Following Jesus

Growing up in this world, what did you hear / believe about the Holy Spirit?

Paul: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Disciples: “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:1-2)

I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.”

1.What gift was God about to give the disciples? 2.Will the world end in May How do we know? 3.What would the disciples get with the Holy Spirit? What were they supposed to do with it?

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Who is the Holy Spirit? What does He do?

 “Who” not “What”  God  Holy wind, water and fire

 gives us spiritual birth (John 3:5)  guides (John 16:13)  teaches (John 15:26)  leads (Romans 8:14)  warns (Acts 20:23)  assures (Romans 8:16)  helps (Romans 8:26)  convicts (John 16:8-11)  prays for us (Romans 8:26)  makes us holy (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Describe the Disciples before Pentecost. What were they thinking, feeling, doing?

 All Jewish males required to appear before the Lord three times a year:  Passover  Pentecost  Tabernacles  Pentekoste = “fiftieth”  Celebrated the 50 th day after the wave offering of a barley sheaf at the start of Passover

 AKA “Feast of Weeks,” “Feast of Harvest” and “Day of the First Fruits”  End of grain harvest and all its hard work  Two baked loaves presented as wave offerings to thank God for showing his faithfulness by sustaining them another year

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

1.What images do “wind” and “fire” bring to mind? 2.Why is Pentecost such a big deal?

 Birth of the CHURCH  From one people to ALL  God’s POWER in US  New COVENANT  New COMMUNITY

Describe the Disciples after Pentecost.

 Boldly shared God’s word vs. fear  Shared and cared vs. “me first”  Signs and wonders vs. powerlessness

What is your relationship with the Spirit really like? What should it be like? What are you going to do about it?