July 9, 2023 – Bible Doctrine 6 – The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

Lesson Date: July 9, 202

Focal Scripture Passage: Matthew 3:16-17; John 3:5-8; 6:44, 63; 14:26; 16:7-14; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18

AIM: To lead students to discover who the Holy Spirit is and what He does, and to encourage them to yield themselves to the Holy Spirit’s filling.

Before class: Read the chapters containing the focal passages several times during the week.  Get enough copies of the Lesson Outline handout for your anticipated attendance.  Write the following questions on the marker board or chalkboard: “Who is the Holy Spirit?”  “What does the Holy Spirit do?”

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the question, “Who is the Holy Spirit?” written on the board.  Tell them to imagine for a moment that a friend or co-worker asked them that question.  Ask: “How would you answer?”  Allow time for several responses.  Ask: “Can you prove what you believe with the Bible?”

Direct everyone’s attention to  the question, “What does the Holy Spirit do?” written on the board.  Tell them to imagine again that a friend or co-worker asked them that question.  Ask: “How would you answer?”  Allow time for several responses.  Ask: “Can you prove what you believe with the Bible?”

Direct the students’ attention once again to the questions written on the board.  Tell them there is much confusion and disagreement today over those two questions.  Tell them some people over-emphasize the Holy Spirit, to the point that they make Him more prominent than Jesus.  Tell them other people practically ignore the Holy Spirit.  Stress the fact that both extremes are in error.

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.  Tell them as we examine several different Bible passages, we will learn who the Holy Spirit is (His person) and what He does (His work).

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are involved in a survey of Bible doctrine.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (The Person and Work of Jesus; we learned about who Jesus is and what He does).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (John 14:6).
2. Who is the Holy Spirit?
   • Ask everyone to turn to John 14, and then read John 14:26.
     • Ask: “What two words did Jesus use to refer to the Holy Spirit?” (the “Comforter,” and “he”).
     • Ask everyone to turn to John 16, and then ask a volunteer to read John 16:7-8 and 13-14.
     • Ask: “Scan back over those verses. How many times did Jesus refer to the Holy Spirit as ‘he,’ ‘him,’ or ‘himself’?” (12 times).
     • Tell the students the first thing we discover about the identity of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a thing or an impersonal force; we should not use the word “it” when speaking of the Holy Spirit.
     • Explain that the Holy Spirit’s personhood is evidenced by the facts that He hears and speaks (John 16:13); He teaches (Luke 12:12); He intercedes (Rom. 8:26); He forbids (Acts 16:6-7); He comforts (Acts 9:31), and He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30).[1]
   • Ask everyone to turn to Acts 5, and then read Acts 5:3-4.
     • Ask: “In verse 3, who did Peter say Ananias had lied to?” (the Holy Spirit).
     • Ask: “In verse 4, who did he say Ananias had lied to?” (God).
     • Tell the students the second thing we discover about the identity of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit is God.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Matthew 3, and then read Matthew 3:16-17.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus do in those verses?” (He was baptized).
     • Ask: “What did the Holy Spirit do in those verses?” (descended upon Jesus in the physical form of a dove).
     • Ask: “What did God the Father do in those verses?” (spoke audibly from heaven).
     • Tell the students the third thing we discover about the identity of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead.
   • Summarize: Who is the Holy Spirit? He is a person, He is God, and He is the third person of the Godhead (the Trinity).
3. What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
   • Ask everyone to turn back to John 16, and then read John 16:8-11.
     • Ask: “What does verse 8 say the Holy Spirit does?” (reproves people of sin).
     • Explain that the word reprove means to convict or prove one is wrong.
     • Tell the students the first thing we discover about the work of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit convicts people of sin.
     • Explain that whenever we sense that inner feeling that we have done wrong, that is the Holy Spirit working in our heart.
   • Ask a volunteer to read John 16:12-13.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus call the Holy Spirit in verse 13?” (the Spirit of truth).
     • Tell the students the second thing we discover about the work of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit guides people into truth.
     • Ask: “Does the Holy Spirit speak of or draw attention to Himself?” (no, He only speaks that which He hears from the Father).
   • Ask a volunteer to read John 16:14.
     • Ask: “Does the Holy Spirit glorify Himself?” (no).
     • Ask: “Who does the Holy Spirit glorify?” (Jesus).
     • Tell the students the third thing we discover about the work of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ.
   • Ask everyone to turn to John 6, and then read John 6:44.
     • Explain that the Bible makes it clear that before conversion we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13), and unable to understand the things of God (1 Cor. 2:14).
     • The only way a sinner can be saved is for God’s Spirit to draw him.
     • Tell the students the fourth thing we discover about the work of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit draws people to salvation.
   • Ask a volunteer to read John 6:63.
     • Ask: “What does the Holy Spirit do?” (“quickeneth”: gives new life)
     • Ask everyone to turn to John 3, and then read John 3:5-8.
     • Ask: “According to verse 5, what must happen for us to enter into the kingdom of God?” (we must be born of the Spirit)
     • Tell the students the fifth thing we discover about the work of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit gives new life at salvation.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Romans 8, and then ask a volunteer to read Romans 8:9.
     • Ask: “Where does the Holy spirit dwell?” (in us).
     • Ask: “What if the Holy Spirit does not dwell in us?” (then we don’t belong to God).
     • Ask everyone to turn to 1 Corinthians 6, and then read 1 Corinthians 6:19.
     • Ask: “What does this verse say about us?” (our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us).
     • Tell the students the sixth thing we discover about the work of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers from the moment of salvation.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Ephesians 1, and then read Ephesians 1:13-14.
     • Ask: “What does verse 13 say the Holy Spirit does?” (He seals those who believe).
     • Explain that the sealing of the Holy Spirit identifies us as God’s possession and prevents us from ever losing our salvation or being snatched away by the devil.
     • Ask: “What does verse 14 say about the Holy Spirit?” (He is the earnest, or down payment, of our future inheritance).
     • Tell the students the seventh thing we discover about the work of the Holy Spirit is that the Holy Spirit seals all believers.
   • Summarize: What does the Holy Spirit do? He convicts people of sin, He guides people into truth, He glorifies Jesus, He draws people to salvation, He gives new life, He dwells within all believers, and He seals all believers so they can never again be lost.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.  Give each of them a copy of the Lesson Outline handout.  Review the lesson by reading the main points and subpoints from that outline:

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

WHO is the Holy Spirit?

• • He is a person – John 14:26; 16:7-8, 13-14
  • He is God – Acts 5:3-4
  • He is the third person of the Godhead – Matthew 3:16-17

WHAT Does the Holy Spirit Do?

• • He convicts people of sin – John 16:8-11
  • He guides people into truth – John 16:12-13
  • He glorifies Jesus Christ – John 16:14
  • He draws people to salvation – John 6:44
  • He gives new life at salvation – John 3:5-8; 6:63
  • He dwells in all believers – Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 16:19
  • He seals all believers – Ephesians 1:13-14

Ask everyone to turn to Ephesians 5 for one more verse of scripture.  Read Ephesians 5:18.

Ask: “What are we NOT supposed to do?” (be drunk with wine or other alcoholic beverages).  Ask: “What ARE we commanded to do?” (be filled with the Holy Spirit).

Explain that just as alcohol can take over the control of the body and cause people to do things they wouldn’t normally do, the Holy Spirit can fill us and control our actions and behavior.

Ask everyone to look back at Ephesians 5:18.  Ask: “Is it a suggestion or a command that we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit?” (it is a command).

Ask everyone to turn over their Lesson Outline handout, to find “How to Be Filled With the Spirit,” by Dr. Sam Cathey printed on the back.  Read and explain the steps printed there.

Ask: “Are you willing to obey God’s command to be filled with the Holy Spirit?”

Ask the students to bow their head and close their eyes.  Encourage them to confess their sin and ask the Lord to fill them with the Holy Spirit, as you voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize 1 Corinthians 6:19.  Urge them to confess their sin and ask for the Holy Spirit’s filling every day this week.  Tell everyone to keep the Lesson Outline handout in their Bibles so they can refer to it again later.

[1] Dr. Jimmy Millikin. Christian Doctrine for Everyman, page 44.