Sermon Notes:
1. At the fall, mankind became spiritually separated from God. (Genesis 3)
2. Jesus says we must be born of the Holy Spirit to go to heaven. (John 3)
3. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit abided with mankind and His power fell on some, but the Holy Spirit never abided in mankind.
4. The Holy Spirit can’t dwell in us until we are made holy.
5. Jesus paid it all for us on the cross and paved the way for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us!
6. The Holy Spirit comes in you by faith when you accept Jesus (Ephesians 1:13)
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Digging Deeper:
1. Read John 3:1-10. Early in Jesus’ ministry, He sat down with a religious scholar and talked to him about the Holy Spirit and our need to be born again. Why is it so peculiar that Nicodemus couldn’t understand this teaching? How do you think Nicodemus should have understood the prophecy of Joel 2:28-29? How important is this teaching to our lives today?
2. At the end of Jesus’ ministry, He teaches His disciples in John 14:16 that the Holy Spirit has been with them, but will be in them. What do you think this means?
3. When you think of holiness what do you think about? What images come to your mind?
4. According to Ephesians 1:13, how does a person receive the Holy Spirit? What has to happen for Him to come into a person’s life? When did this happen in your life?
5. When you ponder the thought that the Holy Spirit dwells inside of you, because of what Jesus did for you on the cross, how does this make you feel? How do you think this should affect our lives? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
6. Something to think about – how do you need the Holy Spirit to help you in your life?
Prayer:
Pray to Jesus thanking Him for His sacrifice that allows you to be holy and allows you to be born again of the Holy Spirit.
Taking it home:
Take some time this week to meditate on Jesus’ teaching to Nicodemus in John 3:1-21 and memorize Ephesians 1:13.
Thoughts for next week’s message:
Now that the Holy Spirit is in you, how should you then live?