holy spirit Archives

Water from a Rock and Victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17)

Facing thirst, the Israelites complain and test the Lord. Moses is told to take his rod and strike a rock, from which water flows abundantly. We consider the significance of what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10: "that rock was Christ." Next, we review the battle against the Amalekites. Moses was told to maintain

Water from a Rock and Victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17) View Lesson

First Steps in the Wilderness and a Water Crisis (Exodus 15)

Shortly after being delivered by God through the Red Sea, the Israelites complain when they face their first challenge in the Wilderness: no water to drink. Moses is told to cast a piece of wood into bitter (undrinkable) water, which miraculously becomes sweet. We consider two lessons from this encounter: first, the danger of complaining

First Steps in the Wilderness and a Water Crisis (Exodus 15) View Lesson

The Holy Spirit in Ephesians (Retreat Epilogue)

In our 2019 summer retreat in Pennsylvania, we laid a foundation of what the Scriptures teach about the Holy Spirit. In this follow-up lesson and in light of those foundational teachings, we review much of Paul's letter to the Ephesians and, perhaps, see this letter in a new light. We discover Paul has much to say

The Holy Spirit in Ephesians (Retreat Epilogue) View Lesson

The Holy Spirit (Pt. 3 of 3): Walking in the Spirit

In this third of three foundational lessons on the Holy Spirit, we build upon Old Testament stories (introduced in the previous lesson) to explore what it means to live a life that is led by the Spirit today. We review the Spirit’s role in leading the apostles to “all truth” and inspiring the Scriptures; and

The Holy Spirit (Pt. 3 of 3): Walking in the Spirit View Lesson

The Holy Spirit (Pt. 2 of 3): The Mission of the Holy Spirit

Understanding the nature, purpose, and role of the Holy Spirit is essential to our Christian faith. In this second of three lessons on the Holy Spirit, we begin by looking at the Trinity. We borrow from early Christian insights to understand (and explain to others, including 1.6 billion Muslims in the world) the "oneness" of

The Holy Spirit (Pt. 2 of 3): The Mission of the Holy Spirit View Lesson

The Holy Spirit (Pt. 1 of 3): The Nature of the Holy Spirit

The night before He was crucified, Jesus told His closest disciples that He must depart in order to be able to send them the Holy Spirit: a Helper who would abide with them and be in them. Yet some churches today virtually ignore the role of the Spirit! We start this lesson by recounting the

The Holy Spirit (Pt. 1 of 3): The Nature of the Holy Spirit View Lesson

Jesus Will Return to Glory (John 16:5-17:8)

Jesus has much to say in his farewell discourse. In this passage, we learn more about Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also speaks directly about His departure and return. Jesus then begins to pray, with a focus on the glory He shares with the Father and His longing to return to His Father's

Jesus Will Return to Glory (John 16:5-17:8) View Lesson

He Will Teach You All Things (John 14:26b-31)

The night before Jesus died, He promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would teach them "all things" and guide them "into all truth." The idea that the faith was handed down to the apostles complete, with no improvements or changes to follow later, has revolutionary implications for the church today. In this lesson we

He Will Teach You All Things (John 14:26b-31) View Lesson

More on the Holy Spirit (John 14:25-26a)

In this lesson we continue our study of the Holy Spirit. We turn to important passages from the Old Testament that reveal the Spirit as the guide on our journey from spiritual slavery, through the Wilderness of this life, to heaven. We also look at the critical role of the Spirit in guiding the writers

More on the Holy Spirit (John 14:25-26a) View Lesson

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-24)

Before Jesus leaves His followers, He tells them that the Father would send them a Helper, the Spirit of Truth and that this Spirit would be in them. In this lesson we look at the relationship of the Spirit with the Father and the Son, the personality of the Holy Spirit, whether the Spirit actually lives in

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-24) View Lesson