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

Key Points:

• The "fruitless deeds of darkness" are the result of the darkness within us. The "fruit of light" is the result of Christ transforming our thoughts and desires, which overflows in a new way of living.
• Life Giving Cycle:
  1. Receive God's Truth through God's Word, Spirit, & people.
  2. Ask God to expose every deceitful, idolatrous desire.
  3. Confess, repent, & receive forgiveness.
  4. Surrender to transformation, and take your best next step in the light.
  5. Repeat!

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one area of your life where you repeatedly struggle to walk in the light instead of the darkness?

Scriptures:

• Ephesians 4:17-24, 5:8-13
• John 8:31-32
• John 1:14-15
• 1 John 1:5-10
• Ephesians 4:25 - 5:7

Key Points:

• Walking in holiness is something that can only be done wholistically in our bodies.
• Walking in holiness requires:
  • Abandoning the unbiblical separation of physical and spiritual transformation.
  • Embracing the wholistic - body, mind, soul, & spirit - calling to walk in holiness.
• Practical Tips for Walking in Holiness:
  • Worship and pray with your body.
  • Fuel your body for holy love.
  • Receive the gift of limits.
  • Consecrate your body.

Reflection Questions:

1. Am I caring for my body in a way that fuels holy love?

Scriptures:

• Matthew 4:18-20
• Isaiah 35:8
• 2 Corinthians 7:1
• Romans 12:1
• 1 Peter 1:13-16
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Key Points:

• Stuff happens. Walking through suffering, trials, and pain is an unavoidable part of being human.
• Salvation happens. Walking through the hard stuff of life with God cultivates fear (humility) and trust (intimacy / connection).

Reflection Questions:

1. Where is there evidence of God’s presence and action?
2. What might God be trying to teach me about himself?
3. How is this situation revealing sin, unresolved pain/wounds, weakness or needs in me?
4. How is my frustration or discouragement revealing the gap between what I say I believe and what I actually believe?
5. How is God speaking through His Word, His people or His Spirit?
6. How is God inviting me to trust Him in new ways?
7. What step could I take to demonstrate my trust in God?

Scriptures:

• Exodus 14:10-14, 21-22, 26-31, 15:19

Key Points:

• The destination for heavenly creatures is the Kingdom of God. The destination for hellish creatures is the Kingdom of Satan.

Reflection Questions:

1. Am I walking toward bondage or freedom? Self-indulgence or self-surrender?
2. Am I walking toward earning or grace? Self-righteous rule-following or righteousness by grace through faith?
3. Am I walking toward fear or love? Self-protection or vulnerability?
4. Am I walking toward acts of the flesh or fruit of the Spirit? Gratifying the flesh or walking by the Spirit?
5. If this decision became the pattern of my life, would it make me more or less like Jesus? If I kept walking in this direction consistently, would it lead me to the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Satan?

Scriptures:

• Galatians 5:1, 4-6
• Galatians 5:13-26