Sermon Study Guides

When Jesus was on earth, He relied on the Spirit for everything He did. The life he lived, the temptations He faced and resisted, the miracles, healings and deliverances He performed were all done in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God wants to guide you, protect you, empower you and transform you into the image of Jesus Christ. But He can do these things in you only if you, like Jesus did, walk daily in the Spirit.

How do you walk in the Spirit?

1. Surrender your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You can’t have any other gods—not success, money, power, a relationship, or the good life. The message Jesus consistently emphasized is: If you want to know Me and experience all I have for you, if you want to see My power at work in you through the Holy Spirit, then I need to have all of you.

2. Daily ask to be filled with the Spirit of Christ. You must continually be filled with the Spirit. Begin each day by surrendering yourself completely to the Lord and asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then as you step into your day, believe that the Holy Spirit is with you, doing in and through you what you asked Him to do, and living the life of Jesus through you. Walking in the Spirit is exercising faith that God WILL DO as He promised!

3. Have the mind of Christ. There is an important relationship between your thinking and your ability to follow the Spirit. The human mind is shaped by what it’s consistently exposed to. To win the battle against wrong behavior, you must first win the battle that takes place in your mind. Be hypersensitive to any thought that conflicts with the truth. Anything that is not true is not of the Spirit.

Be serious about what you expose your mind to. When a deceitful, destructive or immoral thought comes to your mind, don’t entertain it or fantasize over it. NO! Take it CAPTIVE and DEMOLISH it in obedience to Christ. Evil thoughts are not sin. You sin when you DWELL on those thoughts. To walk in the Spirit is to take those thoughts captive and destroy them in the name of Jesus.

4. Be on mission with Christ. That mission is: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus called us to make disciples—to introduce people to Jesus and help them become fully devoted followers of Jesus.

You’re most vulnerable to temptation when you’re not leaning into the mission and the work God called you to do. You have a choice. You can devote your free time to serving yourself, or you can devote your time to being on mission, serving God and others wherever He has placed you.

Real life is found in the battle while being on mission! Lean on Holy Spirit and ask Him to fill you, empower you, and do through you what you can't do in your own strength. Let Jesus change you and the focus of your life. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. SEIZE IT, and live it fully for Christ!!

It’s a tragedy to get sidetracked into serving counterfeit gods and pursuing earthly treasures. Walking in the Spirit means that Christ is at the very center of your life, your marriage, your family and your friendships.

IN - PURSUE RELATIONSHIP

1. Name one influence you did not expect in your life. It could be the media, music, films, experience, or people. Are there lies in what these influences feed you?

2. Do you tend to focus more on what not to do rather than what you should do? Give an example.

UP - PURSUE GOD

1. Read Romans 7:15-17; James 1:8; Galatians 5:13, 16; Mark 10:21; Matthew 6:24; 2 Corinthians 4:4. What do believers struggle with? Why? How should we fight these struggles?

2. Read Ephesians 5:15-20; Romans 8:5-6; John 8:32; Colossians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8; Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 6:13. What are some ways of dealing with the disconnect between our beliefs and actions? How can we continuously walk in the Holy Spirit?

OUT - PURSUE MISSION

1. What are some ways you take thoughts captive? How do you remove unhealthy thoughts?

2. Read Matthew 28:19-20. What is our ultimate calling? In your group, discuss how you can more openly and honestly share with others the difference Jesus has made in your life and point them to Him.

Personal Reflection

How can you more effectively begin each day? Is there an influence you need to let go? Is there a lie you need to replace with God’s truth? Should you start a new routine?

Ask God for clarity, courage and resolve to follow what God tells you to do.

The Word (NIV)

Romans 7:15-17  ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

James 1:8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 5:15-20 ¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:5-6 ⁵Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Matthew 28:19-20 ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This Week's Writers: Elsa Henderson, Bruce McKay, Sandi Somers and Jorel Quemuel