Discipleship Content
1. WHO IS THE SPIRIT?
"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you."
Romans 8:9
Romans 8:9
BIG IDEA
The Spirit is the personal and empowering presence of God.
Christ Connection
Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus brings us into the relationship with God for which we were made. He gives us his Spirit, God’s personal and empowering presence, to dwell in us.
Discipleship Questions
Before you begin, share with the group what stood out to you from the passage or content? What did the Spirit stir in you?
Who is God?
Romans 8 reminds us that the Spirit is;
1. God
2. Personal
3. Powerful
Which of those realities do you tend to take for granted or minimise?
1. God
2. Personal
3. Powerful
Which of those realities do you tend to take for granted or minimise?
What Has He done?
What role did the Spirit play in the life (Luke 4:1), death (Hebrews 9:14), resurrection (Romans 8:11) and ascension (John 14:16-20) of Jesus?
Who Am I?
Our sin makes us unworthy to house the presence of God. What does God's plan to have his "Spirit dwell in you" (Romans 8:11) tell me about how God sees me in Christ?
Who Are We?
When the world gathers people together from different backgrounds or personalities, conflict and division tends to arise (just check social media!). How does/should the Spirit change how His Church gather and do life together? Discuss the power that makes this possible.
What Remains of My Old Self?
In what ways do I reduce or minimise the Spirit to an 'it' instead of a 'He' (Romans 8:26, John 14:16–17), and what affect does that have on my life?
What Flows Out of My New Heart?
Since the Spirit is a person who lives in me, how does that change how I relate to Him and to others? What does a greater awareness and enjoyment of the Spirit do to my life?
How Do I Live?
Open God’s Word and ask the Spirit to help you see Jesus more clearly.
Speak to the Spirit about your need for help, and thank him for his presence.
When a frustrating situation arises, depend on the Spirit’s power to give provide you with the mercy and grace you need for others.
Speak to the Spirit about your need for help, and thank him for his presence.
When a frustrating situation arises, depend on the Spirit’s power to give provide you with the mercy and grace you need for others.
Pray
Father, thank you for making us for a close relationship with you. Jesus, thank you for dying and rising again to bring us into that relationship. Holy Spirit, help us know and enjoy you as the person who lives in us. Help us see Jesus clearly through your Word. Teach us to depend on your power to love, forgive and get along with one another. When change is slow, help us recognise your work and keep responding to you. May our lives glorify the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. Amen.
Explore more: Acts 5:3-4, 2 Corinthians 3:17–18, John 14:16–20, Romans 8:16, Romans 8:26, John 14, John 14:16–17, Romans 8:6–11, Ephesians 3:16–20
2. BORN AGAIN BY THE SPIRIT
"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus, from the law of sin and death..."
- Romans 8:2
- Romans 8:2
Christ Connection
Jesus bore our sin and condemnation on the cross and rose again victorious over sin and death. Through Jesus, God pours out his Spirit to wash us clean, give us new hearts and bring us into a life we could never produce for ourselves.
BIG IDEA
The Spirit brings us from spiritual death to spiritual life.
Discipleship Questions
Before you begin, share with the group what stood out to you from the passage or content? What did the Spirit stir in you?
Who is God?
What does Titus 3:4–7 tell us about the heart of God towards people who have resisted him?
What has he done?
Why does the phrase "God has done" from Romans 8:3 matter for Paul's understanding about how God works? What role does the Spirit play in what "God has done"?
Who Am I?
1 John 5:1 says belief comes from those who have the Spirit. Can you see the work of the Spirit in your life before you put you responded by putting your faith in Jesus?
Who Are We?
Is there someone in your own life who doesn't yet know Jesus that you can see signs of the Spirit working in them to bring them from death to life? Who can you be praying for that the Spirit would bring to new life in Christ?
What Remains of My Old Self?
In what areas of my life am I reducing the deadness of sin to a sickness I can manage? What effect does that have on my relationship with Jesus and my understanding of the size of his grace?
What Flows Out of My New Heart?
In what areas of your life do you recognise that you have new desires that come with being born again? (e.g. desire to obey, know him better, turn from sin etc. Be specific).
How Do I Live?
Bring your sin and helplessness to Jesus, trusting what he has done to bring you to God.
Respond to your new desire to live for Jesus by hearing his Word and turning from what grieves him.
Share Jesus faithfully and pray for the Spirit to open people’s hearts to their need and the beauty of Jesus.
Respond to your new desire to live for Jesus by hearing his Word and turning from what grieves him.
Share Jesus faithfully and pray for the Spirit to open people’s hearts to their need and the beauty of Jesus.
Pray
Father, thank you for your goodness, loving kindness and mercy towards us. We could never bring ourselves into life with you. Jesus, thank you for bearing our sin and condemnation and rising again to bring us to God. Holy Spirit, help us recognise the new life you have given us. Deepen our confidence in Jesus and our desire to know him, hear his Word and live for him. Help us love and welcome those who are still wrestling with faith. As we share Jesus, open their hearts. Thank you that the life you give leads to resurrection life with Jesus. Amen.
Expore more: Romans 8:1–11, Romans 1–7, John 3:2–8, Ezekiel 36:25–27, Ezekiel 37:13–14, John 6:63, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 John 5:1, Titus 3:4–7