Sunday, Aug 23

The Secret Power of the Spirit

The text

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 • Seeking the Spirit’s perspective 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Dialogue

Describe your hometown.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 • Without the Spirit and with the Spirit 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Dialogue

When have you significantly changed? How did people’s description of you change? A major life transition Failure Success Loss Pain Crisis A new relationship A difficult relationship A new opportunity A change in environment A challenging experience A moment of realization Honest feedback A new perspective A desire for something different

Scripture

Galatians 5:19-21 • Acts of the flesh 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Scripture

Galatians 5:22-23 • Fruit of the Spirit 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Scripture

Galatians 5:25 • Keep step with the Spirit 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ***Keep the Spirit central

Scripture

Matthew 7:15-17 • Recognized by fruit 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”

Scripture

John 15:1-4 • No branch can bear fruit by itself 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

Dialogue

What stands out in a person who is seeking to be led by the Spirit, not just in what they do, but in who they are?

Scripture

Galatians 6:1-2 • Help each other out 1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Dialogue

Internally Process: How is walking in step with the Spirit impacting you? Who I am What I do How I relate with others

Dialogue

Now talk this out: What is the value of walking in step with the Spirit? How does it change a person’s actions? How does it change a person's thinking?

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:1-4 • Trust in the power of God 1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Dialogue

If the Spirit reveals the things of God and enables us to understand spiritual truth, what do you need to ask the Spirit to help you process and/or understand?

Scripture

Romans 8:11 • The Spirit is in us 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Scripture

Romans 8:14-15 • Children of God 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.”

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 • Seeking the Spirit’s perspective 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Dialogue

What happens when we live by the power of the Spirit?

Scripture

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 • Being transformed 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Dialogue

What is key for you in being more Spirit-led?

Take it deeper

Carry the message through your week

Additional reading

  • 1 Corinthians 2 • Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit
  • Luke 4 • Jesus Empowered by the Spirit
  • Acts 4 • Courage and Words from the Spirit
  • Acts 13 • Directed by the Spirit
  • Romans 8 • The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness
  • Galatians 5 • Character Formed by the Spirit

Questions to sit with

  1. Question 1

    Read 1 Corinthians 2:1–16.

  2. Question 2

    What kinds of people, abilities, or accomplishments tend to impress you? Why?

  3. Question 3

    Paul says he didn’t have everything figured out when he came to Corinth. How does this challenge what we assume someone used by God should look like?

  4. Question 4

    How does it challenge how and when you can be used by God?

  5. Question 5

    Paul says the Spirit helps us understand what God has freely given us. How have you seen this?

  6. Question 6

    What do you think it means for us to have “the mind of Christ”? How could that change the way we see ourselves and one another?

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