John 16:1-15 // Listening To The Holy Spirit

Lean In // 5 minutes

What are your favorite patriotic quotes?

Sample answers include:

  • Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country. – John Fitzgerald Kennedy
  • This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. – Elmer Davis
  • For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? – Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. – William Faulkner
  • Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it, Almighty God!  I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! – Patrick Henry

Look Down // 10 minutes

Read John 15:26-16:15

What do you learn about the Holy Spirit?

Sample answers could include:

  • The Holy Spirit is our advocate (14:16; 15:26)
  • Testifies about Jesus
  • Sent by Jesus (16:7)
  • Proves the world wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment (v. 8)
  • Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (v. 13)
  • The Spirit only speaks what he hears (v. 13)
  • Tells us what is yet to come
  • Glorifies Jesus

Look Out // 10 minutes

Leader note: An advocate is a person who speaks in support or defense of a person or a cause.  There are many people and causes to advocate for but where you are leading your group is how the Holy Spirit advocates for us by guiding us into truth.  Ultimately, the Holy Spirit guides us to Jesus, who is the Truth.

What are the different causes people advocate for?

What does it look like to be an advocate?

 Sample answers could include:

  • Speaking for
  • Standing with
  • Guiding
  • Seeking the best for
  • Supporting
  • Bringing justice to
  • Empowering

Leader Note: God has given us the Holy Spirit as our advocate on behalf of Jesus.  Because the physical presence of Jesus is now with the Father, then the next best thing is God’s spiritual presence in the person of the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.  Help your group grasp the concept of advocacy because this is how Jesus describes the gift of the Holy Spirit—He is our advocate.

Look In // 20 minutes

Leader Note: One of the ways the Holy Spirit advocates for us is by leading us into truth.  With that in mind, create some space for group members to speak out and process what God might be speaking to them through the Holy Spirit.

What is the Holy Spirit (possibly) saying to you?

What would it look like to follow that leading?

Leader Note: Have group members break into smaller groups of 2-3 to share what they feel God is saying to them.  For some, it may be clear what the Holy Spirit is saying.  However, for others, it may take some probing to help them discover what the Holy Spirit is saying to them.

Live It Out // 5 minutes

What would happen if you (consistently) listened to the leading of the Holy Spirit?  Who would be impacted?

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Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.

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