NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the MasterWork curriculum.
Bible Passages: John 15:26; 16:13-15; Ephesians 4:30
Discussion Questions: Would you agree that many churches and Christians neglect the Holy Spirit? If so, why do you think they do? What is the result of that neglect?
Food for Thought:
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and it is by the Spirit that God does His work. When the church neglects the Holy Spirit, much desolation results.
For one, the fellowship of the church degenerates into a social fellowship with a mild religious flavor. The Lord may have had something like that in mind when He said to the church in Laodicea, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot” (Rev. 3:15, HCSB).
Another result of the failure to honor the Holy Spirit is an overemphasis on attracting worshippers through any means necessary. This leads to what some might describe as worship that entertains in order to attract. Elaborate attempts to keep people coming may be fine, but it all depends on who is ultimately in charge. We must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to reach people for Christ.
The Spirit of God may not leave the church completely, but He can, like the Savior who was asleep in the stern of the boat, go to sleep and not make Himself known and let us get along without Him for years.
Let’s pray for not only for a deepening understanding of who the Holy Spirit is but that we would give Him His rightful place in our churches and in our lives.
MasterWork
MasterWork is an ongoing Bible study curriculum based on works from a variety of renowned authors and offers pertinent, practical messages that adults will find uplifting and enriching. The list of authors and their books to be studied in upcoming months can be found at www.lifeway.com/masterwork.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at www.LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
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