John 14:16, 16:13
2 Corinthians 3:18
Hebrews 10:15-17
Romans 5:3-5, 8:26


STUDY THE PASSAGES

In John 14:16, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as God’s permanent indwelling presence in the life of the believer. The Holy Spirit is not a temporary helper but a constant companion, residing within us to guide, comfort, and empower us throughout our lives. Again in John 16:13, Jesus continues to teach about this, telling how the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, helping us to view the world from a kingdom perspective and to live according to God’s will. This guidance is crucial for making decisions and understanding God’s direction in our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:18 teaches us that the Holy Spirit plays a transformative role in our lives, making us more like Jesus and cultivating godly character within us. This process of transformation is a continual work of the Spirit, shaping us into Christ’s likeness and reflecting the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23. Oftentimes the way the Spirit does this is by convicting us of our sin, helping us to recognize the times we do fall short of God’s perfect standard, and then reminding us of the grace and forgiveness found only in Jesus Christ!

According to Hebrews 10:15-17, the Holy Spirit serves as a reminder of our new way of living under God’s rule. He reminds us of our forgiveness and helps us live according to God’s standards. When we fall short, the Spirit reassures us that our sins are forgiven through Jesus’ sacrifice, and God no longer holds our sins against us.

In Romans 5:3-5, we read about how the Holy Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts, enabling us to experience and reflect His love in our interactions and relationships. This love sustains us through trials and challenges, affirming our hope in God. In Romans 8:26, we see that the Holy Spirit guides us in our prayers, especially when we are unsure of how to pray. He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, aligning our prayers with God’s will.


DECISION POINT

As you read about relying on the Holy Spirit, here are two things we want to encourage you to commit to:

First, when the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sins, will you confess those to the Lord and repent, turning away from those things and turning back to Jesus? Our sin, if ignored, can have a negative impact on the health of our relationship with God. Be quick to confess your sin and seek God’s forgiveness. Take a moment now to ask God to reveal any sins in your life, and ask God for forgiveness and thank Him for his grace and mercy. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to overcome these sins and live a life holy and pleasing to God.

Second, as you look to rely on the Holy Spirit, will you humble yourself daily before God? A sure way to keep yourself from relying on the Holy Spirit is by continuing to rely on your own strength and pride. Combat self-sufficiency by humbling yourself daily through prayer. Consider a prayer like this: “Heavenly Father, I humble myself before You today. I surrender my life to You and ask that you would empower me by your Holy Spirit to live for You, knowing that apart from You, I can do nothing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, these things are the first steps toward that. The Bible teaches that if you truly repent of your sins and place your faith in Jesus to save you from the penalty of your sins, confessing in humility that you need Jesus in your life, then you will become a child of God and will be filled with the Holy Spirit. We pray that you would experience the joy of life with God!

• What is the most encouraging thing you read about the Holy Spirit today? Is there a particular passage of Scripture that stood out to you from what you read?

• What would it look like for you to depend on the Holy Spirit in your life daily? Is there anything that might hold you back from living like this?

READ THE PASSAGE

Matthew 6:9-13


STUDY THE PASSAGE

This passage in the Bible is called “The Lord’s Prayer” and it is where Jesus teaches his followers how to pray. If you are not sure what it looks like to talk to God, praying these words and even memorizing them can be incredibly helpful. The prayer can be divided into five main sections, each section offering a framework for a rich and meaningful prayer life.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” Matthew 6:9
The first section of this prayer is about praise, reflecting on who God is! He is holy, pure, good, and loving. Recognizing these qualities helps us approach Him with reverence and awe. This also reminds us of who we are - all who have chosen to follow Jesus are children of God who He loves dearly! Understanding this identity gives us confidence and gratitude as we pray.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10
The second part of this prayer is about praying for God’s purposes to happen in our lives, in the lives of others, and in the world at large. This means praying for God to guide our lives, to bring the spiritually lost to faith in Christ, and even praying for an end to the evil things happening around the world. Followers of Christ are called to live lives focused on the things that God is focused on, and it starts by praying for His will to be done.

“Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11
The next section of this prayer is to pray for provision. God actually invites us to pray and ask Him to meet our needs, both physically and spiritually. Followers of Jesus are encouraged to ask God for guidance, wisdom, strength, spiritual growth, and even provision and help with daily challenges. There is a reason Jesus says to ask for your daily bread - it is not just in the big things we are invited to ask God for help, but it is also in the day-to-day needs that seem small. We can ask God to help in specific ways, both big and small, praying with faith that God hears us and will meet our needs.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” Matthew 6:12
After this, Jesus calls his followers to confess their sins and ask God to forgive them. Confession means being honest with God about the ways you fail to live up to His perfect standard of righteousness, and asking Him for cleansing and renewal, remembering that He is gracious and merciful. The Bible teaches us in 1 John 1:9 that “If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The second aspect of this, however, is not just that we would be forgiven, but it also means praying and asking God to help us forgive others who have wronged us, as well as asking for forgiveness from others we have wronged.

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" Matthew 6:13
Finally, the last part of the prayer that Jesus teaches his followers to pray is about temptation. Temptation can come from our own sinful tendencies, from the world around us, or even from Satan, who is the tempter. Jesus is reminding us that if we want to honor Him in all areas of our lives, we need to ask Him to help us resist temptation toward sin and to avoid evil. Christians should regularly ask God to help them in areas where they are facing temptation toward sin - we are invited to ask God for strength to overcome sinful habits and seek protection from the schemes of the enemy and the corrupting influences of the world. This encourages us to ask for guidance to live lives of integrity, godliness, faith, love, and faithfulness.


DECISION POINT

As a new follower of Jesus, it is important to develop a habit of prayer regularly. By structuring our prayers with these elements that Jesus highlights in this passage, we can enrich our prayer lives and deepen our relationship with God. Build and strengthen your prayer life gradually, starting with just 5 minutes a day of prayer, taking 1 minute to pray over each element of prayer from this passage. As time goes on, increase the amount of time you are praying each day.

• When you think about prayer, what is encouraging or exciting to you about talking to God?

• What are some things that you feel that God wants you to pray about specifically and intentionally?

• What are some things that might prevent you from praying regularly? What can you do to keep prayer as a priority every day?

As we read God’s Word, it is important to remember the big picture of the story of the Bible. The Bible is God’s story of His redeeming love - a story that reveals how lost sinners can be forgiven and saved through Jesus Christ and how you can live a godly life through the power of God. Devote yourself to the reading of God’s Word for wisdom and godliness in life.

Proverbs 1:2-7 teaches that the word of God gives wisdom, instruction, insight, and knowledge. It tells us that the wise are those who are willing to learn from God’s Word, and will follow what He calls them to do.

1 Timothy 4:13 and Psalm 119:15 both talk about the importance of devoting yourself to reading and thinking about God’s Word. Joshua 1:8 instructs you to have God’s Word so deep within you that it naturally comes out of your mouth. A great way to do this is to meditate on God’s word, which is as simple as spending time in prayer and memorizing passages of Scripture that encourage you and point you to loving God and others more. Psalm 1:1-3 teaches that if you meditate on God’s word you will be blessed!

DECISION POINT

If we want to have a healthy spiritual life, it starts with reading and knowing the Word of God. If you are new to reading the Bible, start with one book at a time, and commit to reading 1-2 chapters a day. We recommend starting with the gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John - which are accounts of the life of Jesus told by some of His closest friends.

If you are already familiar with the Bible, when was the last time you read it cover to cover? If you have never, or if it has been a while, we would encourage you to commit yourself to that. You can look up Bible reading plans online, or check out the YouVersion Bible app, which has some great reading plans to help you get started wherever you are at!

Another great way to intentionally dive into God’s Word is to begin memorizing and meditating on it. Start with one verse that has encouraged or comforted you. A great way to do this is to actually write out the verse a few times a day. You can also check out resources like fighterverses.com for help in getting started!

• Why is it important for a follower of Jesus to read the Word of God regularly?

• For a follower of Jesus, what is the connection between prayer and reading God’s Word?

• What does your own Bible reading look like in your life? How would you want to grow in it?

• What distractions or obstacles keep you from spending time in the Word of God? When you are reading the Bible, pray and ask God to help you hear from Him and to help you focus on Him.

READ THE PASSAGES

Acts 2:42
1 Corinthians 12:27
Hebrews 10:24-25


STUDY THE PASSAGES

In Acts 2:42, we see that early Christian gatherings were deeply committed to three key activities: teaching, fellowship, and prayer.

• Teaching: The early church placed a high priority on hearing and studying God’s Word. This involved listening to the preaching of the Bible, which was central to their spiritual growth and understanding. For us today, this means engaging with Scripture through sermons, Bible studies, and personal reading, allowing God's Word to shape and guide our lives.

• Fellowship: Fellowship in the early church went beyond mere social interaction. It encompassed sharing life together, including meals, encouragement, and mutual support. This close-knit community was marked by genuine care and connection. In our own lives, we are called to build relationships within the church that are supportive and enriching, sharing both joys and challenges.

• Prayer: Prayer was very important to early Christians, both individually and corporately. They praised God for who He is, talked to Him about their needs, sought Him for direction, and expressed their gratitude, fostering a deep relationship with Him. Our prayer life should reflect this commitment, incorporating both personal prayer and group prayer as essential components of our walk with God.

Look for these characteristics in a local church and live them out with others.

In 1 Corinthians 12:27, we see that followers of Jesus need the Church and the Church needs you! The Bible describes the Church as the body of Christ. Just like a human body has different and indispensable parts, so it is with the body of Christ. No matter what part you are in Christ’s body, no matter how visible or less visible, each part is of infinite worth.

In Hebrews 10:24-25, Christians are called to regularly gather to encourage one another in their faith, love, and devotion to God in Christ. One of the ways we do that is by gathering together every week for corporate worship - a time to hear from God’s Word, worship God through song, pray, and spend time in fellowship with one another. Participate actively in regular church gatherings, valuing them as essential for your spiritual development, the encouragement of others, and the building up of the church community as a whole.


DECISION POINT

Look for a church that preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is important to look for a church that actually teaches and preaches from the Holy Bible, and the message that only Jesus Christ saves through faith and not by good works.

Take the first step by finding a local church near you. Your local church isn’t just where you go to worship on Sundays. It’s also where you make eternal friendships, get spiritually mentored, and find ways to serve. This is also where we can express our faith through things like baptism, which is something Jesus calls all of His followers to - talk to a local pastor about getting baptized! Remember - there is no perfect church. Every church has its strengths and weaknesses. Most people have ups and downs with their church because the church is made up of imperfect people. Even still, grow roots and commit to a local church.

• If you are not a part of a church yet, consider if there are any Christians you know that you could go to church with.

• Are there areas of the church ministry that you would want to serve in?

• What are some obstacles that might keep you from finding and/or getting involved with a local church?

• What are some ways that you can overcome those obstacles?

READ THE PASSAGES

John 20:21
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Romans 10:14-15


STUDY THE PASSAGES

In John 20:21, Jesus commissions His followers with the same mission that God the Father gave Him—to go into the world and share the message of salvation. Just as Jesus was sent on a mission, He sends us to continue this mission. Our call to share the gospel is not optional but a direct mandate from Jesus Himself, reflecting the heart He has for every person to come to Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 emphasizes that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. As believers, we are entrusted with the greatest message—the message of Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to God. God desires to use us as His ambassadors, speaking through us to bring others into a relationship with Him. The weight of this responsibility highlights the importance of sharing the gospel with those around us.

In Romans 10:14-15, Paul outlines the necessity of proclaiming with words the message of Christ for others to hear and believe. The process of coming to faith involves hearing the gospel, which requires someone to preach it. We are called to be those messengers, ensuring that the message of salvation reaches those who need to hear it. This responsibility underscores the urgency of our mission and the need for active engagement in sharing the gospel.

If you are a follower of Jesus, will you commit to proactively sharing the gospel with others around you? It might feel intimidating to you, but it is as simple as practicing, praying, and going!

First: Practice
To become more comfortable in sharing the gospel, practice talking through it with another believer, maybe a trusted friend, pastor, or family member. Share the gospel with them and ask for feedback with questions like “What am I missing?” “Is there anything I should emphasize more or less?” Doing this will help you gain confidence. For a simple summary of the gospel, visit decisionpoint.org/witness or download The Gospel App by Decision Point.

Next: Pray
Take time to pray and ask God for two things. First, ask Him for courage to share the gospel, for the right words to speak, and for love for the lost around you. Then ask God to help you identify a person in your life who you want to share the gospel with. Write down their name and pray for them to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. As you pray for them, look for opportunities to share with them!

Finally: Go
Taking action is a crucial step in sharing the gospel. Practice and prayer are essential, but they must be followed by a step of faith. Be willing to go and engage with the person you’ve identified. Trust that God will speak through you and be faithful in sharing your faith. And remember: regardless of how they respond, your job is to share the truth of the gospel, and to let God move in their hearts - if you do that, even if they reject the truth, you have been successful in sharing the gospel!

• How confident would you say you are with sharing the gospel? What might be causing you to be unsure or nervous to share the gospel? What would help you to grow in confidence with sharing the gospel?

• Are there any specific people you can think of right now that you want to share the gospel with?

• If you are not a follower of Jesus, have you ever heard the gospel clearly shared with you? Check out this page on our website to learn more about the eternal and abundant life that Jesus is offering you!