God-Centered Experience
God’s Kingdom Endures
from One Generation to the Next
The first two pages are your homework. Please, please, please engage in this over the week. Then bring this to group and you will engage in pages 3-4 with your group at your next meeting.
God-Centered Experience Homework
In our study of Daniel, it is clear that he is depending upon the Holy Spirit as he serves the Lord. The Holy Spirit did rest upon certain leaders of Israel, and He worked in them and through them to build the Kingdom of God from one generation to the next. However, it is not until Jesus ascended to heaven, having been vindicated by His resurrection from the dead, that the Holy Spirit indwelt believers permanently.
This week in preparation for the God-Centered Experience with your group, you are going to reflect on passages from both the Old Testament and the New Testament that describe the work of the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of God among “the remnant,” children of faith God birthed in every generation to grow His Kingdom. You are also going to pray about the relationship you would like to enjoy with the Holy Spirit. When you meet with your group, you will celebrate what He is doing in you and seek His help and comfort for THIS generation.
Day 1
Context – Isaiah has been warning God’s people of the upcoming exile into Babylon. But then he shifts to comfort them with the promise of the Holy Spirit who will be their Teacher. Jesus and John both reference this work of the Spirit as well. Read Isaiah 30:18-22; John 6:44-45; 1 John 2:27.
What do these passages reveal about the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the remnant believers?
Reflect on these passages and then talk to God about what you want in your relationship with Him.
Day 2
Context – Ezekiel, like Daniel, was taken into captivity. He prophesies to his fellow exiles about how one day, God will put His Holy Spirit in them so that they can obey Him. The restoration of the land and this gift of the Holy Spirit seems unbelievable, so to prove that He is capable of ANYTHING, God gives Ezekiel a vision of dead bones coming to life. The “breath” in this passage refers to the Holy Spirit. Later Jesus and Paul emphasize how we are born again through the power of the Holy Spirit. Read Ezekiel 36:25-27; 37:1-10; John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5.
What do these passages reveal about the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the remnant believers?
Reflect on these passages and then talk to God about what you want in your relationship with Him.
Day 3
Context – Zechariah is prophesying to those who returned to Israel after they are released from captivity in Babylon. These remnant believers who returned to their land desire to build a temple so that they can worship God. Zerubbabel is leading that effort; however, much has opposed the work this restoration community wants to complete for the Lord, and so God encouraged them to persevere. Later Paul writes about the work of the Spirit in making believers part of this same family of God. Read Zechariah 4:6-10; Romans 8:15-17.
What do these passages reveal about the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the remnant believers?
Reflect on these passages and then talk to God about what you want in your relationship with Him.
Day 4
Context – The Holy Spirit came just as Jesus promised (John 16:7-11; Acts 1:6-9; 2:1-4). Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus about their identity in Christ and ALL that God has given them so that they can live for God. Read Ephesians 1:12-14, 18; 1 Cor 2:12-14.
What do these passages reveal about the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the remnant believers?
Reflect on these passages and then talk to God about what you want in your relationship with Him.
Day 5
Read Galatians 5:16-24; Romans 8:26-30; Ephesians 3:16-19
What do these passages reveal about the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the remnant believers?
Reflect on these passages and then talk to God about what you want in your relationship with Him.
God-Centered Experience with Group
PERSONAL WORSHIP
When Daniel counsels Nebuchadnezzar to turn away from sin by putting on righteousness and showing mercy to the oppressed, he merely echoes how the prophets counseled Israel again and again. Neither heed this warning and the Gentile leader is put into exile for seven years and the chosen people of God for seventy years. This kind humiliation leads them to repentance; now “poor in spirit,” they recognize they have no righteousness of their own, but are dependent on the Lord.
In Lesson 14, Day 5, you were encouraged to memorize the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-10. The chart below helps us see the connection between our inward relationship with God and our outward relationship with others. Study that a bit.
RELATIONSHIP TO GOD – inward
1. poor in spirit | kingdom of heaven
recognizing no righteousness of our own; conscious of our total dependence on God
2. mourn | comforted
mourning & confessing sin
3. the meek | inherit the earth
possessing a quiet confidence in God
4. hunger & thirst for righteousness | satisfied
desiring to live according to God’s standard
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHERS – outward
5. the merciful | receive mercy
compassionate
6. the pure in heart | see God
serving with the motive to please God
7. the peacemakers | called sons of God
striving for unity among the brethren
9. persecuted for righteousness sake | kingdom of heaven
living according to God’s standard despite persecution
1. Study yourself now a bit. Are you merciful? Are you serving with a motive to please God? Are you striving for unity among your believing community? Are you living according to God’s standards as a witness to others even when you are mocked, shunned, or persecuted for doing so? Take some notes below.
2. Study yourself a bit more. After spending a week reflecting on the work the Holy Spirit is willing to do in you and praying about your relationship with Him, how has He enlarged your heart to be dependent on Him? to mourn and confess sin? to be quiet confident He will move for you? to desire to obey the Word of God? Take some notes below.
3. Having tasted the goodness of knowing the Holy Spirit, seeing the fruit of a growing trust in Him, think about people in your home, at your work or people-types whom you serve at work, or in our city who do not. Focus on those in need of mercy, in need of seeing real authentic peacemaking believers go after God’s heart by serving others.
Who is coming to your mind?
List names. List people-types” such as the lost, teens, immigrants, the suicidal, etc. List issues such as the political climate, the economy, etc. that disrupt the peace in the people in our church and city.
WORSHIP with Triad or Quad
1. Prayer – Instead of sharing what you wrote during your personal worship for Q1 & Q2, go around your little circle and pray for yourself. Confess. Petition. Give thanks and praise.
2. Share with your quad – Who did you list? Share your list without commenting on any one person, type, or issue. Then choose two from your list to share about more deeply. Why are these people, types, issues most especially on your heart? Take notes as others share.
3. Brainstorm -- How could we minister to such people? How could we serve them with compassion, pure hearts, and peace in some tangible but simple way. Take notes about your ideas.
4. Send a picture of your notes for number 3 to your group chat. You will use these notes to plan your Hands of Grace (March 7-14 = the window). Your leader has more details.
5. Close in prayer as fitting for your discussion.
God’s joy & strength to you!
kpaulson@gracelaredo.org