Ice Breaker: What is your favorite water-related summer activity?

Instructions: If your group meets bi-weekly, do 3 & 4.

1. Read Acts 1:4-5 and 8. Jesus explains that the Father has

promised the gift of the Holy Spirit. Why is the Holy Spirit a gift to mankind?

What does it mean to receive power from the Holy Spirit? Read Acts 2:4, 2:17,

18 and 33. What does the Holy Spirit allow us to do that we otherwise would be

incapable of doing? How do these new abilities help the early church thrive?

How do these abilities help Riverside thrive today?

2. Read Galatians 5:16. Pastor Tom quotes Dr. Robert Mounce, “Living by the

promptings and power of the Spirit is the key to conquering sinful desires.” What

does it mean to live by the promptings and power of the Spirit? How is it

possible to live life the way God intended? Read Galatians 5:6b and 3:3. In

these verses, what power do we receive from the Holy Spirit? What does it mean

to reach spiritual maturity?

3. Read Galatians 5:17 and Romans 7:15. Pastor Tom observes that “the Christian

faith clearly directs us to look in the mirror.” We all struggle. To demonstrate this

share some of the struggles you face every day. Do you struggle with giving

yourself grace . . . your spouse . . . your children . . . your co-workers or

employees? Are you showing love to other drivers on the road? Is there a larger

struggle in your life that your group could pray for (you may even wish to begin

by simply admitting “I struggle” and have your group pray for your unnamed

struggle)?

4. Read Galatians 5:18, Romans 7:25a and 8:2-4. Jesus is the answer to our civil

war. How does Jesus’ requirement of a submissive faith allow us to experience

the Spirit-filled life? How can you commit yourself to live the “deeper”, the

“extraordinary” life that Jesus calls us to today? How does the knowledge that

the Spirit is willing, able, and ready to demonstrate His life transforming power

and grace in our lives affect your walk with Jesus today? Before you leave, pray

as a group to have the Holy Spirit give each of you the power to experience the

Spirit-filled life.

The book of Acts is not only the story of the first Christians, but also the story of the

Holy Spirit. Read the following passages to discover how Jesus fulfilled the Father’s

promise of sending the Holy Spirit and how that grew the church.

DAY 1 – Read Acts 2:1-13 DAY 4 – Read Acts 2:42-47

DAY 2 – Read Acts 2:14-21 and Joel 2:28-32 DAY 5 – Read Acts 4

DAY 3 – Read Acts 2:22-41 and Psalm 16:8-11

“Receive Power”

[Tom Lundeen, Senior Pastor]

MESSAGE NOTES

Jesus knew that the only way His followers and His Church would not just survive, but

actually thrive, would be through the ____________, power, and Person of the Holy

Spirit (note Acts 1:4, 5, 8).

Note Acts 2:4, 17, 18, 33; 4:8, 31; 5; 6:3, 10; 7:55; 8:15-17, 29, 39; 9:17

Just as the people in the early Church did, we also need to experience what it means to

“live by...walk by...be led by...keep in step with…” the Holy Spirit, because apart from

Him we cannot live for Jesus or serve Him in any meaningful or __________________

way.

1. Real Spiritual Life Isn’t S________-G_____________________

(note Galatians 5:16)

To “live...walk” by the Spirit is a __________________ theme in the New Testament.

Real spiritual life isn’t the result of my efforts at ___________-improvement; or how

good I am at following various rules and regulations, practicing rituals, or

_______________________________.

“Live by” (Galatians 5:16) = “____________ living” (present tense) = lifestyle,

“h__________________ conduct”.

Living by the promptings and power of the Spirit is the key to ______________________

sinful desires. (Mounce)

How is it possible for you and me to live life the way God ____________________...?

(note Galatians 5:6b)

By ______________ in the life and power of the Holy Spirit to produce the life of Jesus

in us.

We, too, can start our relationship with God by faith, but then try to continue by our

own self-effort and p________________________... (note Galatians 3:3).

Only the Holy Spirit, living, controlling, and working in and through us can give us the

_______________ we need to live for and serve Jesus.

2. I Am the Biggest ____________________ to Real Spirituality

In a society where claiming to be a victim of someone/something dominates the human

landscape, the Christian faith clearly directs us to look in the __________________.

The struggle is between my _____________ nature and the Holy Spirit (note Galatians

5:17; Romans 7:15ff).

The good news is recognizing this struggle is the ______________________ to helping us

realize how much we need the life and power of the Holy Spirit.

There is an answer to our ______________ “civil war” (note Romans 7:25a; Galatians

5:18).

The Spirit-__________________________ life is the only way to experience genuine

spirituality (note Romans 8:2-4).

God’s Blueprint for His Church:

The Spirit-filled life offers us the power to overcome sin and pursue holiness…

...to be _____________________ with a desire to serve others and to promote

spiritual unity…

...and to become more and more like Jesus.

To experience the Spirit-filled life, the Lord asks for a submissive faith that causes us

to “hide no skeletons” in the ________________ of our hearts…

...to have “_________________________ attached” in our relationship with God…

...and to have no area of our life ___________________.

If we are really serious about living the “_________________”, the “extraordinary”

life, then there is an answer for us.

That answer is ____________ the Holy Spirit…

He is willing, able, and ready to demonstrate His life transforming power and grace

in our lives.

Tell someone about the next step you took today in your spiritual journey. It’s not too

late to take the next step of water baptism this afternoon. You can also use the connect

card to let us know about your commitment, too!

“Receive Power” Tom Lundeen, Senior Pastor

MESSAGE NOTES

Jesus knew that the only way His followers and His Church would not just survive, but actually thrive, would be through the life, power, and Person of the Holy Spirit (note Acts 1:4, 5, 8). Note Acts 2:4, 17, 18, 33; 4:8, 31; 5; 6:3, 10; 7:55; 8:15-17, 29, 39; 9:17 Just as the people in the early Church did, we also need to experience what it means to “live by…walk by…be led by…keep in step with…” the Holy Spirit, because apart from Him we cannot live for Jesus or serve Him in any meaningful or long-term way.

1. Real Spiritual Life Isn’t Self-Generated (note Galatians 5:16) To “live…walk” by the Spirit is a dominate theme in the New Testament. Real spiritual life isn’t the result of my efforts at self-improvement; or how good I am at following various rules and regulations, practicing rituals, or will power. “Live by” (Galatians 5:16) = “go on living” (present tense) = lifestyle, “habitual conduct”. Living by the promptings and power of the Spirit is the key to conquering sinful desires. (Mounce) How is possible for you and me to live life the way God intended…? (note Galatians 5:6b) By faith in the life and power of the Holy Spirit to produce the life of Jesus in us. We, too, can start our relationship with God by faith, but then try to continue by our own self-effort and performance… (note Galatians 3:3). Only the Holy Spirit, living, controlling, and working in and through us can give us the power we need to live for and serve Jesus.

2. I Am the Biggest Obstacle to Real Spirituality In a society where claiming to be a victim of someone/something dominates the human landscape, the Christian faith clearly directs us to look in the mirror. The struggle is between my sinful nature and the Holy Spirit (note Galatians 5:17; Romans 7:15ff.). The good news is recognizing this struggle is the first step to helping us realize how much we need the life and power of the Holy Spirit. There is an answer to our inner “civil war” (note Romans 7:25a; Galatians 5:18). The Spirit-controlled life is the only way to experience genuine spirituality (note Romans 8:2-4). God’s Blueprint for His Church:

The Spirit-filled life offers us the power to overcome sin and pursue holiness…

…to be consumed with a desire to serve others and to promote spiritual unity…

…and to become more and more like Jesus.

To experience the Spirit-filled life, the Lord asks for a submissive faith that causes us to “hide no skeletons” in the closet of our hearts…

…to have “no strings attached” in our relationship with God…

…and to have no area of our life ignored.

If we are really serious about living the “deeper”, the “extraordinary” life, then there is an answer for us.

That answer is God the Holy Spirit…

He is willing, able, and ready to demonstrate His life transforming power and grace in our lives. Tell someone about the next step you took today in your spiritual journey. It also not too late to take the next step of water baptism this afternoon. You can also use the connect card to let us know about your commitment, too!