People's Church

7 Biblical Practices To Guard Your Heart From Church Hurt

1. Don't expect the church to be perfect

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. (NLT)

2. Don't put pastors on a pedestal

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the

Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13  Show them great

respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. (NLT)

Acts 10:25-26 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26  But Peter

pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” (NLT)

Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set

before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the

throne of God. (NASB)

3. Don’t put all your hope in people

Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul. Find rest in God, my hope comes from Him. (NIV)

4. Extend the same grace and mercy that you want to receive

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without

effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (NIV)

James 2:13   There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have

been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. (NLT)

5. Don't judge all churches by the actions of one church

6. Don't get caught up in the offenses of others

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they

may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (NIV)

1 Timothy 5:19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three

witnesses. (NIV)

7. Do not give up on the church

Hebrews 10:24–25   And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

25  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all

the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)

7 Biblical Practices To Guard Your Heart From Church Hurt

1. Don't expect the church to be perfect

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. (NLT)

2. Don't put pastors on a pedestal

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the

Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13  Show them great

respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. (NLT)

Acts 10:25-26 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26  But Peter

pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” (NLT)

Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set

before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the

throne of God. (NASB)

3. Don’t put all your hope in people

Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul. Find rest in God, my hope comes from Him. (NIV)

4. Extend the same grace and mercy that you want to receive

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without

effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (NIV)

James 2:13   There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have

been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. (NLT)

5. Don't judge all churches by the actions of one church

6. Don't get caught up in the offenses of others

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they

may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (NIV)

1 Timothy 5:19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three

witnesses. (NIV)

7. Do not give up on the church

Hebrews 10:24–25   And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

25  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all

the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)

Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there.

He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  13  “It is

written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of

robbers.’” (NIV)

Act 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them

complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution

of food. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 3:3–4 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you

not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4  For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I

follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? (NIV)

James 4:1-2 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at

war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what

others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have

what you want because you don’t ask God for it. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that

even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2  And you are proud! Shouldn’t you

rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?

(NIV)

1 Corinthians 11:17-18 But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more

harm than good is done when you meet together.  18  First, I hear that there are divisions among you when

you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. (NLT)

2 Timothy 4:9-10 Do your best to come to me quickly,  10  for Demas, because he loved this world, has

deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.  (NIV)

2 Timothy 4:14–18 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him

for what he has done. 15  You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our

message. 16  At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be

held against them. 17  But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the

message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the

lion’s mouth. 18  The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his

heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

1. Acknowledge the hurt

2. Be confident that the Lord will deal with those who hurt you

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him

for what he has done. (NIV)

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is

written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”  says the Lord. (NIV)

3. Do not confuse God’s people with God

2 Timothy 4:17-18 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the

message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the

lion’s mouth. 18  The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his

heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

4. Do not give up on all people because of some people

2 Timothy 4:9 Do your best to come to me quickly (NIV)

2 Timothy 4:11   Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to

me in my ministry. (NIV)

5. Do not forfeit your purpose because of the pain

2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the

message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the

lion’s mouth. (NIV)

Colossians 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (NLT)

Hebrews 12:15   Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch

out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (NLT)

Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there.

He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  13  “It is

written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of

robbers.’” (NIV)

Act 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them

complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution

of food. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 3:3–4 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you

not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4  For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I

follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? (NIV)

James 4:1-2 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at

war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what

others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have

what you want because you don’t ask God for it. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that

even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2  And you are proud! Shouldn’t you

rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?

(NIV)

1 Corinthians 11:17-18 But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more

harm than good is done when you meet together.  18  First, I hear that there are divisions among you when

you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. (NLT)

2 Timothy 4:9-10 Do your best to come to me quickly,  10  for Demas, because he loved this world, has

deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.  (NIV)

2 Timothy 4:14–18 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him

for what he has done. 15  You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our

message. 16  At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be

held against them. 17  But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the

message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the

lion’s mouth. 18  The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his

heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

1. Acknowledge the hurt

2. Be confident that the Lord will deal with those who hurt you

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him

for what he has done. (NIV)

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is

written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”  says the Lord. (NIV)

3. Do not confuse God’s people with God

2 Timothy 4:17-18 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the

message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the

lion’s mouth. 18  The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his

heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

4. Do not give up on all people because of some people

2 Timothy 4:9 Do your best to come to me quickly (NIV)

2 Timothy 4:11   Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to

me in my ministry. (NIV)

5. Do not forfeit your purpose because of the pain

2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the

message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the

lion’s mouth. (NIV)

Colossians 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.

Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (NLT)

Hebrews 12:15   Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch

out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (NLT)

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

2 Steps

1. Just Start

2. Join a Team

2 Values

1. Spread the love of God all over the place

2. Watch Jesus Move with your More

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

2 Steps

1. Just Start

2. Join a Team

2 Values

1. Spread the love of God all over the place

2. Watch Jesus Move with your More

Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the

whole countryside. (NIV)

Acts 10:38   how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around

doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a

demonstration of the Spirit’s power, (NIV)

Romans 15:19   by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from

Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. (NIV)

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may

overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 4:20   For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (NIV)

2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-

discipline. (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the

Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. (NIV)

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

3 Ways The Power Of The Holy Spirit Helps You Be A Witness

1. The Holy Spirit’s power cleans us up

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

2 Thessalonians 2:13   As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by

the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a

salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. (NLT)

Romans 15:16   I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News

so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. (NLT)

Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (NIV)

1 Peter 1:2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a

result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you

more and more grace and peace. (NLT)

Ezekiel 36:26–27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you

your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to

follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (NIV)

2. The Holy Spirit’s power fills us up

Acts 11:24   He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were

brought to the Lord. (NIV)

Acts 6:3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit

and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them (NIV)

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! (NIV)

Acts 13:9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in

the eye. (NLT)

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Romans 15:13   May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you

may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness,

peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (NIV)

Ephesians 3:16   I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his

Spirit in your inner being, (NIV)

3. The Holy Spirit’s power pours us out

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 1:5–6 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with

power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your

sake. 6  You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst

of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,

but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5  so that your faith might not rest on human

wisdom, but on God’s power. (NIV)

Romans 15:19   by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So

from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

(NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8  To one

person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message

of special knowledge. 9  The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one

Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10  He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another

the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from

the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in

unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11  It is the

one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person

should have. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

(NKJV)

Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the

whole countryside. (NIV)

Acts 10:38   how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around

doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a

demonstration of the Spirit’s power, (NIV)

Romans 15:19   by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from

Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. (NIV)

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may

overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 4:20   For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (NIV)

2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-

discipline. (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the

Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. (NIV)

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

3 Ways The Power Of The Holy Spirit Helps You Be A Witness

1. The Holy Spirit’s power cleans us up

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

2 Thessalonians 2:13   As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by

the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a

salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. (NLT)

Romans 15:16   I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News

so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. (NLT)

Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (NIV)

1 Peter 1:2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a

result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you

more and more grace and peace. (NLT)

Ezekiel 36:26–27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you

your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to

follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (NIV)

2. The Holy Spirit’s power fills us up

Acts 11:24   He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were

brought to the Lord. (NIV)

Acts 6:3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit

and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them (NIV)

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! (NIV)

Acts 13:9 Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in

the eye. (NLT)

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Romans 15:13   May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you

may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness,

peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (NIV)

Ephesians 3:16   I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his

Spirit in your inner being, (NIV)

3. The Holy Spirit’s power pours us out

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 1:5–6 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with

power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your

sake. 6  You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst

of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,

but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5  so that your faith might not rest on human

wisdom, but on God’s power. (NIV)

Romans 15:19   by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So

from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

(NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8  To one

person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message

of special knowledge. 9  The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one

Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10  He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another

the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from

the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in

unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11  It is the

one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person

should have. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

(NKJV)

6 Purposes of the Holy Spirit

1. The Holy Spirit comforts you

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion

and the God of all comfort, 4  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any

trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (NIV)

John 14:26   But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he

shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

(KJV)

2. The Holy Spirit leads your life

Romans 8:4–5 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not

live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5  Those who live according to the flesh have their

minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set

on what the Spirit desires. (NIV)

Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our

lives. (NLT)

1. You speak what the Spirit says to speak

1 Corinthians 2:13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human

wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual

truths. (NLT)

2. You go where the Spirit says to go

Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

(NIV)

Acts 11:11-12 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house

where I was staying.  12  The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six

brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. (NIV)

3. You don’t go where the Spirit says not to go

Acts 16:6-7 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having

been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.  7  When they came to the

border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (NIV)

4. You let the Spirit speak to you through God’s people

1 Corinthians 2:12–15   And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the

wonderful things God has freely given us. 13  When we tell you these things, we do not use words that

come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words

to explain spiritual truths. 14  But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s

Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can

understand what the Spirit means. 15  Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they

themselves cannot be evaluated by others. (NLT)

5. You let the Spirit speak to you about your daily decisions

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me

Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (NIV)

3. The Holy Spirit unifies the church

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one

body, so it is with Christ.  13  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether

Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (NIV)

Ephesians 2:21–22   in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the

Lord, 22  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (NKJV)

Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (NIV)

4. The Holy Spirit empowers you

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

5. The Holy Spirit convicts you

1. He convicts lost people to be saved

John 16:7-8 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come.

If I do go away, then I will send him to you.  8  And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin,

and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. (NLT)

2. He convicts saints to be sanctified

6. The Holy Spirit changes you

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.

And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious

image. (NLT)

Hebrews 3:7–8 7  So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, (NIV)

6 Purposes of the Holy Spirit

1. The Holy Spirit comforts you

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion

and the God of all comfort, 4  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any

trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (NIV)

John 14:26   But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he

shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

(KJV)

2. The Holy Spirit leads your life

Romans 8:4–5 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not

live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5  Those who live according to the flesh have their

minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set

on what the Spirit desires. (NIV)

Galatians 5:25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our

lives. (NLT)

1. You speak what the Spirit says to speak

1 Corinthians 2:13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human

wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual

truths. (NLT)

2. You go where the Spirit says to go

Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

(NIV)

Acts 11:11-12 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house

where I was staying.  12  The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six

brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. (NIV)

3. You don’t go where the Spirit says not to go

Acts 16:6-7 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having

been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.  7  When they came to the

border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. (NIV)

4. You let the Spirit speak to you through God’s people

1 Corinthians 2:12–15   And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the

wonderful things God has freely given us. 13  When we tell you these things, we do not use words that

come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words

to explain spiritual truths. 14  But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s

Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can

understand what the Spirit means. 15  Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they

themselves cannot be evaluated by others. (NLT)

5. You let the Spirit speak to you about your daily decisions

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me

Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (NIV)

3. The Holy Spirit unifies the church

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one

body, so it is with Christ.  13  For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether

Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (NIV)

Ephesians 2:21–22   in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the

Lord, 22  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (NKJV)

Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (NIV)

4. The Holy Spirit empowers you

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)

5. The Holy Spirit convicts you

1. He convicts lost people to be saved

John 16:7-8 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come.

If I do go away, then I will send him to you.  8  And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin,

and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. (NLT)

2. He convicts saints to be sanctified

6. The Holy Spirit changes you

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.

And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious

image. (NLT)

Hebrews 3:7–8 7  So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, (NIV)