DVD or the Sunday message? Life Questions: 1. You made some choices over the past week which showed evidence of either growing fruit or of stunted, undeveloped fruit. Share an area where you know God is showing you that there s a need to grow.

10 2. Read Gal 5: Share and encourage each other with stories of how God has/is developing a particular fruit in your life. Eg. love; joy; peace; etc. 3. In the natural, certain conditions and obstacles can interfere with the healthy growth of a plant or tree. What conditions and obstacles can you think of that tend to interfere with the healthy growth of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives? How is God helping you? 4. Read Gal 5:16-17, What happens when we walk by the Spirit? 5. Think about what God has been saying to you through this discussion tonight. How will this impact the way you live this week? Life in the Spirit challenge: Ask God to help you keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Reflect each evening on your choices and the evidence of fruit, or a lack of fruit. Identify fruit that you know God is wanting to develop further in you. Take it to God as a prayer. Ask for His empowering.

11 Pray in the Spirit WEEK 5 (Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 6:18) In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with Gods will Romans 8:26-27 When you pray in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God is moving you to pray. He is the one who motivates and enables and energizes your prayer. He teaches us the Lord s will; how to listen to Him; how to discern His truth and how to have an intimate relationship with Him. Share your reflections: How were you impacted by following the Life in the Spirit challenge over the past week? Watch DVD * What do you find most encouraging from the DVD? * What do you find most challenging? * Were any questions raised for you out of the DVD or the Sunday message? Life Questions: 1. Has the way that you pray for someone or something changed over time? Share how your prayer life has changed/grown over the past year?

12 2. Read 2 Kings 6: Elisha and his servant looked at the same set of circumstances, but responded differently. How do we develop an Elisha response? What message does this story bring home for you? 3. Read Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18. What instruction/encouragement do you find here in these verses. How do you respond to that instruction/ encouragement? 4. Read Jude v How do you think building yourself up in faith and praying in the Holy Spirit might work together in the life of a believer? 5. How would you like to see your prayer life grow over the next year? Life in the Spirit challenge: This challenge needs time! Make time and space to pray. Do it in the way that works for you. Stand in the stream of love that comes from God and allow the Holy Spirit to involve you in praying from God s heart. Write down what you pray. Make note of any change that you notice in the person/ circumstances that you re praying for, or in you as the pray-er.

13 Led by the Spirit WEEK 6 (Acts 1:8; 8:26-40) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 The Holy Spirit gave Jesus first followers the power and boldness to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world. As followers of Jesus today, we are called to be His witnesses in our community, our nation and our world. As we listen to the Holy Spirit, He will lead us to the right people at the right time with the right words, to confidently and boldly share the Gospel. Share your reflections: How were you impacted by following the Life in the Spirit challenge over the past week? Watch DVD * What do you find most encouraging from the DVD? * What do you find most challenging? * Were any questions raised for you out of the DVD or the Sunday message? Life Questions: 1. God s will doesn t usually arrive in the form of a detailed script. Rather, it s as we learn to walk in step with the Holy Spirit, that we find guidance for our day to day living. How has this been true for you?

14 2. Read Acts 8: What does this story teach us about the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism? 3. How have you been blessed when others have responded to the Holy Spirit s prompts to share God s truth with you at just the right time? 4. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit prompting you to share your faith with others that don t yet know Jesus? What stops you from obeying the Holy Spirit s prompts to share your faith with others? What have you seen God do when you ve obeyed Him? 5. Spend some time listening to the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to show you who he wants you to share your faith with this week? Pray for each other that we will be obedient to the prompts of the Holy Spirit to share our faith with those who don t yet know Jesus. Life in the Spirit challenge: My 3 key take away s from this series are:

15 Spiritual Gift Survey 1. I would enjoy being part of a kids or youth program or special event in my church. 2. I feel led to develop and start new churches. 3. I like to make things with my hands which can be used in the church. 4. I have the gift to immediately distinguish good from evil. 5. There is nothing I like to do more than to encourage others in their faith. 6. I can tell anyone, anywhere about Jesus and what he did in my life. 7. I often feel I know God s will even when others are unsure. 8. I see myself as a person who is very generous when it comes to giving money to the church. 9. People have told me I have the gift of healing. 10. I am the one who often cleans up after a church service or event is over. 11. Inviting people to my home is one of my favourite things to do. 12. I have interpreted in church when someone has spoken in tongues. 13. I have often expressed truths about God s word that has given insight to others. 14. I believe I know where I am going and other people seem to follow. 15. I often give hope to those who are in need. 16. Many incredible acts of God have happened to others through me. 17. I would like to be a missionary. 18. I am musically inclined and love to sing and play an instrument. 19. I find great satisfaction in caring for the spiritual needs of friends and people I know. 20. I can pray for long periods of time without getting tired, distracted or bored. 21. I have given others important messages that I felt came from God at the perfect time. 22. I could be described as an others-centred person. 23. I like to explain biblical truths to people. 24. I believe I have a prayer language which is in a tongue unknown to me. 25. People have told me that I am a wise person. 26. I can give others responsibilities for a task or project and help them accomplish it.

16 27. I believe I have been called to live a life in which I set an example for other Christians to follow. 28. God has gifted me with creativity and the ability to make things with my hands. 29. If something is from Satan and not God, I know it right away. 30. I believe I have the ability to comfort those who are off-track and help them get back with God. 31. When I consider people who don t know Jesus, I have extreme sadness and a heavy heart. 32. I find it easy to trust God even when things seem to go bad for me or others. 33. I have no problem giving my money or other resources to the church or those in need. 34. When I have prayed for a sick person, they have made a miraculous recovery. 35. I don t think twice about doing a job that might not bring me praise. 36. I love to put on parties, cook, decorate, and make people feel good. 37. There was a time someone spoke in an unknown language and I understood them. 38. I greatly want to understand biblical truths. 39. I like to lead, inspire, and motivate others to become involved in God s work. 40. I believe I have the gift of mercy. 41. God has used me to perform miraculous signs and wonders. 42. I feel comfortable when I am around people of a different race, culture or language. 43. I would really love to lead people in worship through my music. 44. I feel God is calling me to be a pastor in a local church. 45. When I pray, I often see immediate and amazing answers to my prayers. 46. I believe I have the ability to reveal God s truth about the future. 47. I enjoy meeting the needs of others. 48. I think I have what it takes to teach a Bible study or lead a Life Group. 49. I have spoken in tongues. 50. I believe God has given me the ability to make wise decisions. 51. I am able to set goals and plan the most effective way to reach them. 52. I feel called to serve in a leadership role which allows me to encourage many believers.

17 53. When something is broken, I can fix it. 54. I feel I have the gift to test the spirits and know what is good. 55. I have the desire to learn more about counselling so I can help others. 56. I have led others to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 57. I trust in God for supernatural miracles or radical answers to prayer. 58. I am confident that God will take care of me when I give cheerfully and with sacrifice. 59. I have the ability to heal. 60. I don t have to lead, I love to follow and help make things happen from behind the scenes. 61. Nothing brings me more joy than to prepare a dinner or meals for people in need. 62. I believe I have the gift of interpretation of tongues. 63. I have the ability to learn new insights on my own. 64. People seem to look to me for leadership and to make decisions. 65. I like to visit nursing homes, hospitals, and other places where people need comfort. 66. Others have said that I was used by God to bring about a supernatural change in their lives. 67. I adapt easily to a different change of settings and environments. 68. I believe God has given me a real gift of music to share with the body of Christ. 69. When sitting in church, I am often thinking what I might preach on if I were the pastor. 70. One of my favourite things to do is spend time in prayer. 71. I desire to speak messages from God that challenge people to change. 72. You ll frequently find me volunteering my time to help with the needs of the church. 73. I would like to teach a Bible study in the church or in my school. 74. When I speak in tongues, I feel God s Spirit inside of me. 75. I believe God has given me the gift of wisdom. 76. I enjoy learning about management skills and how organisations function. 77. I feel that I am set apart for a higher calling and desire to strengthen God s people.

18 78. I love being involved in making the Church auditorium a creative environment to enhance people s experience of connecting with God. 79. I believe I can tell when someone is really a Christian and when someone is faking it. 80. I have helped others in their struggles and am known for my encouraging words and attitude. 81. I always think of new ways to tell my non-christian friends about Jesus. 82. My belief in God is very strong and I almost never have doubts about my faith. 83. It makes me happy to give my money and personal items away. 84. I have been used to heal someone physically, spiritually, or emotionally. 85. I will sacrifice my own time and energy in order to assist someone else. 86. I love to entertain people in my home and wait on them while they are there. 87. God has shown me what someone is saying when he or she is speaking in tongues. 88. I do extremely well in school or university and always make very high grades. 89. When I am in a group I am usually the leader or take the lead if no one else does. 90. I would like to work in a ministry to orphans, the homeless, or the physically handicapped. 91. I believe I have the gift of miracles. 92. I believe I could learn a new language and culture in order to minister in another country. 93. I write songs and lyrics that I know are from God and that he wants me to share with others. 94. I would really like to nurture and shape people in their ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. 95. People often tell me that whenever I pray, God always seems to answers my prayers. 96. I believe I have the gift of prophecy. 97. I believe I have the gift of serving and would rather serve than do anything else. 98. Because of my teaching, others have gained a better understanding into who God is. 99. An unknown language comes to me when I am at a loss for words during my prayer times I usually see clear solutions to complicated problems.

19 Spiritual Gift Survey In the blanks below, put the number of the answer you feel most fits your response. Then add up the four numbers and put the sum in the Total column. Much = 5, Sometimes = 3, Little = 1, Never = 0. Rows Answers Total A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y

20 Life in the Spirit To catch up on: Sermons, Life Group videos, additional resources, and do the survey online go to gatewaybaptist.com.au/ gateway/lifeinthespirit Gift Key A Administration B Apostle C Craftsmanship D Discernment E Encouragement F Evangelism G Faith H Giving I Healing J Helping K Hospitality L Interpretation of Tongues Primary Gifts (The two gifts with the first and second highest totals) M Knowledge N Leadership O Mercy P Miracles Q Missions R Musicianship S Pastoring T Prayer U Prophesy V Serving W Teaching X Tongues Y Wisdom Secondary Gifts (The two gifts with the third and fourth highest totals)

21 WEEK OF PRAYER AND IMPARTATION 8:45 9:15 a.m. Prayer in the Welcome room 1:00 1:45 p.m. Prayer in the Upper Room 7:00 8:00 p.m. Spiritual gift workshops: Come and meet with others with the same gift to be better equipped to use your gift for the good of others (See timetable). 8:00 9:00 p.m. Prayer and Impartation: We will all come together to pray for one another for an impartation of the Holy Spirit, to grow us in confidence and boldness for using our gifts in the Church for the good of others. A timetable for the Gift Workshops is included, and handouts with information about the gift will be available at each workshop. Tea & Coffee will be available each evening if you want to have a group catch up afterwards. Timetable for Workshops: Monday Tuesday Discernment Music Tongues & Pastoring Interpretation Prayer Giving Helping & Evangelism Serving Leadership Prophecy Wisdom Administration Hospitality Healing Teaching Encouragement Wednesday Missions Mercy Miracles Encouragement Craftsmanship Faith Evangelism Tongues & Interpretation Thursday Administration Teaching Healing Apostle Hospitality Knowledge Encouragement Leadership (note that some of the workshops are repeated)

22 MACKENZIE 1052 Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road, Mackenzie Qld 4156 (07) (07) ORMEAU Livingstone College, 62 Reedmans Road, Ormeau Qld 4208 (07)