The Ghost 03: Spiritual Gifts-Follow Up

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step.

With your Bible read 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7.

Paul shows us in the passage that each of us have been given unique spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit that are to be used to help one another.

• What was your reaction to hearing that God has spiritual gifts just for you? 

• How does knowing that the Holy Spirit has given a spiritual gift just for you affect the way you view yourself and your relationship with God?

Read Romans 12:6-8.

In this passage, Paul describes the various ways we can see spiritual gifts working on our lives. 

• What are your spiritual gifts? If you are not sure, what do you think your spiritual gifts might be?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-12.

These verses also list the various types of spiritual gifts and how they can be used to help one another.

• How did you discover your spiritual gifts? If you do not know what your gifts are, discuss some ways you can begin to uncover them.

• Share the things you’ve noticed in the past about each other that might help each of you uncover the gifts that God placed in you.

Read 1 Peter 4:10-11.

This passage encourages us to use our gifts to serve one another and to bring glory to God.

• Describe a time when you benefitted from someone using their spiritual gifts. 

• How has God used your spiritual gifts to make an impact?

next steps

Here are some specific things you can do this week to learn more about the Holy Spirit and help you experience the power of the Holy Spirit.

Consider reading Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. In this book, Francis Chan offers a detailed understanding of the Holy Spirit and teaches us how to embrace and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction. This book is available at most bookstores and online.

Discover what your spiritual gifts are by taking an online spiritual gifts test like the one at www.gregwiens.com/ gifts. You might also consider seeking advice from other Christians that are an active part of your life and gain their input on how they developed their spiritual gifts.

Use these prayer tips to guide your time with God this week to expand your conversations both in person and online.

Pray and ask God to reveal your spiritual gifts to you through the Holy Spirit.

Ask God to reveal to you the best way to use your spiritual gifts to help others and to bring glory to God.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show your family and friends what their spiritual gifts are. Even the youngest Christians have spiritual gifts!

Thank God for sending the Holy Spirit and giving each of us unique spiritual gifts. Spend time praising Him in prayer.

Ask God to show you some specific ways you can use your spiritual gifts in our church or in your personal ministry.

g-ram

The Ghost 02: Power of the Holy Spirit-Follow Up

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions, and scriptures can help you take the next step.

With your Bible, read Acts 1:4-5, 8.

In this passage Jesus tells us that when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, we not only feel His presence, but He also gives us His power.

• Describe a time when you were aware of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Read 1 Corinthians 2:4-5.

These verses show us how the Holy Spirit gives us the power to share Christ boldly to others.

• When have you had a conversation with someone and the Holy Spirit gave you the words to speak? 

• Who is the Holy Spirit prompting you to boldly share Christ with? What has been holding you back from sharing Christ?

Read Romans 8:26 and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

According to these scriptures, the Holy Spirit gives us power when we are weak. 

• Share a time when you were weak and the Holy Sprit gave you power to overcome your weakness.

Read Romans 15:13 and Ephesians 3:16-19.

These verses show us that we receive hope and the ability to experience the fullness of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

• How has experiencing the power Holy Spirit in your own life affected your relationship with Christ? 

• What are some areas of your life that you are relying more on your strength rather than the power of the Holy Spirit? 

• How can you begin today to rely more on the power of the Holy Spirit?

next steps

You may want to choose one of these ideas to help you experience more of the power of the Holy Spirit during this series.

Check out Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. 

In this book, Francis Chan offers a detailed understanding of the Holy Spirit and teaches us how to embrace and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction. This book is available at most bookstores and online.

Earlier, you identified someone that the Holy Spirit has been prompting you to boldly share Christ with. So this week, do it. Pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to strengthen you, calm you, and give you the right words to say as you share Christ with this person.

These prayer tips can guide your time alone with God each day. Praying with a friend or a small group might help you stick to it.

Pray and ask God to help you experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life in deeper way. Open your heart up to the Holy Spirit.

Confess those areas in your life where you are struggling. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to overcome these weaknesses.

Talk to God about any concerns you have and any trials you may be enduring. Allow the Holy Spirit to instill within you a spirit of hope.

Allow the Holy Spirit through prayer to strengthen and enrich every area of your life so that you may experience the fullness of God. Remember, He’s praying for you too!

g-ram

Live the Pleasure

"We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe" James 2:24 CEV

There is no written test. There is only the practical exam and the internship of real life. Do you want to please God or argue with others? Belief is important, but real belief is shown in how we live and not just in how we answer questions.


- g-ram

Not Your Average Advice

Romans 5:1-4 (New Living Translation)

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

A good counter-cultural thought. Amazing the power of hope.

- g-ram

The Ghost 01: Presence of the Holy Spirit-Follow Up

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions, and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step.

What was your understanding of the Holy Spirit before this week’s message?

Read John 14:16-17 and John 16:7. These verses describe why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be among us and to interact in our lives. The Holy Spirit is not a thing or an “it,” He is a part of the person of God.

Why is having the Holy Spirit being active in our lives such an important part of our walk with Christ?

How is the Holy Spirit being in us better than having Jesus on earth with us?

Read Acts 19:1-2 and Acts 7:51. These verses show that many of us are living a Spirit-less life by either not being aware of the Holy Spirit or resisting the Holy Spirit.

In what ways are you living a Spirit-less life currently?

Read John 16:12-13, Isaiah 30:31, and John 16:8-9. These verses show how the Holy Spirit is the voice of God we need to guide us.

When you think back, can you see a time when the Holy Spirit was leading you? Did He comfort, counsel, or convict you?

Describe how you need His presence in your life. What steps are you willing to take to live a Spirit-filled life?

next steps

Here are some specific things you can do this week to learn more about the Holy Spirit and help you to have a more Spirit-filled life.

Begin reading Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. In this book, Francis Chan offers a detailed understanding of the Holy Spirit and teaches us how to embrace and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction. This book is available at most bookstores and online.

Spend time in prayer this week seeking a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. Pray and allow Him to counsel and comfort you with any struggles you may be facing, as well as convict you of your sins. Use the prayer guide to lead you.

Prayer Guide

Use these prayer tips to guide your time with God this week to expand your conversations both in person and online:

Read John 14:16-17. Thank God in prayer for the Holy Spirit. Seek to develop a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit by spending more time listening for His voice.

Read Acts 19:1-2 and 7:51. Pray and ask God to help you become more aware of the Holy Spirit in your life and to not resist His direction.

Read John 14:15-17. Commit to obey when the Holy Spirit leads you. Pray that God will help you be more responsive to His voice.

Read John 16:13. Pray about any situations that you need guidance from God. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s counsel.

Read John 16:7-8. Confess in prayer any sin that is in your life. Let the Holy Spirit convict you and change you from the inside out.

g-ram

Red Letter Day 05: "Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise" Follow Up

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step.

With your Bible read Luke 23:26-43.

This passage describes the two thieves that were crucified on both sides of Jesus. One insulted Jesus while the other called out to Jesus and trusted Him. The one who trusted was forgiven by Jesus and was given assurance of a place in heaven.

On a scale from 1-100, how would you rate yourself as a person? 

What would you change if you could? 

How are we all like the two thieves on the cross?

In what ways do you feel you have more going for you than most? 

In what ways do you feel inadequate compared to others?

How have you relied on your own goodness to help you get right with God?

Read Romans 3:19-26.

These verses explain that we can never be good enough. We will always fall short of perfection. But through faith in Jesus, we can be made righteous – or perfect – in God’s eyes.

• Describe your experience when you called out to God for forgiveness and accepted Christ as your Savior. 

• How has God’s forgiveness changed you? 

• What does God’s forgiveness teach you about how we should live our lives? 

• Do you need to call out to God about any wrongs or weaknesses in your own life?

• In this week’s sermon, we learned that good people don’t go to heaven...forgiven people go to heaven. 

What does that statement mean to you?

next steps

Here are some specific things you can do this week to help you and those around you experience God’s grace and forgiveness in a deeper way:

Spend time in prayer confessing the areas of your life where you need God’s forgiveness. Be honest with God about your weaknesses and the areas where you most desperately need His help. Pray and consider whether to also seek the counsel of a mature, trusted believer. Seek out someone you know who is in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. Set aside time to visit with them over coffee, lunch or a common activity. Share how God’s forgiveness has changed you. Take time to listen and respond to their questions. Pray and ask God to touch that person’s heart as you visit with them.

Use these prayer tips to guide your time with God this week and to expand your conversations with others.

• Confess any wrongs in your life to God in prayer and ask for His grace and forgiveness.

• Have an honest conversation with God and assess where your current relationship is with Him. Ask for His continued grace and help as you grow in relationship with Him.

• Thank God for the ways His grace and forgiveness have changed you.

• Commit to God that you will model His grace and forgiveness in all areas of your life, especially in your relationships with others.

• Pray for those who do not know Christ as their Saviour. Pray they will call out to Him and personally experience God’s grace and forgiveness.

g-ram