1st Quarter 2017 – Good Word

Related Verses: John 16:7-11; Rom. 8:22-27; 2 Cor. 5:1-5 Leading Question: What is the most important work of the Spirit? In John 14-17, the promise that God would send the paraclete (Comforter, Advocate) looms large...

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Grieving and Resisting the Spirit

Lesson 11 for the week of March 11 to March 18

Related Verses: Mark 3:28-29; Eph. 4:30-32; Acts 7:51; 1 Thess. 5:16-24 Leading Question: Why is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit worse than any other sin? A number of New Testament passages warn against offending or...

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The Holy Spirit, the Word, and Prayer

Lesson 10 for the week of March 4 to March 11

Related Verses: Nm 11:10-15; Ps 88, 137; Jr 18:29-23; Mk 9:24; 15:34; Rm 8:26-27 Leading Question: What kind of prayers would you publish if you were God? The emphasis in the official study guide for...

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The Holy Spirit and the Church

Lesson 9 for the week of February 25 to March 4

Related Verses: Acts 2; 15:28; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 2:18-22; 4:3-6 Leading Question: How can we know if the Holy Spirit is at work in the church? This week’s lesson covers a cluster of items...

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Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit

Lesson 8 for the week of February 18 to February 25

Related Verses: Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11, 27-31; 13; Eph. 4:11-13 Leading Question: Is there a clear distinction between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit? The official study guide makes...

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The Holy Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit

Lesson 7 for the week of February 11 to February 18

Related Verses: John 15:1-11; Gal. 5:19-26; Eph. 4:25-27 Leading Question: Does the Holy Spirit sometimes point us away from the gentler traits to the sterner ones? The only New Testament passage that actually admonishes believers...

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The Holy Spirit and Living a Holy Life

Lesson 6 for the week of February 4 to February 11

Related Verses: Eccl. 3:11-13; 1 Peter 1:13-16 Leading Question: What does holiness look like? A person’s face is generally a helpful guide to the forces that are shaping that person’s life. Happiness, joy, anger, cynicism,...

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The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit

Lesson 5 for the week of January 28 to February 4

Related Verses: Mark 1:8; Acts 2:4, 38; 5:32; 10:44-48; 11:15-17 Leading Question: Does the New Testament give us a prescribed order of events for receiving the Holy Spirit? Note: In the New Testament, obedience is...

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The Personality of the Holy Spirit

Lesson 4 for the week of January 21 to January 28

Related Verses: John 16:12-15 Leading Question: Is the personality of the Holy Spirit as important to the believer as the divinity of the Spirit? Note: Last week the emphasis was on the divinity of the...

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Divinity of the Holy Spirit

Lesson 3 for the week of January 14 to January 21

Related Verses: 2 Sam. 23:2, 3; Acts 5:1-4; Rom. 8:26, 27; 1 Cor. 12:11, 28 Leading Question: In traditional language Christians speak of the first member of the Trinity (Father), second member (Son), and third...

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The Holy Spirit: Working Behind the Scenes

Lesson 2 for the week of January 7 to January 14

Related Verses: Gen. 1:2; Exod. 31:1-5; Ezek. 37:5-9; John 3:3-8; John 15:26 Leading Question: The official study guide takes a whole lesson to focus on how the Spirit works “behind the scenes.” Why is that...

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The Spirit and the Word

Lesson 1 for the week of December 31 to January 7

Related Verses: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21 Leading Question: What would we be missing if we spoke only of God the Father and God the Son, but not of God the Spirit? From a...

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Tag: 1st Quarter 2017