Indwell: A Study on the Holy Spirit

1. Read Romans 8.31-39. What does this text say about God’s character? How does this text speak to His love for His world, and His people? What in this text speaks most personally to you? 

2. Read Acts 1.1-8. How do you see God at work in His disciples? In your own words define the “power” of the Holy Spirit. In what ways is the Spirit empowering you today? Where do you long for His power to be exhibited in our world, and in your world? 

3. What is God forming at Pentecost? How is our church a part of how God continues to manifest His love today? 

4. In Romans 8.31 Paul asks the question, “What shall we say in response to these things?” After reading what you’ve read so far in this study, how do you respond to Paul’s question? What do you say? 

5. As you consider God’s work in your life “What do you say in response to all these things?

6. On Sunday we sang the hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” What song or Scripture best expresses your response to all He has done for you?

7. The question was asked on Sunday, “What are you afraid of?” How did you respond? 

8. Read Psalm 27.1 How does this Psalm align with Romans 8.31-39? How do these passages bring you a sense of peace and rest to the places that can causes anxiousness, anxiety or fear? 

9. Read Acts 2.42-47 and Acts 4.32-35. How do you see the supernatural love of God at work in the first church? How do you see the supernatural love of God at work in our church? 

10. In Romans 8.36 Paul quotes Psalm 44.22. Read Psalm 44. Why would Paul quote this Psalm? 

11. Paul knows something about suffering. He knows the church will suffer, he knows God’s people will suffer. What encouragement does God’s Word give here to those who suffer? 

12. Read 2 Corinthians 11.21-28. How does Paul suffer? Who suffers alongside Paul? Who suffers alongside you? With whom do you suffer? 

13. How does Romans 8.37-39 give you confidence in the midst of suffering, accusations, trails, hardships, and trouble?

14. How do you see God’s love at work in these last verses of Romans 8? 

15. What do you say in response to all these things? 

Take a few moments giving God praise for all He has done, but more importantly simply for who He is. 

1. Read Romans 8.26-39. What does this text say about God’s character? How does this text speak to His love for His world, and His people? What in this text speaks most personally to you? 

2. Romans 8.26-27, and 8.34 reference ongoing intercession in heaven. Who is interceding, and what is the purpose of their intercession? 

3. In its simplest form intercession is standing in God’s presence on behalf of another. For whom do you regularly intercede? Who intercedes for you? 

4. On Sunday, instead of a normal sermon we spent the majority of our time interceding on behalf of others. We focused our prayers in four key areas of our faith. We’ll do the same here. Instead of a series of additional questions about intercession we want you to invite you to intercede. The four areas of prayer, and the passages that were used to anchor these spaces are below. Spend time standing in God’s presence interceding for others. 

Unity – John 17.20-22

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. 

May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.

Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Community – Romans 12.3-8

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Suffering – Psalm 25

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.  

I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.  

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?  He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.
Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.  Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Faith – Psalm 143

Lord, hear my prayer,  listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.  Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.

The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.

So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

1. Read Romans 8.18-27. What does this text say about God’s character? How does it help you know the grace of God? How do you see God’s love in action in the text? 

2. Paul is writing this letter from prison. At the beginning of this section Paul references suffering. What kind of suffering is Paul addressing? 

3. When have you, or do you, suffer with Christ? When have you or do you suffer for Christ? 

4. Paul writes in verse 18, our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. In your own words describe the “glory that will be revealed” in you. 

5. Who suffers with you? With whom do you suffer? How has God used suffering in your transformation process? 

6. Reflect on Romans 8.20-21 and answer the following questions. Why is creation frustrated? Who is responsible for subjecting it to frustration?Who will bring it into “freedom and glory”? How does this verse give an apologetic for natural disasters? 

7. Read Psalm 19.1-4. In the midst of a fallen world, how does creation still declare the glory of God? 

8. What does Paul mean by saying “we who have the first fruits of the Spirit?” 

9. Read Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 12.7-10 and answer the following questions.What is the overarching message of Paul’s testimony? How does weakness translate to strength? Why doesn’t God take away something that “torments” Paul? How have you seen God work by saying “no” to a prayer you’ve desperately prayed? 

10. Reflect on Romans 8.26-27 and  answer the following questions. How does this passage proclaim the Good News of Jesus? What does it mean to you that the Spirit prays in accordance with God’s will? In your own words define “intercession.” For whom do you regularly stand in God’s presence? How do you sense the Spirit is interceding for you today? 

11. Where and what in your life today causes you to groan? Who joins you in those spaces of groaning? How do you believe the Spirit is interceding for you right now? 

12. Read and reflect on Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3.14-21

1. Read Romans 8:12-17. What stands out to you?  What do you notice in this passage?

2. What confuses you?

3. What questions come to mind?

4. How would you define “sin”? Discuss.

5. Are there areas in your life that the Spirit moved you to put to death? What does it look like for us to put to death our sin?

6. Why is it so important that we put our sin to death? And how does humility play a part in this?

7.  What are specific ways that you have found to put sin to death and follow the Spirit?

8. Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. What stands out to you in this passage? What is Paul trying to communicate?

9. What would it look like for us to fully live in our adopted name as children of God?

10. Do you see the Holy Spirit as proof of your adoption in your life?  How have you seen that?

11. What does it mean for us to “share in His sufferings” and “share in His glory”?

12. What questions do you have from Sunday’s message?