First aired May 23, 2020
Jesus told his disciples to wait on the promised Holy Spirit to receive power to be His witnesses throughout the whole earth

Spirit and Fire

Ice Breaker

Think back to when you were a child. Did you ever really beg for something? Perhaps it was a precious toy or game that you asked for again and again and again, until your parents finally relented and got it for you.  
If you have a memory like that – share what  happened with the group in your story.

Children have amazing tenacity to keep asking, again and again, which we often lose as adults.  Why do we lose this tendency?  Is it good to keep asking, or is it just annoying?

Praise and Worship

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0vDlbvijr4[/embedyt]

Sermon

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktedo4sdH-E[/embedyt]

Digging Deeper

Reflect on the sermon today – did any ideas strike you that you’d like to comment on?

Read Luke 11:5-13 and discuss the following questions: In the first story of the man asking for bread, why did the man already in bed finally give his friend the bread? Can we change God’s mind by asking multiple times?

This story seems a little strange in our culture. Is there an example you can think of, of a similar scenario that could happen today?

Discuss the following line, taken from a commentary on this passage: “Persistence, or boldness, in prayer overcomes our insensitivity not God’s. To practice persistence does more to change our heart and mind than His, and it helps us understand and express the intensity of our need.”

Discuss the idea that parents know how to give good gifts to their children. If you’re a parent, who gets more delight from giving your child a great gift? You, or the child?

What do you think about the idea that God feels joy when He gives us gifts?

The point of a gift is that it’s not earned, nor necessarily deserved. When we think about grace (undeserved goodness from God) we often think of salvation. But grace is the source of them both.  Discuss how these two gifts of grace, salvation and the Holy Spirit, are interlinked.

Challenge

• Are there things that I have given up asking God for, that I need to start asking for again?
• Do I ask for the Holy Spirit in my life each and every day?
• Do I stop to notice all the other gifts that God gives me so often?

What can I do to remind myself that I have the gift of the Holy Spirit, as God promised, even if I  don’t feel it.