DEV 03FN Foundations for Ministry of the Spirit

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=Session 3: Foundations of the Holy Spirit=

In this session, we will discover more of what the Bible has to say about the ministry of the Holy Spirit and how we can keep in step with Him personally and help others do the same.

Heart of a Leader (40 min)

 * Worship together in the big group
 * Have participants get into groups of 3-4 people and discuss the following:
 * What are you learning and how are you abiding in Christ through word, prayer, obedience, PCS, relationships and fellowship?
 * What areas of your life is obeying God a challenge?
 * What unresolved conflict do you have?
 * What happened as you trusted God with your goals from our last meeting?

Vision Casting for the Heart
'Read Psalm 37:1-8. This Psalm is a call to keep the delight of our heart set on the Lord. As we do this, our hearts will desire the right things and He promises to give those things to us. We don’t have to give in to worry about how others are acting and how their lives appear on the outside. We are reminded that as we wait patiently on the Lord, and keep our hearts set on Him, He will act on our behalf. The Lord is good and He is with us.'

Celebration of Faithfulness (20 min)
NOTE: Celebrate Faithfulness in the large group so that all can benefit and be encouraged.


 * Give opportunity for participants to share what has happened since the last meeting. Ask them to relate it to goals they set from the last meeting.

Iron on Iron: Sharpening Myself and Others (45 min)
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.” 


 * Review the process of drawing the Health Circles (refer to Development Develop01 FN as needed)
 * Have everyone return to their Iron on Iron small groups, draw their network of missional communities and churches then share and evaluate with their group.
 * What is going well?
 * What is not going well? What obstacles are you facing?
 * What are possible solutions from the other group members?
 * What do you need to do to add the missing characteristics into each group?
 * Have everyone set goals for improvement from their evaluation and share their goals with their small group. Then have them pray for one another.

New Lesson (45-60 min)
Relevant Topic: Why is it important if we know what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit and His role in our life?


 * Have participants get into new groups of 4-5 people (or they can continue in their Iron on Iron groups)
 * In the following sections, each group assign verses to each participant. Each participant will then read the passages below and tell what they learned to the group.

Discovery Bible Study – Foundations of the Holy Spirit

Section 1: Need for the Holy Spirit

The gift of the Spirit: John 7:37-39; John 14:15-26

The Spirit helps us: 1 Corinthians 2:12; John 3:5-8; Romans 8:15-16; Romans 5:5

Paul identifies two types of people. Compare: 1 Corinthians 2:14 and 1 Corinthians 2:15-16

Paul warns the Galatians about a danger and a solution: Galatians 3:3; Galatians 5:17

Paul highlights different lifestyles: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Warning about continuing to practice sin: 1 John 2:3-4; 1 John 3:6-9; Ephesians 5:5-6


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?)  Why?

'Summary: The Holy Spirit’s presence is a gift from the Father. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would satisfy or deepest longings. Through the Spirit, we experience intimacy with God. The Spirit enables us to understand new life in Christ and experience assurance of being a child of God. There are three kinds of people: non-believers who do not have the Spirit of God, believers who have the Spirit of God but are living by the flesh, and believers who have the Spirit of God and are living by the Spirit’s power. We cannot live the Christian life in our own strength. The person who continually practices sin should realize they may not be a Christian. '

Section 2: Results of Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

Review of Spiritual Breathing

Confess (Exhale): 1 John 1:9; Hebrews 10:19-22

Command and Promise (Inhale): Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 5:14-15

Empowering Presence

By faith: Ephesians 3:16-17

By surrender: Romans 12:1-2

By action: 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 4:29-30

By desire: John 7:37-39

Source of Confidence

Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:22-23; John 14:21

Results of Spirit-filled Life

John 16:13-14; Galatians 5:16-25; Acts 1:8


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?)  Why?

'Summary: We are filled with the Spirit by faith when we desire to surrender our hearts to Him. By faith, we confess our sin and trust in God’s promise to forgive us our sins. Living a life of faith results in understanding spiritual truth, having the fruit of the Spirit shown in our lives and being empowered to share the Gospel. '

Preparing for Mission (20 mins)

 * Hand out Holy Spirit Booklets to each participant.
 * Have them choose a partner and identify how the verses are used in presenting the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the booklet.
 * Write “I will by when” statements. Include “Who will you teach this lesson to?”
 * Practice any additional skill that the leaders need in leading their groups or starting new ones

Sending the Laborers

 * Reinforce the overall vision: a church or faith community for every 1,000 people
 * Spend time in prayer:
 * Committing the goals that were set to the Lord
 * For God to raise up a movement of churches
 * For more laborers to come out of the harvest