October 8, 2017 – Bible Doctrine # 6 – The Holy Spirit

Survey of Bible Doctrine, Week 6 – The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

OUTLINE OF THE LESSON:

The Person of the Holy Spirit – Who is He?

• He is a Person, not a Thing – John 14:26; 16:7-8, 13-14
• He is God – Acts 5:3-4
• He was Involved in Creation – Genesis 1:2
• He is the Third Person of the Godhead – Matthew 3:16-17

The Work of the Holy Spirit – What does He do?

• He Convicts of Sin – John 16:8-11
• He Guides People into Truth – John 16:12-13; 1 Corinthians 2:14
• 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 6:19
• He Seals All Believers – Ephesians 1:13-14

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Lesson Date: October 8, 2017

Focal Scripture Passage: Genesis 1:2; 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 2:14; 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14

AIM: To lead students to understand what the Bible says about the person and work of the Holy Spirit, and to encourage them to yield themselves to the Holy Spirit’s filling.

 

Before class: Get enough copies of the lesson outline handout and Dr. Sam Cathey’s guidelines on how to be filled with the Spirit for your anticipated attendance. Write the following scripture references on index cards or small pieces of paper: John 3:5-8; John 6:44, 63; John 16:8-14; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:13-14. Ask some students who are comfortable reading aloud to look up the verses and to be prepared to read them when called upon. Optional: bring some pictures of recent hurricane damage to show during the introductory step.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Remind the class of the hurricanes that have impacted the United States in recent weeks. Comment on the terrible damage done by those storms. Optional: show the class some pictures of the terrible storm damage. Ask if any of them have seen such damage first hand.

Tell the class it is obvious that the wind has tremendous power to destroy. On the other hand, God also allows man to harness the wind and use it for good causes. For centuries sailors used the power of the wind to travel all over the globe. Windmills can be used to do work or produce electricity.

Ask: “Have you ever seen the wind?” (no one has ever seen the wind itself: we see the effects or results of the wind’s force, but not the wind itself). Explain to the class that we see the evidence of the wind and where the wind has been, but the wind itself is invisible. Tell the students that Jesus used the wind to describe someone in John 3:8. Ask if they know who Jesus compared to the wind (the Holy Spirit). Tell the class today’s lesson is about the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead (Trinity). Together, we are going to learn about who He is and what He does.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Central Truth):

1. Review.
   • Remind the students that this quarter we are studying a “Survey of Bible Doctrine.”
   • Using the lesson titles found on page 3 of the Sunday School Member Quarterly, briefly review the first four lessons of the study.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (the person and work of Jesus Christ).
   • Ask if any volunteer would be willing to recite last week’s memory verse (John 14:6).
   • Tell the class today we focus on the third person of the triune Godhead, the Holy Spirit.
   • Give each student a copy of the lesson outline handout for today’s lesson.
2. The Person of the Holy Spirit.
   • Tell the students the first question we want to answer is: “Who is the Holy Spirit?”
   • Ask the students to count how many times they hear the words “he,” “him,” or “himself” as you read John 14:26; 16:7-8, 13-14.
     • Refer everyone to his or her lesson outline handout, and stress the fact that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a thing.
     • We know this because Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as “he” and “him.”
     • When speaking of the Holy Spirit we should always use the word “He,” not “It.”
   • Read Acts 5:3-4.
     • Tell the class Peter said Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, then said he had lied to God.
     • That’s because the Holy Spirit is God.
     • Just as the Father is God and the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God.
   • Read Genesis 1:2.
     • Tell the class this verse reveals that the Holy Spirit was involved in creation.
   • Read Matthew 3:16-17.
     • Ask: “Is God the Father active in these verses? If so, in what way?” (He spoke audibly from heaven).
     • Ask: “Is God the Son active in these verses? If so, in what way?” (He was baptized).
     • Ask: “Is God the Holy Spirit active in these verses? If so, in what way?” (He descended from heaven in the visible form of a dove).
     • Tell the class the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead (the Trinity).
     • Explain that some people claim that there is no such thing as the Trinity because that word does not appear in the Bible. The New Testament is full, however, of direct and clear references to all three Persons of the Godhead.
   • Summarize: The Holy Spirit is a person, He is God, He was involved in creation, and He is the third person of the Godhead, the Trinity.
3. The Work of the Holy Spirit.
   • Since this lesson deals with the person and work of the Holy Spirit, the next important question we must answer is: “What does the Holy Spirit do?”
   • Direct the students’ attention to their lesson outline handouts for the rest of the lesson.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read John 16:8-11.
     • Ask: “According to these verses, what does the Holy Spirit do?” (He convicts people of sin).
     • If we have ever felt conviction for our sin, that was the Holy Spirit at work in us.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 2:14.
     • Ask: “What problem does the natural (unsaved) person have?” (he cannot understand the things of God).
     • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read John 16:12-13.
     • Ask: “What did Jesus say the Holy Spirit does?” (guides us into truth).
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read John 16:14.
     • Ask: “What else did Jesus say the Holy Spirit does?” (glorifies Jesus Christ).
     • Tell the class the Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself; He always directs attention and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.
   • Summarize: The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, guides us into truth, and glorifies Jesus Christ. The rest of today’s lesson is about the Holy Spirit’s work in salvation.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read John 6:44.
     • Ask: “What is required before a person can come to Jesus Christ for salvation?” (God must draw that person to Jesus Christ).
     • Explain that the Holy Spirit is the agent of God that does that drawing.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteers to read John 3:5-8 and 6:63.
     • Tell the class in John 3 Jesus spoke of a physical birth (“born of water”) and a spiritual birth (“born of the Spirit”).
     • Ask: “In John 6:63, what did Jesus say the Spirit does?” (“quickeneth” – gives new life).
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Romans 8:9.
     • Ask: “Who did Jesus say lives within those who belong to Him?” (the Spirit of God).
     • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 6:19.
     • Ask: “What is our body?” (the temple of the Holy Spirit).
     • Tell the class these verses reveal that the Holy Spirit of God dwells within all believers. In other words, if you belong to Jesus Christ, God’s Holy Spirit lives within you and “ye are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19).
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Ephesians 1:13-14.
     • Ask: “What does the Holy Spirit do for us when we trust Jesus Christ for salvation?” (He seals us).
     • Explain that a seal denotes ownership and protection. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we belong to Him and we can never again be lost or slip out of His hand.
   • Summarize: The Holy Spirit is involved in all aspects of our salvation. He draws us to the Lord, gives us new life when we trust Christ, dwells within us forever, and seals us so we will never again be lost. Praise God for the Holy Spirit’s work in us!

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Tell the class that the Holy Spirit is God and He comes to live inside every person who knows Jesus Christ as Savior. In fact, all Christians receive the Holy Spirit at the moment they place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. This is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 12:13). Explain that some religious groups teach that a person must ask for the Holy Spirit after being saved, but this is an error. The Bible does not teach this. The Bible tells us the Holy Spirit indwells and seals all believers from the moment of salvation. Explain that some religious groups teach that a person can lose his or her salvation; thankfully, this is also an error. The Bible does not teach this. Jesus Christ gives us everlasting life (John 3:16), not just temporary life.

Tell the class there is one more important truth we must learn about the Holy Spirit. The Bible commands all Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Read Ephesians 5:18. Explain that being filled with the Spirit means totally yielding yourself to the Spirit’s working in your life. A Christian becomes filled with the Spirit by yielding to the Spirit and asking the Spirit to fill him or her. Give each student a copy of Dr. Sam Cathey’s guidelines for how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Read the six points.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes. Encourage those who are saved to ask God to fill them with the Holy Spirit right now. After a moment of silence, voice a closing prayer.

 

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize 1 Corinthians 6:19 and do the following every day this week:

• Confess your sin.
• Tell the Lord you don’t want to control your life.
• Ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
• Ask the Lord to control, guide, restrain, and empower you through His Spirit.

Remind them that the Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself; He always glorifies Jesus Christ.

Tell the class that next Sunday we will learn about Man and His Problem with Sin.