Lesson 9 (Feb 25-Mar 3), The Holy Spirit and the Church

The Holy Spirit Unites Us With Christ

1. Why do we need the Holy Spirit to unite us with Christ? Is Jesus not omnipresent since His incarnation? 
2. What is the difference, if any, in what the Holy Spirit does with us as individuals and what He does with us corporately as a church? 

The Holy Spirit Unites Us Through Baptism

1. Is the mention of ". . . and in the name of the Holy Spirit" at the time of Baptism adequate or does there need to be an identifiable experience in order for one to say that he or she has been baptised by the Holy Spirit?
2. Is unity manifested in a local church the most important evidence of "having the Spirit?" If so, why?"

The Holy Spirit Unites the Church Through the Word of God

1. Was there complete harmony with Scripture and the teachings of Jesus? To Jesus' hearers what was more important, following the Bible, or following his teachings? 
2. How can sincere Adventists arrive at differing interpretations of the Word?

The Holy Spirit Unites the Church in Faith and Doctrine

1. What is this "faith and doctrine" that the church must be one in? Is it all the "fundamental doctrines" of the Adventist church or only those which are a test of fellowship (i.e., those for which we would disfellowship a member for not believing in? Or is more than the "fundamental doctrines" that we need to be uniform in (such as ordination of women)?
2. Why is unity in faith and doctrine fundamental to unity in mission? What is the difference in  unity and uniformity? What is the mission of the church?

The Holy Spirit Unites the Church in  Mission and Service

1. Should we as a church expect a pentecostal-like experience to propel us in mission?
2. Do we expect the Holy Spirit to unite us or will the Holy Spirit arrive only when we are united as in the upper room?

Lesson 8 (Feb 18-24), The Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit

The Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit

1. Why do we refer only to the "fruit" of the Spirit and not "fruits" when there are so many--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness?
2. Why do speak of the "gifts" of the Spirit in plural? Is the Spirit a gift from God, or does the Spirit bring gifts from God?

God the Sovereign Giver of the Spiritual Gifts

1. Does the Spirit give gifts at birth or as we grow?
2. Can we choose which gifts we want and prayerfully develop those?
3. Are some people given more gifts than others?

The Purpose of the Spiritual Gifts

1. Are the gifts of the Spirit given for our benefit or for the benefit of others?
2. Are some gifts more important than others?
3. How can one discern what his or her gift is?
4. How can one understand if the gift is being used properly for the building up of the church or not? Can one misunderstand the outcome?
5. In what ways can a person misuse a Gift of the Spirit?

The Gift, Then and Now

1. Are the gifts listed in Romans and I Corinthians exhaustive or are there more? Are some of the gifts given during the New Testament times obsolete now?
2. Are there some new gifts being given for these modern times?

The Holy Spirit and the Gift of Discernment

1. Why is the gift of discernment important?
2. Do some people have more discernment than others?
3. Since so few will admit their limitations in understanding, how can one recognise their deficiencies in discernment, if any?

Lesson 7 (Feb 11-17), The Holy Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit

The Condition of Fruitfulness

1. Is it possible to keep the ten commandments without the help of God? Was the rich young ruler keeping the commandments as he claimed?
2. To what extent should a Christian be concerned about the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in his/her life?
3. How can one ensure that his/her branch is connected to the vine?

The Fruit of Love

1. Why is love the most important fruit ("the greatest") of the Spirit?
2. Does the parable of the sheep and the goats indicate that love (deeds of mercy) are the sole basis on which one is selected for heaven?
3. Are there some people who are unlovable? Is toleration of such people enough or must we progress to actually loving even such people?

Joy, Peace, and Patience

1. What value, if any, does stress have in the lives of humans? Is it desirable to have stress totally removed from one's life?
2. What causes impatience? Is it selfishness?
3. What is the difference between happiness and joy?
4. Is stress an indication of a lack of the Spirit in one's life? How can the Spirit remove stress?

Kindness, Goodness, and Faithfulness

1. If one were to make a list of what Adventists were known for where would "good and kind people," rank?
2. Why is it not enough to just avoid being unkind? Why must one actually demonstrate deeds of kindness?
3. Can one be good and kind without love? How does the Spirit help one become loving?

Gentleness and Self-Control

1. Doesn't a meek person get taken advantage of? To what extent should one be meek?
2. Which bible characters can be described as meek?
3. Is meekness inherited or cultivated?
4. Should we not fight for our rights?
5. What kinds of trouble can we get into if we lose control of self? How can the Spirit help me control self?

Lesson 5 (Jan 28-Feb 5), The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

1. Does being baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit indicate that one has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
2. Does 1 Cor 12:13 teach that all Christians have been baptised in the Spirit? 
3. How can one know if he or she has been baptised by the Holy Spirit?

Being Filled With the Holy Spirit

1. What is the difference between being baptised and being filled with the Holy Spirit?
2. Can one be partly full of the Holy Spirit? 
3. Since it is the Holy Spirit that does the filling how can we be commanded to be filled?

Conditions

1. Does the Holy Spirit lead one to repentance or is repentance a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Spirit?
2. Is trust in God's word a prerequisite to receiving the Spirit or does the Holy Spirit lead one to trust in His word?
3. By asking can one receive what God might not have given otherwise?
4. Why is obedience a precondition for receiving the Spirit? Doesn't the Spirit speak to the disobedient? What is the difference between the Spirit speaking or being received?
5. What must one do in order to receive the Spirit?

Self-centered Living Versus Christ -centered Living

1. Are humans born selfish or do they develop selfishness?
2. How can a selfish person become unselfish?
3. How can a person receive Christ if not through the Holy Spirit?