Download Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Community Group Questions – for the sermon preached on
Sunday October 19, 2014
Be filled with the Holy Spirit
The following series of questions have been designed by Pastor Tom to be
asked in your community group. Please feel free to lead the group in prayer
before and afterward. You may not have time to use all the questions, nor may
all the questions be suitable for your group so please prepare appropriately
beforehand and use your prayerful discretion.
1. Read Exodus 25:31-40. Describe the lampstand. What was the only
material used to make it? What kinds of flowers are to be copied in the
design? What fruit (nut) is to be fashioned? How many lamps are to be
on a single stand? What other accessories had to be made of pure gold?
(Note: the almond tree is the first tree to blossom in the spring in the Near East. It
awakens as early as mid-December and has dazzling white blossoms. For this reason
it is often referred to as the awakening tree.)
2. Given the description of the almond tree (See note above) what do you
think is the significance of this decoration on the lampstand?
3. Look up John 8:12; John 1:3-5; I John 1:5; Revelation 21:22-24. How does
the lampstand point us to the reality of Christ? These verses speak of
darkness as well as light. What darkness do you think is dispelled by the
light?
4. How does verse 31 say the lampstand is to be fashioned?
(Leader’s note: The process would have been tedious. Very likely it was painful as
well. Notice that the lampstand had to be hammered or beaten from one large piece of
gold into its heavenly form. It continually had to bear the purifying fires to make it
pliable for shaping. The result was a work of incomparable beauty. )
5. Comment: Think of how all this points us to Jesus Christ. Our Lord is the
shaft and we are the branches who have been made as a result of Christ’s
sufferings. It was through the beating that the shaft was made of one piece
with the branches.
It was because of Christ’s suffering death that the church is united with
Christ. In Isaiah we read: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was
crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon
him and by his wounds we are healed” (53:5). Paul tells us that “Christ ….
loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” Because of his self-giving
“We are members of his body, of his flesh and of His bones.” (Ephesians
5:25, 30 see also Hebrews 2:10-11). As we think about intimacy with
God – doesn’t that just astound you! God has made intimacy with him
possible because of Christ. Through faith in His sacrifice we are partakers
of the divine nature”. (2 Peter 1:4).
6. In this past week’s daily devotional Pastor Tom underlined the fact that no
traditional candles were used in the lampstand. They were fuelled by oil.
This is important because a candle burns by consuming itself. A lamp on
the other hand burns by consuming a continuous supply of oil from another
source. In this week’s sermon Pastor Tom likened the oil to the Holy Spirit.
It is because of the Holy Spirit in us that we are able to reflect the character
of Christ.
Read John 14:16-17; 16:7
A. List every fact you can find this passage about the comforter/ the Holy
Spirit.
B. Read Isaiah 11:1,2. What six attributes are listed here in regards to the
Holy Spirit?
C. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life? Is there one of
these attributes that you can say you have experienced? Which one(s)?
When? How?
D. Read I Thessalonians 5:19 and Ephesians 5:18 what commands are given
here?
7. Can you identify the Spirit’s presence in your life? If not what changes
need to occur for your life to exhibit the character of Christ? (see Galatians
5:22-23)
8. Read Ephesians 5:15-18.
A. What kind of Christian is this passage for? A select few? For everyone?
B. Read 2 Corinthians 4:16. How often are we to be renewed?
Like the lampstand in the tabernacle that needed renewing with oil every day,
so we must not live on past experiences of his filling but keep in such
relationship with him that we are being renewed day by day.
Read Revelation 2:5 – what is the danger for the Ephesian church? How can
we avoid such a danger?