Cornerstone’s 40 Days of Experiencing More of the Spirit
WEEK 1: The Essential Ingredient to Experiencing More of the Spirit
Using chapters 1-2 of Alan Kraft’s book “more” and the message from Doug on Sunday, respond to the following questions before going to your group.
Breaking the Ice
If this is your first time being together as a group, appoint a time-keeper and give each person 89 seconds to introduce themselves and tell how they’re feeling about the next 40 days of experiencing the Holy Spirit together.
What words come to mind when you think about the Holy Spirit?
Do you believe that experiencing the Holy Spirit is normal Christianity?
Why or why not?
How have churches or people you've associated with to-date tended to respond to the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit?
To what degree do you think this has influenced your current openness to the Holy Spirit, especially if you've perceived it to be “weird” or non-existent?
Briefly, in just a couple of minutes ...
Looking back at your reading and Sunday’s message, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or spoke to you personally?
Did it raise any questions or create any push-back for you?
After reading chapters 1-2 in the book “more”, how did your reading complement and deepen your understanding of this week’s theme?
Exploring God’s Word
Don’t feel pressured to answer every question.
Read aloud John 7:37-39.
What thoughts and truths stand out that perhaps you haven’t seen before, or connected with you in a fresh way?
Describe a time when you've been thirsty for more of God’s presence and power in your life. What created this thirst, and how did you go about quenching it?
Read aloud Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
What’s the relationship between our weakness and God’s Spirit?
Share an example from your life in which personal weakness impacted your experience with the Spirit.
How about now ... where do you feel most weak and vulnerable, sensing the need to experience God and His Holy Spirit more fully?
Read aloud Luke 11:9-13.
Why are we encouraged to “ask, seek, and knock?”
When you’re feeling weak and vulnerable, how earnestly do you seek the Spirit in these areas?
What tends to keep you from asking, seeking, and knocking for more of the Spirit at times like these?
Looking back at your notes from this message, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or spoke to you personally?
Did it raise any questions or create any push-back for you?
Making It Real
Which of the following statements best describes your current relationship with the Holy Spirit? Explain.
___ Who is the Holy Spirit? ... the name is familiar, but that’s pretty much it.
___ A friend of a friend ... I experience Him second-hand through someone I know.
___ A casual acquaintance ... a vague part of my relationship with God.
___ A relatively new friend ... I’m getting to know Him better.
___ My “Spiritual 911” ... I call on Him in an emergency, but not a lot more.
___ A very good friend ... an active part of my daily life — we connect regularly.
___ My power for living ... I couldn't imagine facing a single day without Him.
___ Other: ______________________________________________________ .
In what ways would you like your relationship with the Holy Spirit to grow over the next 40 days?
Prayer and Group Support
In advance of praying for specific requests, invite someone to read aloud again Jesus’ words in Luke 11:9-13 taking time to pray for one another, asking the Father for more of the Holy Spirit in your life and in the life of your group over the next 40 days.
Breaking the Ice
If this is your first time being together as a group, appoint a time-keeper and give each person 89 seconds to introduce themselves and tell how they’re feeling about the next 40 days of experiencing the Holy Spirit together.
What words come to mind when you think about the Holy Spirit?
Do you believe that experiencing the Holy Spirit is normal Christianity?
Why or why not?
How have churches or people you've associated with to-date tended to respond to the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit?
To what degree do you think this has influenced your current openness to the Holy Spirit, especially if you've perceived it to be “weird” or non-existent?
Briefly, in just a couple of minutes ...
Looking back at your reading and Sunday’s message, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or spoke to you personally?
Did it raise any questions or create any push-back for you?
After reading chapters 1-2 in the book “more”, how did your reading complement and deepen your understanding of this week’s theme?
Exploring God’s Word
Don’t feel pressured to answer every question.
Read aloud John 7:37-39.
What thoughts and truths stand out that perhaps you haven’t seen before, or connected with you in a fresh way?
Describe a time when you've been thirsty for more of God’s presence and power in your life. What created this thirst, and how did you go about quenching it?
Read aloud Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
What’s the relationship between our weakness and God’s Spirit?
Share an example from your life in which personal weakness impacted your experience with the Spirit.
How about now ... where do you feel most weak and vulnerable, sensing the need to experience God and His Holy Spirit more fully?
Read aloud Luke 11:9-13.
Why are we encouraged to “ask, seek, and knock?”
When you’re feeling weak and vulnerable, how earnestly do you seek the Spirit in these areas?
What tends to keep you from asking, seeking, and knocking for more of the Spirit at times like these?
Looking back at your notes from this message, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or spoke to you personally?
Did it raise any questions or create any push-back for you?
Making It Real
Which of the following statements best describes your current relationship with the Holy Spirit? Explain.
___ Who is the Holy Spirit? ... the name is familiar, but that’s pretty much it.
___ A friend of a friend ... I experience Him second-hand through someone I know.
___ A casual acquaintance ... a vague part of my relationship with God.
___ A relatively new friend ... I’m getting to know Him better.
___ My “Spiritual 911” ... I call on Him in an emergency, but not a lot more.
___ A very good friend ... an active part of my daily life — we connect regularly.
___ My power for living ... I couldn't imagine facing a single day without Him.
___ Other: ______________________________________________________ .
In what ways would you like your relationship with the Holy Spirit to grow over the next 40 days?
Prayer and Group Support
In advance of praying for specific requests, invite someone to read aloud again Jesus’ words in Luke 11:9-13 taking time to pray for one another, asking the Father for more of the Holy Spirit in your life and in the life of your group over the next 40 days.