Week 2 Gifts from God {Holy Spirit}

Memory Verse: 'Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' Acts 2:38     

Did you get anything out of last weeks study on God's gift of grace?  I know I did!  I find when I dig into God's word it never fails that He shows me an area in my life I need to change or an area I need to do better.  If you missed last week you can still read the post here and the conversation here.  When you click the forum, you will view topic Gifts from God: GRACE {Week 1}.  This week we will start a new topic: Gifts from God: HOLY SPIRIT {Week 2}.  The conversation is open for anyone to join.  If you are joining us for the first time this is an online come-when-you-can-wherever-you-are bible study.  We are studying specific scriptures in the bible and then discuss with a few others what God is showing us.  It's a great way to go deeper in His word.

The Holy Spirit!  I can honestly say that only because of the gift of the Holy Spirit  I am who I am today. I didn't always strive for a life of purity and righteousness but because of the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the move of Him, I want to live a pure and righteous life.  But who is the Holy Spirit?  What should His role be in my life?  Why do people need the Holy Spirit?  Can I live a life in Christ to the fullest without the Holy Spirit?  These are some questions we will be able to answer better this week.

As I stated in this bible study intro last week, God's gifts are gifts that once you receive them you will find more gifts within the other gifts.  This week I want us to focus on the gift of the Holy Spirit; however, as we read about the Holy Spirit you will quickly see in 1 Corinthians 12 there are 9 spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit (gifts within the gift) like word of knowledge, word of wisdom, gift of faith,  gift of healing, gift of tongues, gift of prophecy, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, and interpretation of tongues.   This week though we are going to focus on the Holy Spirit and who He is and next week we will dive into the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Monday: 
READ Acts 2:38 in your bible.  Now read the same scripture in 3 other translations like NIV, NKJV, NLT, NASB, the Amplified bible or The Message bible.  You may find it easy to use a free bible app like YouVersion or an online resource like www.blueletterbible.com. 

DISCUSS
Do you see something in this scripture about the gift of the Holy Spirit that you didn't see last week when we studied about the gift of grace?  Let's start the conversation with this question in the forum. 

WRITE Acts 2:38 on an index card or several index cards and tape around your home like the bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator, in your car.  Let's be intentional today to say this scripture out loud and commit it to memory. 

Tuesday:
READ Acts 8:18-23
DISCUSS
1. What did Simon want?  How did Simon want to get this gift? 
Let's read Acts 2:38 again.
2.  In Acts 2:38, how do we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? 

Wednesday:
READ John 14:26, John 15:26, Acts 8:29, Acts 13:2,4, Romans 8:14-16, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Corinthians 2:12
DISCUSS What is the role of the Holy Spirit as stated in these scriptures? Let's list some specific things the Holy Spirit does.  Based on these scriptures, what can He do for me and do I need the Holy Spirit? Can I really live a life in Christ to the fullest without the Holy Spirit? Meet me in the forum to discuss :)

Thursday:
READ 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 1:2, Luke 1:35
DISCUSS Did you notice the trinity and how they work together?  I read this recently, "The Holy Spirit brings about the consummation of the works of the triune God."  Saying it another way..... the Holy Spirit brings about the completion of the works of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the trinity, the triune God). 

Friday:
READ John 16:7
DISCUSS When did the Holy Spirit come upon His people?
After this week's bible study on the gift of the Holy Spirit, what has God spoken to you specifically?  Has your view and value of the Holy Spirit changed?  See you in the forum.

Prayer: Father, teach us more about the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Tell us things we do not know.  Peel back the layers of Your word and reveal Your treasures.  We want to know more about Who You are and how we can live life to the fullest in Christ.  We thank You in advance for making this week personal and meeting us where we are.  In Jesus' name. Amen.