Key Points:

• God speaks to disciples from the inside out. "Our life is connected to our listening. Our living is connected to our hearing."
• Clarity often follows after obedience. The more we listen and obey, the easier it becomes to discern the Spirit's leading.
• Spiritual discernment is relational and wholistic. It is often more art than science...and it's okay to use your Spirit-infused mind.
• Spiritual discernment is best done in community.
• When the Spirit speaks, He will be aligned with Scripture and pointing toward Jesus.
• Spiritual discernment requires a willingness to be surprised.

Quotes:

• "If it resonates with the character of Jesus ('gentle and humble in heart' [Matt. 11:29]), evidences the fruit of the Spirit, and rings true to God's love and Word, then take a step of faith and see what happens." - Dan Wilt

Scriptures:

• Acts 2:1-4, Acts 8:26-41, Acts 15:22-41
• John 14:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 2:16

Key Points:

• The Spirit of God often moves uniquely when God's people gather in one place together.
• God calls all people to salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
• God calls all people to serve God's mission.
• The Holy Spirit fills and empowers all who surrender to serve God's mission.
• Our response to God's call impacts generations.

Reflection Questions:

• When / how did you respond to God's call to salvation?
• When / how have you responded to God's call to mission / service?
• When have you been blessed by someone else responding to God's call to mission / service?
• How is God calling you? How are you responding? How are you trusting the Holy Spirit to fill and empower you?

Scriptures:

• Acts 2:1-41

Key Points:

• Pre-Christian: Prevenient Grace
  • The Holy Spirit reveals God's grace before we even trust Jesus as Savior.
• Almost Christian: Convicting / Convincing Grace
  • The Holy Spirit begins convicting us of sin and our need for a Savior.
• Salvation: Justifying Grace
  • When we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit pours out God's justifying grace to save us.
• Regeneration: Being born again
  • By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are born from above.
• Initial Sanctification: The moment we trust in Jesus as our Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us and begins the lifelong process of sanctifying us to reflect the image of Christ.
• Consecration and Entire Sanctification: The Holy Spirit fills us entirely, setting us free from the power of sin to walk in holy love toward God, self, and others.
• Growth in Sanctification: The Holy Spirit continues sanctifying us through and through until we stop breathing.
• Ultimate / Final Glorification in Christ
• "A Christian is as full of the Holy Spirit as he wants to be. We can beg to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We can talk about it, but until we are willing to empty ourselves, we will never have the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God will fill as much of us as we allow Him to fill...Are you sure you want to be filled with a Spirit, who, though He is like Jesus in His gentleness and love, will nevertheless demand to be Lord of your life?" - A.W. Tozer, The Crucified Life: How to Live Out A Deeper Christian Experience

Reflection Questions:

• Are you ready to take the next step to surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Scriptures:

• Galatians 5:1-6, 13-26

Key Points:

• Exercising our spiritual gifts GIVES life to the body of Christ and REVEALS life to the world.
• Giftless Christianity is lifeless Christianity.
• A spiritual gift is "a supernatural ability or capacity given by God to enable the Christian to minister and to serve." - Kenneth Kinghorn, Gifts of the Spirit
• Discovering your spiritual gifts:
  • Pray and ask God to reveal your gifts.
  • Invite brothers and sisters in Christ to help discern your gifts.
  • Look for fruitfulness and joyfulness in ministry.
  • Adopt a posture of curiosity and experimentation.
• Why would you sacrifice time and energy to serve?
  • Serving overflows from new life in Christ.
  • Serving multiplies life IN YOU and THE BODY.
  • Serving multiplies life THROUGH YOU TO THE WORLD.

Links:

• Spiritual Gifts Assessment

Scriptures:

• James 2:26
• 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 27
• Exodus 31:1-5
• Ephesians 4:16

Key Points:

• "Leadership = influence." - John Maxwell
• "A leader is 'anyone who wants to see something changed for the better.'" - Jamie Winship, Living Fearless
• Leadership is spiritual when the person leading is filled, empowered, and led by the Holy Spirit.
• Spiritual leadership involves activity that flows from identity - who we are.
• When we limit the access and authority of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we limit the fruitfulness and impact of our leadership.
• Spiritual Fullness produces Spiritual Fruitfulness.
• Anointing: "I anoint you as a spiritual leader - filled, empowered, and led by the Holy Spirit."

Reflection Questions:

1. What is spiritual leadership and how do we exercise this kind of leadership?
2. Am I a disciple of Jesus? Have I placed my faith in Jesus as my Savior and received the Holy Spirit?
3. Am I full of the Spirit and fruitful in spiritual leadership? To what degree am I yielding to the presence, power, and leading of the Holy Spirit?

Scriptures:

• Numbers 11:17
• 1 Samuel 16:13
• Judges 6:34
• Acts 6:1-8

Key Points:

• “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
• How do we know when we are experiencing a spiritual battle?
  • In general, we are ALWAYS engaged in a spiritual battle.
  • In specific and personal situations, we must practice spiritual discernment.
• Destructive Tactics of the Villian (and his demons) from Your Story Has a Villain by Jonathan Pokluda
  • Destructs: Aims to destroy relationships and faith.
  • Distracts: Diverts attention from God’s purpose.
  • Deceives: Spreads lies to confuse and mislead.
  • Disunifies: Sows discord among believers.
  • Desensitizes: Numbs moral and spiritual sensitivity.
  • Deconstructs: Undermines foundational beliefs.​
• How do we engage to be victorious in spiritual battle?
  • Battle Tactic #1: We fight in GOD’S Power – not ours.
  • Battle Tactic #2: We fight TOGETHER -never alone.
  • Battle Tactic #3: We fight a SPIRITUAL ENEMY – not flesh and blood.
  • Battle Tactic #4: We fight with SPIRITUAL WEAPONS – not worldly weapons.

Reflection Questions:

1. How could you take active steps to put on the armor of God? The belt of truth. breastplate of righteousness. The gospel of peace (shoes). The shield of faith. The helmet of salvation. The sword of the Spirit.

Closing Prayer:

• "Come, Holy Spirit. Expose the destructive tactics of Satan. Open our spiritual eyes to see the battle that is unseen. Make clear our next steps to be victorious in battle. Give us grace and courage stand firm in your power together. We pray in the powerful name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Scriptures:

• Ephesians 6:10-20

Key Points:

• The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity - one God in three distinct persons - Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit can be described as a "familiar stranger" (Tyler Staton) or "the forgotten God" (Francis Chan).
• Being people marked by the Spirit of God requires:
  • Working through our discomfort and fear
  • Working through our skepticism and cynicism
  • Working through our sin & shortcomings
  • Working through our apathy & half-heartedness
• What awaits for those who seek after the Holy Spirit?
  • Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control
  • Healing, deliverance, & freedom
  • Guidance, wisdom, discernment, & understanding
  • MORE of the presence of God!
• "Come, Holy Spirit. You are welcome here."

Reflection Questions:

1. When you think about being open to the Holy Spirit, do you feel a sense of anxiety, resistance, or hesitation?
2. When you see the gifts of the Holy Spirit on display, is your gut reaction one of cynicism? Can we learn to land in a place where we don't have to fully understand the Spirit before being open to His movement in our lives?
3. Are there things you need to repent of that might be blocking you from receiving the fullness of the Spirit?
4. Could today be the day you come wholehearted in your walk with Jesus, rather than half-hearted?

Scriptures:

• Genesis 1:1-2
• Acts 2:1-4
• John 7:37-39
• John 1:32
• John 14:26
• John 16:12-15
• Galatians 5:22-26
• Romans 8:6 & 11
• 2 Corinthians 3:17
• 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
• 1 Corinthians 14

Key Points:

• When we don't know God's Word, we begin to conform Jesus to our truth instead of conforming ourselves to His Truth.
• Just as Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples at the table on the night of The Last Supper, He revealed Himself to the travelers at the table in Emmaus.
• Four Fold Pattern of Worship in the Walk to Emmaus:
  1. Gathering: Jesus draws near. His presence is with them.
  2. Word: Jesus speaks and reveals His Word to them.
  3. Response (Table): Their eyes are opened to the presence of Christ.
  4. Sending: The disciples are sent forth to proclaim the Good News that the Lord has really risen!
• Every time the people of God gather to worship, we have the opportunity to experience an Emmaus Road encounter.

Reflection Questions:

1. Lord, how are You drawing near to me today?
2. Lord, there are some 'past tense hope' places in my life. Will You help me walk in real hope?
3. Lord, will You open the eyes of my heart? I want to see You!
4. Lord, where and how are You sending me? Who do You want me to share the Good News with?

Scriptures:

• Luke 24:13-35 NLT
• Proverbs 13:12 NLT
• Isaiah 53:12 NIV
• Luke 22:15-19 NLT