Memory Text:

2. Memory Text: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” John 16:13

3. Teachers Aims: • To explore the meaning of an experiential faith. • To show the importance of testing everything we learn of God by making sure it is in harmony with Bible teachings.

4. Lesson Outline: I. Following the Holy Spirit’s Guidance (John 16:13) A. The Holy Spirit gives us the words we need to answer for our faith. B. The Holy Spirit helps us to make our decisions in accordance with God’s will. C. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s character through us by His power.

5. II. Testing All of the Spirits (1 John 4:1) A. God tells us to test the spirits and even tells us how to test them. B. The Bereans were praised for testing the message of the apostles with the Scriptures. C. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Scriptures. Lesson Outline:

6. When we experience a living and vibrant faith, we live with the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome and to serve. Yet we must be sure that it is the Holy Spirit, and only the Holy Spirit, that we are relying on. God encourages us to test everything that we learn of Him. Summary

8. The death of Jesus for the sins of the world is the most important of all truths. In contrast, what else really matters? And because it is so important, God hasn’t left it up to us to try to figure it out on our own. Instead, we have been given the promise of the Holy Spirit, which will guide us in our understanding of this truth. Introduction

9. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

10. In addition to teaching, what else will the Spirit do? John 14:26. Question 1

11. What other promises does Jesus give us regarding the Holy Spirit? • John 14:17, John 15:26, 16:12-14. Question 2

12. Ask yourself how open you are to the teachings of the Holy Spirit. Do you listen to Him, or do you make excuses in order to do your own thing? Key Thought

13. Read Romans 8:4. Write in your own words what you believe Paul is saying. Focus specifically on what walking “after the Spirit” means. See also Rom. 13:14, Gal. 5:22-24.

14. Read 1 Peter 4:1, 2. What is the message there for us regarding the battle against the flesh? Question 3

15. Is there some specific sin that you struggle with that causes you a great deal of suffering in the flesh as you seek to overcome in Christ’s name? • What practical things can you do, on a daily basis, that could make you more open to the power of the Spirit in order for Him to give you the victory that is yours for the asking? Key Thought

16. “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).

17. Question 4 • Read 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Timothy 4:1, and 1 John 3:24–4:1. What’s the message here for us?

18. Question 5 • What do these texts teach us about the ultimate test of whether or not teachings are inspired by the Holy Spirit? Ps. 119:105, Isa. 8:20, • Luke 10:26, 16:29-31, Acts 17:11, 2 Tim. 3:15-17.

19. Key Thought • What kinds of spiritual deceptions have you encountered? How did the Word of God protect you? Be prepared to share your answer with the class.

20. Question 6 • Read John 16:14. What does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will do?

21. Question 7 • What are other ways the Holy Spirit can glorify our Lord? John 15:8, • Gal. 5:22-25, Eph. 5:9.

22. Key Thought • Look at your own life in the past 24 hours. What things did you do that brought glory to God? • What things brought shame? What changes do you need to make?

23. Read Luke 2:25-30 and then answer the following questions:

24. Questions 8-10 • How did Simeon know when to go to the temple in order to find “the Lord’s Christ” (vs. 26)? • What in these texts reveals why Simeon was so open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit? • What’s the important message for us in there?

25. Questions 11-13 • What was the significance of Simeon’s prayer; that is, what was he doing through it? See John 15:26, 16:14. • Why is this point the key in understanding the work of the Holy Spirit? • Notice, too, the words of Simeon, under the inspiration of the Spirit, to Mary. What gift of the Spirit was being manifest here? • See Rom. 12:6, 1 Cor. 12:10, 13:2.

26. 1.   As a class, go over your answer to Tuesday’s final question. What are some of the spiritual deceptions people have faced? What things have you learned that could be helpful to others?

27. Take two people: One has very good theology but is mean, nasty, vindictive, and judgmental; the other, though theologically suspect, is kind, loving, forgiving, and generous. Which one do you think is revealing more of the Holy Spirit in his or her life? Be prepared to defend your answer.

28. How should the church respond to someone who, acting rather strange, claims to be moving under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?.

29. What can you do, as a class, that would bring glory to God? Does it take something fancy, some loud production, in order to do this, or can you, as a group, in a quiet and simple way glorify your Lord? If so, how so?

30. When we experience a living and vibrant faith, we live with the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome and to serve. Yet we must be sure that it is the Holy Spirit, and only the Holy Spirit, that we are relying on. God encourages us to test everything that we learn of Him. Summary

31. End