CLaSS MeMBeR gUIde

IgnIte: In hIs steps 2011

iGNiteD BY tHe

spiritsUggesteD CUrrICUlUm fOr

sUnDAY sChOOl ClAssesOCtOber 10–nOvember 7, 2010

IgnIte: In hIs steps 2011

SChedULe oF eveNTS

oCT. 4-8:• members begin receiving Commitment Card packet in mail

oCT. 10-Nov. 14:• suggested Sunday School curriculum taught in classes; members study Daily Devotional Guide at home

oCT. 17-Nov. 14:• Ignite sermon series in all worship services

10/17 prayers: Igniting the fire of the holy spirit•

10/24 presence: Igniting the fire of Worship•

10/31 gifts: Igniting the fire of giving•

11/7 service: Igniting the fire of ministry•

11/14 Witness: Igniting the fire of love•

Nov. 3-7:• ministry expo in Atrium

Nov. 5-6: • prayer vigil

Nov. 7:• Commitment rally for steering Committee & Captains (6 p.m.)

Nov. 14: CoMMITMeNT SUNday•

IgNITe: Week 1

tHe spirit AND New BirtH

biG iDea:

eVeryone WHo belieVeS in JeSuS cHriSt receiVeS tHe aMazinG proMiSe of GoD’S Holy Spirit liVinG

in uS.

BIBLe STUdyRead MaTTheW 3:11 aNd aCTS 19:1-6

What is the difference between the baptism of John •

and the baptism of Jesus?

Do you know someone who has made an effort to •

turn away from sin and do good, but has not had

an inward transformation?

Matthew 3:11

I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

acts 19:1-6

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

IgnIte: Week 1–the spIrIt AnD neW bIrth 1

Read JohN 3:1-8

What does Jesus say is necessary to enter the •

kingdom of god?

Imagine for a moment that you took a dog and •

trained it through behavioral techniques (repetition,

reward and punishment) to act like a cat. how

would this be different than having the creature

“reborn” with a cat’s DnA?

Do you know someone who is using repetition, •

reward and punishment to try to be like Jesus, but

has not changed his or her spiritual DnA?

John 3:1-8

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nico-demus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miracu-lous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nico-demus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

2 IgnIte: Week 1–the spIrIt AnD neW bIrth

Read JohN 14:16-20

Where does Jesus promise that the holy spirit will •

be? notice the change from “with you” to “in you.”

Do you know someone who has been around the •

church and spiritual things all of their life, maybe

even serving in ministry, but they don’t experience

god’s presence “in” them?

Read aCTS 2:17-18

Who does peter say the holy spirit is promised to? •

What does he say they must do to receive this gift

(vs. 38-39)?

Do you know Christians who act like only “special” •

people like clergy or teachers are “spiritual”?

John 14:16-20

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot ac-cept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

acts 2:17-18, 38-39

‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.…Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

IgnIte: Week 1–the spIrIt AnD neW bIrth 3

SUMMaRy

Old testament saints and even Jesus’ disciples knew

the presence of god with them, and from time to

time could be filled temporarily with the spirit for the

purpose of prophecy. however, the death, resurrection

and ascension of Jesus Christ opens up a new chapter

in god’s relationship with mankind. he now makes his

permanent dwelling place not in a temple built with

hands but in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus.

he is emmanuel, god With Us, just as Jesus was

while he walked the earth among us.

moreover, this indwelling presence of god

fundamentally changes who we are spiritually, giving us

the very nature and life of god. this is true eternal life:

not simply perpetual existence, but taking on the living

presence of god.

IgNITe! aPPLICaTIoN

I recognize today that I have never had an inward ❑

transformation by the holy spirit. I desire to place

my faith and trust in Jesus Christ to receive god’s

gift of new birth.

I have experienced new spiritual life in Christ. ❑

During this “IgnIte” study, I commit myself to

discovering more about the holy spirit who now

dwells in me, so I can open myself to his power to

transform and “ignite” my life.

MeMory VerSe

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing

of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. –tituS 3:5

for furtHer

StuDy:

ephesians 1:3-14 ❑

How to Be Born ❑

Again

billy graham

The Person and ❑

Work of the Holy

Spirit

r.A. torrey

Forgotten God: ❑

Reversing Our

Tragic Neglect of

the Holy Spirit

francis Chan

4 IgnIte: Week 1–the spIrIt AnD neW bIrth

IgNITe: Week 2

tHe spirit AND tHe flesH

biG iDea:

tHe cHriStian life WaS not DeSiGneD to be

liVeD by HuMan effort.

BIBLe STUdyRead gaLaTIaNS 5:16-26.

Why are the results of the flesh described as •

“works” or “deeds” (depending on your translation)

while the results of the spirit are described as

“fruits”? how much effort or willpower is required

for a tree to produce fruit?

Read LUke 6:43-45

based on Jesus’ teaching, does he expect a tree •

to try harder to make better fruit? Or does there

need to be a completely different kind of tree?

What does that mean for your life?

Galatians 5:16-26

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kind-ness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have cruci-fied the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceit-ed, provoking and envying each other.

IgnIte: Week 2–the spIrIt AnD the flesh 5

Read RoMaNS 6:15-23.

What are the two kinds of slavery described by •

paul?

most of us can probably imagine what paul means •

by describing someone as a slave to sin. but what

does it mean to be a slave to righteousness? What

would it look like if someone chose to do right

as habitually, naturally and automatically as most

people choose to do wrong?

luke 6:43-45

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

RoMans 6:15-23

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit

6 IgnIte: Week 2– the spIrIt AnD the flesh

Read RoMaNS 8:5-8.

this passage refers to your “mind-set” and your •

“desires” being changed. Why is this important?

how does this differ from a change only in our

external behavior?

Imagine yourself as an eagle in flight. If you pull •

in your wings, you will fall. the law of gravity

still applies to you. however, when you spread

your wings, you can overcome the law of gravity

because the law of lift overcomes it. how does

this illustration help us understand how we can

sometimes be under the power of sin, but at other

times walk in the power of the spirit?

did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

RoMans 8:5-8

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

IgnIte: Week 2–the spIrIt AnD the flesh 7

SUMMaRy

scripture describes two forces: the corrupt nature

under the control of sinful desires, unable to please

god; and the redeemed nature under the power of the

holy spirit, unable to do anything but please god.

the holy spirit creates change not simply by modifying

our behavior, but by transforming our hearts so that we

no longer desire to sin, becoming motivated instead by

love.

Although we remain capable of slipping back under the

influence of sin, we should expect that as a believer

matures he or she will move on to holiness. the

apparent lack of difference in some Christians is due to

failure to walk in the spirit, not because the holy spirit

is unable to overcome selfishness and sin.

IgNITe! aPPLICaTIoN

Can you think of a time when god not only ❑

changed your behavior, but also your thought-

patterns and your inner desires?

Is there a behavior you have been struggling to ❑

change unsuccessfully? Do you need to ask god

to change your heart instead by the power of his

spirit?

MeMory VerSe

the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. –roManS 8:6

for furtHer

StuDy:

Living in the ❑

Power of the Holy

Spirit

Charles stanley

Experiencing the ❑

Spirit

henry blackaby

Living Beyond ❑

Yourself:

Exploring the

Fruit of the Spirit

beth moore

The Fruitful Life ❑

Jerry bridges

8 IgnIte: Week 2–the spIrIt AnD the flesh

IgNITe: Week 3

tHe spirit AND tHe lAw

biG iDea:

tHe Holy Spirit eMpoWerS uS to

Joyfully obey GoD’S laW of loVe.

BIBLe STUdyRead MaTTheW 22:36-40.

Imagine a cookbook that started with two rules: •

“make food that is healthy and tastes good.” If all

the recipes were removed, would that be enough

information to cook by? On the other hand, if you

tried hard to keep all the detailed rules of every

recipe, but ignored those two “first rules,” would

your cooking be successful?

how does this compare to the relationship •

between the two laws of love, and all the other

commandments in the bible?

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the great-est commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great-est commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two command-ments.”

RoMans 7:5-13

For when we were con-trolled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covet-ous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was

IgnIte: Week 3–the spIrIt AnD the lAW 9

Read RoMaNS 7:5-13.

A catalyst is a chemical agent that is harmless •

by itself, but when it comes in contact with other

chemicals it can start a reaction. how does paul

describe the law as a catalyst that “stimulates a

reaction” in our sinful nature?

have you observed this with children–e.g. as soon •

as you tell them not to play with the electrical

outlet, all of the sudden all they can seem to think

about is breaking your rule?

CoNTINUe ReadINg veRSeS 14-25.

have you experienced this frustrating inner conflict •

with sin? Is paul indicating that this is just the way

it will be until we go to heaven, so we should just

struggle along as best we can until we die? Or is he

leading up to a solution?

alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was in-tended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seiz-ing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

RoMans 7:14-25

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiri-tual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no lon-ger I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right

10 IgnIte: Week 3– the spIrIt AnD the lAW

CoNTINUe ReadINg 8:1-4.

how does the holy spirit provide a solution that the •

law could not provide?

paul asserts that this new solution through the •

holy spirit means there is no condemnation for

Christians. Do you ever experience a sense of

condemnation? how does this passage speak to

you about that feeling?

Re-Read gaLaTIaNS 5:18, 22-23.

When paul writes that we are “not under the •

law,” does he mean that we don’t have to obey

it because god forgives us, or does he mean we

have no need for the law because we already

desire to do what pleases god?

st. Augustine said the Christian life could be •

summed up as “love god and do whatever you

want.” explain what you think he meant.

there with me. For in my in-ner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

RoMans 8:1-4

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, be-cause through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righ-teous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live accord-ing to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Galatians 5:18, 22-23

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. …But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, pa-tience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

IgnIte: Week 3–the spIrIt AnD the lAW 11

SUMMaRy

the law of god is loving god and loving people. Jesus’

teaching clarifies that the true meaning and intent of all

the commands in the bible is to help us better know

how to love.

Obeying the law of love is not easy; in fact it is so

hard, it is impossible in our human nature. hearing the

commands of love only causes our inner selfishness

and pride to become more evident. trying to keep the

law on our own results in frustration and despair. god

does not intend for us to stay in this condition until we

go to heaven; he has provided a new covenant with a

new solution.

the holy spirit works by changing our inner nature

and motivations so that we want to love god and

love others. When this process takes place, there is

no longer any need for law because we are already

fulfilling the true intent of the law.

IgNITe! aPPLICaTIoN

have you self-righteously kept certain rules, but ❑

your heart is not filled with genuine love for god

and for people? Do you need to confess a lack of

love in any area of your life today?

have you trusted Christ not only to forgive your ❑

lack of love, but also trusted him to transform you

so that you begin to love as he does?

MeMory VerSe

i desire to do your will, o my God; your law is within my heart.” –pSalM 40:8

for furtHer

StuDy:

galatians 3:1- ❑

4:31

The Normal ❑

Christian Life

Watchman nee

Breaking Free: ❑

Discover the

Victory of Total

Surrender

beth moore

12 IgnIte: Week 3–the spIrIt AnD the lAW

IgNITe: Week 4

tHe spirit AND tHe worD

biG iDea:

We practice tHe fillinG of tHe Holy Spirit

tHrouGH prayerful reSponSe to tHe bible.

BIBLe STUdyRead ePheSIaNS 5:18-20 aNd CoLoSSIaNS 3:15-17.

these two passages are very similar. In one, paul •

says to be filled with the spirit; in the other he says

to let the Word live in you. What does this indicate

about the relationship between the Word and the

spirit?

Read ePheSIaNS 6:17, 2 PeTeR 1:21, aNd JohN 3:34, 4:24 & 6:63.

As you read these do you see a pattern of •

relationship between Word and spirit?

ephesians 5:18-20

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

colossians 3:16-17

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spir-itual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

ephesians 6:17

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

2 peteR 1:21

For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

IgnIte: Week 4–the spIrIt AnD the WOrD 13

Read heBReWS 4:12

What does it mean that the Word is “living and •

active”?

Read JohN 14:23-26 aNd 16:5-15

how does Jesus describe the holy spirit’s role in •

relationship to Jesus’ own teaching? think about

the significance of each of these functions:

teaching•

reminding•

Convicting•

guiding•

John 3:34

For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

John 4:24

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

John 6:63

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

hebRews 4:12

For the word of God is liv-ing and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to divid-ing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

John 14:23-26

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

14 IgnIte: Week 4– the spIrIt AnD the WOrD

how have you experienced the holy spirit giving •

you understanding of the bible?

how have you experienced the holy spirit •

reminding you of specific portions of the bible

you have learned to convict you, guide you or

encourage you in life situations?

Read PSaLM 119:11 & 97

how important is memorization in allowing god’s •

Word to speak to you all the time, not just when

you sit down to read?

A simple working definition of meditation is •

prayerfully responding to god’s word. how

important is prayerful response, as opposed to just

skimming over the page when we read the bible?

John 16:5-15

“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judg-ment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that be-longs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

psalM 119:11, 97

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

IgnIte: Week 4–the spIrIt AnD the WOrD 15

SUMMaRy

the holy spirit reveals god’s thoughts to us through

the inspired Word of god given to us in the bible.

however, his work does not end there. As we read,

study, and hear proclaimed the Word, the spirit gives

insight into what is said so we can understand it.

moreover, he then speaks to us in various situations

of life, directing us by bringing the Word to our

remembrance.

therefore, the most practical way to live a spirit-

filled, “ignited” life is to commit time to memorize and

prayerfully respond to the bible so that it fills not only

our heads but our hearts and our lives.

IgNITe! aPPLICaTIoN

select an area in your life that you need god to ❑

speak to: a temptation you struggle with, a fear or

worry, or an attitude you need to improve.

Using a concordance or online bible search, find ❑

one or more key scriptures that relate to the area

you selected and commit them to memory.

for the next week, quote those verses to yourself ❑

when you wake up in the morning, when you go

to bed at night, and any time during the day when

the problem area comes to your mind. record the

results and if possible share them with someone at

the end of the week.

MeMory VerSe

i have hidden your word in my heart that i might not sin against you. –pSalM 119:11

for furtHer

StuDy:

psalm 119 ❑

Praying God’s ❑

Word

beth moore

Scripture by ❑

Heart: Devotional

Practices for

Memorizing

God’s Word

Joshua kang &

Dallas Willard

Topical Memory ❑

System

the navigators

16 IgnIte: Week 4–the spIrIt AnD the WOrD

IgNITe: Week 5

tHe spirit AND tHe cHurcH

biG iDea:

t H e H o ly S p i r i t M a K e S e V e r y o n e i n

t H e c H u r c H o n e .

BIBLe STUdyRead JohN 17:20-23

What does Jesus say will cause the world to •

believe that he was sent from god?

how have you seen lack of unity within the church •

hinder its ability to reach those outside the church?

On the other hand, have you ever experienced •

a group whose love for each other was so

unconditional and genuine that you felt the

presence of god just by being among them?

John 17:20-23

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to com-plete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

IgnIte: Week 5–the spIrIt AnD the ChUrCh 17

Read ePheSIaNS 4:1-6 aNd PhILIPPIaNS 2:1-4.

What attitudes and behaviors give evidence to the •

oneness of the spirit in the church?

Do these attitudes come naturally to most people? •

Or do they require the supernatural power of the

holy spirit? Can a church stay unified without

constant prayer?

Imagine a football game. the fans up in the stands •

have a feeling of unity because they are all cheering

for the same team. however, the players on the

field have the fact of unity–they are one team,

and the success or failure of one depends on

the success or failure of all. According to these

scriptures, is the oneness of the church a feeling or

a fact? What difference does that make?

ephesians 4:1-6

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be com-pletely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one bap-tism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

philippians 2:1-4

If you have any encourage-ment from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellow-ship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, hav-ing the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambi-tion or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

18 IgnIte: Week 5– the spIrIt AnD the ChUrCh

Read ePheSIaNS 4:30-32 aNd CoLoSSIaNS 3:12-15

An old song said “love means never having to say •

you’re sorry.” however, both of these passages

give a specific command to forgive one another.

looking at these scriptures, which is more accurate

to say: “A unified church is one where people don’t

hurt each other’s feelings” Or “a unified church is

one where people forgive one another when they

hurt one another’s feelings”?

both of these scriptures and the lord’s prayer •

give us the same reason for forgiving one another:

because god has forgiven us. how can a church

that practices forgiveness actually be a greater

witness to the gospel than one where the members

apparently never need to forgive each other?

ephesians 4:30-32

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bit-terness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

colossians 3:12-15

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a com-plaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

IgnIte: Week 5–the spIrIt AnD the ChUrCh 19

SUMMaRy

the holy spirit is the source of Christian unity. because

true unity is so unnatural for sinful people, our unity

becomes one of the strongest proofs to the rest of the

world of the truth of the gospel.

the spirit creates unity, not through an emotional

feeling of liking each other, but rather through helping

us to recognize the spiritual fact that we are One body;

what hurts one hurts all, and what helps one helps all.

the spirit sustains unity, not by making us immune to

conflict, but rather by teaching us how to be patient,

forbearing, and forgiving of one another as a witness to

god who is patient, forbearing and forgiving of us.

IgNITe! aPPLICaTIoN

has god shown you any broken relationships ❑

within the church you need to restore so that you

are not hindering the witness of the church?

has god challenged you to be more intentional ❑

about praying for the church at frazer and around

the world?

MeMory VerSe

be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in christ also has forgiven you –epHeSianS 4:32

for furtHer

StuDy:

Using an online ❑

bible search

engine or a

concordance,

look up every

passage in the

new testament

with the phrase

“one another” or

“each other”

The Emotionally ❑

Healthy Church

peter scazzero

20 IgnIte: Week 5–the spIrIt AnD the ChUrCh

IgNITe: Week 6

tHe spirit AND tHe missioN

biG iDea:

tHe Holy Spirit eMpoWerS uS WitH

bolDneSS to WitneSS

BIBLe STUdyRead LUke 24:48-49 aNd aCTS 1:8

What relationship do you see between the spirit •

and the mission of the church?

Why does Jesus warn the disciples not to go out •

until the spirit comes? Does this verse still have any

application for us since we live after the coming of

the holy spirit at pentecost?

luke 24:48-49

You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

IgnIte: Week 6–the spIrIt AnD the mIssIOn 21

Read RoMaNS 15:18-19, I CoRINThIaNS 2:4, aNd I TheSSaLoNIaNS 1:5

to what does paul attribute his effectiveness in •

evangelism?

What warning does paul’s experience give to •

those who are very good at speaking with human

wisdom, logic, and arguments?

On the other hand, what encouragement does his •

experience give to those who feel inadequate to be

a witness?

RoMans 15:18-19

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit.

i coRinthians 2:4

My message and my preach-ing were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.

i thessalonians 1:5

Because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

22 IgnIte: Week 6– the spIrIt AnD the mIssIOn

Read aCTS 4:31

the church in this passage is facing government •

resistance and imminent persecution for preaching

the gospel. Do they pray for this persecution to be

removed? If not, what do they pray for? how does

god respond?

have you ever had an experience when you or •

someone you knew prayed for god to meet a need

miraculously, not only for the sake of the person

in need, but specifically to be a witness of god’s

power to unbelievers involved in the situation?

On the other hand, have you ever had an •

experience where god chose not to remove

a difficult situation, but instead empowered

that person to be a witness to unbelievers by

responding to suffering with a patient and joyful

attitude? (reAD 2 COrInthIAns 12:7-10)

acts 4:29-31

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meet-ing was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

2 coRinthians 12:7-10

To keep me from becom-ing conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

IgnIte: Week 6–the spIrIt AnD the mIssIOn 23

SUMMaRy

the holy spirit alone gives the church the power

to accomplish its mission. the same power of god

that raised Jesus from the dead, works in us to be a

witness to the world that he is alive. the practical ways

the holy spirit empowers the church is two-fold:

first, by choosing in some cases to answer prayers

from Christians in miraculous ways, the holy spirit

demonstrates the power of the name of Jesus so that

unbelievers have another opportunity to believe.

second, by giving boldness to Christians even in the

face of suffering and persecution, he enables them

to overcome opposition. the greatest proof of the

resurrection is not that we escape suffering, but rather

that we persevere through suffering just as Jesus

persevered through the Cross.

IgNITe! aPPLICaTIoN

how is god seeking to empower you with more ❑

boldness to proclaim the gospel in your weekday

world?

What changes do you need to make in your prayer ❑

life to cooperate with the spirit as a witness to the

resurrection?

MeMory VerSe

i want to know christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the

resurrection from the dead. –pHilippianS 3:10-11

for furtHer

StuDy:

1 peter 3:8-22 ❑

Prayer ❑

Evangelism

ed silvoso

Extreme Devotion ❑

the voice of the

martyrs

Fresh Wind, ❑

Fresh Fire

Jim Cymbala

24 IgnIte: Week 6–the spIrIt AnD the mIssIOn