This week's Life Group Questions
1. Conversation starter: what was the key insight you gained from Sunday’s sermon?
2. Unfamiliarity with the Holy Spirit causes many believers to hold back in engaging with Him and to be selective in what to appreciate about Him.
a) How would you describe your relationship with the Holy Spirit?
b) What reservations do you have about the Holy Spirit and what do you think is the reason for these reservations?
3. Read Acts 2:1-17. Pentecost was characterized by three experiences that would shape the life of the early church in Jerusalem and their pursuit of Jesus’ mission to make disciples:
a) Which of these Pentecost experiences best describe(s) your personal experiences with the Holy Spirit?
b) Because of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ disciples turned from a fearful group of men into passionate witnesses for Jesus (just like Jesus had told them in Acts 1:8). Bold witnessing is a mark of the Holy Spirit’s power on the life of believers. How have you seen this reality in your life?
c) On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit removed language barriers to ensure that the message of the Gospel was unleashed to people all over the world. In what ways have you seen the Holy Spirit remove barriers (in you, in others, in circumstances), allowing you to share the news of Jesus?
4. Throughout the Gospels (Jesus) and the book of Acts (His Spirit-filled followers), we see that the proclamation of the Kingdom of God is accompanied by a demonstration of the power of that Kingdom. We read in Acts 2:43 that the church in Jerusalem was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. And in John 14:12, Jesus Himself tells us that whoever believes will do even greater things than He did. How have you seen God show up in power in your life and in your ministry to others?
5. Close your time together in group prayer. Some suggested prayer pointers:
2. Unfamiliarity with the Holy Spirit causes many believers to hold back in engaging with Him and to be selective in what to appreciate about Him.
a) How would you describe your relationship with the Holy Spirit?
b) What reservations do you have about the Holy Spirit and what do you think is the reason for these reservations?
3. Read Acts 2:1-17. Pentecost was characterized by three experiences that would shape the life of the early church in Jerusalem and their pursuit of Jesus’ mission to make disciples:
- Expectant waiting (verse 1; read also Acts 1:4-5).
- Empowered action (verses 2-11).
- Confusion and misunderstanding (verses 12-13).
a) Which of these Pentecost experiences best describe(s) your personal experiences with the Holy Spirit?
b) Because of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ disciples turned from a fearful group of men into passionate witnesses for Jesus (just like Jesus had told them in Acts 1:8). Bold witnessing is a mark of the Holy Spirit’s power on the life of believers. How have you seen this reality in your life?
c) On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit removed language barriers to ensure that the message of the Gospel was unleashed to people all over the world. In what ways have you seen the Holy Spirit remove barriers (in you, in others, in circumstances), allowing you to share the news of Jesus?
4. Throughout the Gospels (Jesus) and the book of Acts (His Spirit-filled followers), we see that the proclamation of the Kingdom of God is accompanied by a demonstration of the power of that Kingdom. We read in Acts 2:43 that the church in Jerusalem was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. And in John 14:12, Jesus Himself tells us that whoever believes will do even greater things than He did. How have you seen God show up in power in your life and in your ministry to others?
5. Close your time together in group prayer. Some suggested prayer pointers:
- Praise and give thanks to God for giving us His Spirit.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an attitude of openness, curiosity and willingness as we journey through the new sermon series “Encounters with the Holy Spirit.”
- Confess any area of bias or reservation about the Holy Spirit that can keep you from knowing and engaging with Him.