Holy Spirit Come (Part 5, Pentecost)

May 28, 2023

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. All four gospels mention the baptism of Jesus. Reread Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22 and John 1:29-32. What stands out to you as you read these passages? What questions do you have about them?

2. What about your story of baptism? Is there anything that stands out?

3. Reflecting upon the five metaphors of the Spirit that we covered in this series, is there one that most resonated with you? Why?

4. In this week’s message, we considered the spirit as a hovering bird (dove). This metaphor reminds us that the Spirit is one who leans over and into the created order. How might this image encourage you this week?

5. Russell suggested each of the metaphors of the Spirit speak of movement; the Holy Spirit is moving. How do you sense the spirit moving in your life? In our church? How has this series encouraged or challenged you toward greater intention/attentiveness to the action of the Holy Spirit?

Holy Spirit Come (Part 4)

May 21, 2023

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Read through and reflect on Psalm 42, what is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this Psalm as it relates to water?

2. What ways might you find in your day-to-day routine that allows for reflecting and meditating on the gift of water and the Spirit as living water?

3. Do you feel like a temple of the Holy Spirit? Do you feel like rivers of living water are flowing from within you? Why or why not?

Holy Spirit Come (Part 3)

May 14, 2023

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. The image of the Holy Spirt as fire suggests the Spirit may bring us through pain and discomfort – something like a rehabilitation program that leads us toward the path of healing and wholeness. Have you experienced this in your own life? Would you share your experience with the group?

2. The Spirit’s power doesn’t always manifest itself in wild and sensational ways. Sometimes it’s subtle and simple. When (and where) have you seen evidence of the Spirit’s power in your life? In what area(s) of your life do you wish you had more of the Spirit’s power?

3. Identify one practical way you will live in the Holy Spirit more fully as a response to this week’s sermon/series. Write it down, reflect on it, and put it into practice this week. If you are in a group, discuss this with one another.

Holy Spirit Come (Part 2)

May 7, 2023.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How did the metaphor of the Holy Spirit as the oil of anointing speak to you? What challenges or convict’s you about this metaphor of the Spirit’s work?

2. How might you live with greater intention and attentiveness to the person, presence, and action of the Holy Spirit in your life? In our church?

3. Read Luke 4:17-19. What passage did Jesus read in the synagogue? How does this scripture introduce Jesus, the Messiah? What does it tell us about his mission? How have you personally experienced the Holy Spirit’s anointing in serving the Lord?

Holy Spirit Come (Part 1)

April 30, 2023

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In this series, we’re talking about some of the images and metaphors that are used to describe the Holy Spirit in Scripture. What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “Holy Spirit”? Sometimes the Holy Spirit is called the “forgotten” member of the Trinity; do you think that your own experience of Christian faith has involved an adequate emphasis on the person of the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?

2. The Hebrew and Greek words that we translate into English as “Spirit” can also be used to refer to “wind” or “breath.” How does thinking of the Holy Spirit as the breath of God help you to understand something about they Spirit?

3. Jesse talked about Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37 as recalling and building upon the creation of Adam in Genesis 2. What is different between these two passages? What is the same? Ezekiel is prophesying about the restoration of the people of Israel as they were exiled in Babylon; what, if anything, does this mean for us today? What does it mean that God promises to send his Spirit when he restores the people?

4. John 3 has a lot to say about the Holy Spirit, and how the Spirit allows for new life in believers. In John 3:10, Jesus seems to think that Nicodemus should have understood his teaching about being born of the Spirit, but Nicodemus struggles with the teaching. What would you have thought if you were in Nicodemus’ position? Why does Jesus think Nicodemus should have understood this teaching?

5. Jesse talked about the idea of life with the Spirit as a kind of “conspiring” (literally, “breathing-with). In Romans 8, we read a lot about what life with God’s Spirit is like, including the idea that the Spirit prays when we do not have the words to pray ourselves (Romans 8:26). Similarly, Ephesians 6:18 tells us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions.” What does it mean to pray in or with the Spirit of God? How does this idea impact the way that we pray?

Prayer (part 2)

April 23, 2023

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Read Philippians 1:3-11. What does this prayer teach you about how to pray for the church? Do you pray something like this for our congregation?

2. Russell talked about the church as a “witnessing body.” What is our witness, and how do we live this out? What is the connection between our witness and our prayer?

3. Read John 15:1-8. What does the vine metaphor teach us about prayer? How does prayer relate to the kind of fellowship with God that Jesus is talking about in this passage? Do you think Jesus modeled this kind of fellowship himself?

4. Read Acts 13:1-3. What does this passage teach us about the relationship between prayer and the mission of the church? Can you think of ways that the Lord has used prayer to clarify your own mission, or the mission of Philpott Church? What do you think would happen if we prayed like the church in Antioch prayed?

Prayer (part 1)

April 16, 2023

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• How would you describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer or the church community?

  • How does the practice of prayer relate to living missional, Holy-Spirit empowered lives?

• Who are the people with whom you are praying? Why is praying in community important?

• Russell talked about how we often think about witnessing as a task – something we need to do. Why does it matter to think about witnessing in terms of identity? “You are witnesses.”

  • What difference does that make?

• What is one specific thing that God is speaking to you about prayer?

Easter Sunday

April 9, 2023

Galatians 6

April 2, 2023

Discussion Questions:

1. As you think back on the past several weeks, what is something that stands out to you about our study of Galatians? Is there anything that has surprised you in this book? Has the Lord used this book to minister to you in some way? What’s something from Galatians that you want to remember or put into practice?

2. What does it mean to be “Called to be free”? How can someone be free in Christ? What are we free from, and what are we free to do?

3. There is a lot of talk in this book about life in the Spirit. What does it mean, practically speaking, to “keep in step with the Spirit?” What does it mean to be a spiritual person according to this letter?

Galatians 5:16-26

March 26, 2023

Discussion Questions:

Based on Paul’s words in verses 16-18, how would you describe what is going on inside of the Christian at all times?

If a young Christian came to you and said, “I don’t see much of the fruit of the Spirit in my life,” what counsel would you give?

How can a person cultivate the character qualities of the Holy Spirit in his or her life?

How do you see the character of the Holy Spirit growing in your life?

How would you practically describe a believer who is walking in the Spirit? What are the signs that a believer is out of step with the Spirit?

Thank God for giving his Spirit to believers for help and for fellowship.

Pray for our church, that we would be marked as a people who are led by the Spirit, who love the gospel, and who actively crucify the flesh.