Because the Holy Spirit is God, he has an important role to play in our lives and in the church.
Talking Points:
- All three person of the Trinity are important and are always working in unison with one another. But in the Old Testament, God the Father is mainly manifested, although the Son and the Spirit are not absent. In the Gospels, God the Son is central. Then, when Jesus ascended to heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit. John 16:7
- The Holy Spirit is not an “it”. He is not an impersonal force. The Holy Spirit is a person. The Bible portrays the Holy Spirit with qualities of personhood like emotions, intellect, and will. Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10-14, 1 Corinthians 12:11
- The Bible talks about the Holy Spirit in terms of the attributes of deity: he is all-powerful, omnipresent, and all-knowing. Hebrews 9:14, Psalm 139:7, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Read John 16:7. How would you summarize the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
- Read Romans 8:26 and 1 Corinthians 2:10-14. How would you demonstrate from the Bible that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force?
- Why do you think it matters that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force?
- Read Hebrews 9:14 and Psalm 139:7. How would you demonstrate from the Bible that the Holy Spirit is God?
- Why do you think it matters that the Holy Spirit is God?
- Why is it an advantage to the church that Jesus physically left us?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
