About this series:
The Holy Spirit is fully God, eternally existing with the Father and the Son. Throughout the Old Testament, we see glimpses of the Spirit’s presence and work, but it is through the teaching of Jesus and the events of the New Testament that the church’s understanding of the Holy Spirit is revealed more fully.
About this talk:
This week, we’ll hear from our guest speakers, Joe and Sunitha. Joe serves as Senior Pastor of Gateway Ministries International and Bombay Baptist Church in Mumbai, and oversees churches within Salt and Light International. His wife, Sunitha, is a counsellor, social worker and non-profit consultant.
Audio only
Life Group Discussions: How Does The Holy Spirit Empower Me for Mission
BREAKOUT | 12 MINUTES
Group 1: Boldness to Speak and Act
Read Acts 4:29–31.
What do the believers ask God to do, and what happens when the Holy Spirit fills them?
What might courage look like in both our words and our actions this week? What tends to hold us back?
Think of an ordinary situation where you might hold back. What small step could you take while depending on the Spirit?
A thought to carry with us - Boldness is not the absence of fear. We can feel the fear and take a loving step of obedience anyway, knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us. We can trust God with the outcome. Courage includes love, wisdom and respect for people’s boundaries. Give people freedom to decline a conversation or prayer.
Prepare to share: What is one thing the passage shows about the Spirit’s empowering, and one practical implication for speaking or acting?
BREAKOUT | 12 MINUTES
Group 2: Wisdom to Speak and Act
Read Acts 8:26–35.
Looking at what Philip did and how we can learn from it, which part of Philip’s approach stands out to you most, and why?
Responds to God’s direction (v.26– 27) - Be willing to go where God leads, even when the purpose is not yet clear.
Responds to the Spirit (v.29) - Be attentive to God’s leading and willing to approach someone.
Runs alongside and hears (v.30) - Take initiative and notice what is already happening.
Asks a question (v.30) - Begin with curiosity and make room for the other person’s understanding.
Accepts an invitation and listens to a question (v.31,34) - Respect the invitation and respond to what the person actually asks.
Explains Jesus from Scripture (v.35) - Connect the person’s question with the good news about Jesus.
What does relying on the Spirit for wisdom look like in practice?
How easily do we assume that people are too busy for a conversation about faith? What can we learn from Philip taking the initiative and meeting the Ethiopian where he was? Notice both Philip’s initiative and the Ethiopian’s invitation. How can we approach people with courage and sensitivity, while respecting a “not now”?
Prepare to share: One discovery from Philip’s story and one practical way to rely on the Spirit for wisdom. We can ask the Spirit for wisdom, listen carefully and take a fitting step in our words and actions.
BREAKOUT | 12 MINUTES
Group 3: Prayer in Dependence on the Spirit
Read Romans 8:26–27 and Ephesians 6:18–20.
What do these passages teach us about the Spirit’s help, especially when we feel weak or do not know what to pray?
What makes it difficult to keep praying for people who do not yet know Jesus? What help can we ask the Spirit for?
What would a simple, sustainable prayer for one person look like this week?
A thought to carry with us - The Spirit helps us pray in our weakness. We depend on God to work in people’s lives and to give us the words, courage and love we need. We need not feel strong or find impressive words to pray. People are not our enemy (Ephesians 6:12), and prayer is not a formula that guarantees a particular response.
Prepare to share: What is one thing these passages show about the Spirit’s help in prayer, and one practical implication for mission.
