The Holy Spirit and the Church – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: Unity is the outcome of converted hearts and humility, founded in God’s Word and committed to His service.
1. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 2:18-22.
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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. How does the Holy Spirit produce unity in the church?
c. Personal Application : How does our individual unity with Christ lead to a corporate unity in the church? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “There are too many pople who disagree with some doctrine or teaching of the church. If they don’t agree on doctrine, it makes it very hard for the church to be united and effective in ministry.” Do you agree or disagree with your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Romans 6:3-7.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What does it mean to be dead to sin and alive in the Spirit?
c. Personal Application : Why is it such a natural tendency to be the center of influence? How can we fight that tendency? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “I don’t think we need to be baptized again. When we were born, we were baptized by water. The only baptism we need is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which we receive when we accept Christ?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 4:4-6.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How do you define unity? Is it uniformity in all things? What is the basis or foundation of the unity in your church?
c. Personal Application: What activities in your local church help reveal unity among the members? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “If there is one body and one Spirit, does that mean all Christians in all denominations belong to the same body, even though their faith systems and doctrines are not in unity?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Acts 2:4-11.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What was the result of the Holy Spirit’s being poured out on the believers in Acts?
c. Personal Application : What attitude is needed to help us study the Word, receive the Spirit, and help us develop unity? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
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