Synopses & Reviews
Who is the Holy Spirit, and exactly what does He do?Many people find the Holy Spirit mysterious, confounding—even controversial. Why is the third person in the Godhead—the one Jesus said would be the believer’s ultimate source of truth and comfort—the source of such confusion?
In The God I Never Knew, Robert Morris clearly explains that the Holy Spirit’s chief desire is for relationship--to offer us the encouragement and guidance of a trusted friend. This insightful and biblically-based book moves beyond theological jargon, religious tradition, and cultural misconceptions to clarify what the Holy Spirit promises to do in your life:
· Dwell within you
· Be your helper
· Guide you into all truth
· Comfort you
· Pray for you
· Show you things to come
· Never leave you
It’s time to experience the Holy Spirit in a fresh, new way—to meet the God you may have never known.
Includes a small group study guide!
About the Author
ROBERT MORRIS is the founding senior pastor of Gateway Church, a multicampus church in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Since it began in 2000, Gateway has grown to more than nineteen thousand active members. Robert is
featured on the weekly television program The Blessed Life, seen in ninety million homes in the United States and in more than two hundred countries around the world. He is the best-selling author of several books, including The Blessed Life, From Dream to Destiny, and The Power of Your Words. Robert and his wife, Debbie, have been married for more than thirty years and are the parents of three grown children.
Reading Group Guide
1.
Am I Missing Something?
(Chapters 1 and 2)
Introduction
While many believers have made the wonderful discovery of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in their lives, too many other Christians virtually hold the third member of the Trinity at arm’s length—from fear, confusion, or misinformation of who the Holy Spirit is and of the personal friendship, power, and guidance He offers everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, such hesitancy only prevents believers from thriving in their faith. In fact, Jesus considered the Holy Spirit’s ministry so crucial that, on the evening prior to His crucifixion, He told His disciples, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” ( John 14:16–17).
Jesus knew that once He ascended to heaven, He would no longer be physically available on earth to help and instruct His followers. But God had a magnificent long-term plan in place: to give us the Holy Spirit (“another Helper”) to indwell and abide with all believers—empowering, teaching, and guiding us to live God’s way in a hostile world.
In this study we’re going to explore who the Holy Spirit is, His ministry in the hearts and lives of God’s people, and His role in helping us live the joyful, successful Christian life.
Reflection and Discussion
1. Do you identify with the author’s experience of not really knowing much about the Holy Spirit earlier in his Christian journey? In the early days of your faith, what was your understanding of the Holy Spirit’s identity and role in the Christian’s life?
2. As Robert was departing for Bible college, his pastor advised him, “Watch out for people who talk about the Holy Spirit.” What do you suppose was behind this pastor’s warning? Have you ever felt this cautionary about the Holy Spirit? Why?
3. Robert writes, “Most Christians hold a distorted, inaccurate, or incomplete view of the third member of the Trinity.… Too many have resigned themselves to perpetual defeat in their battles with temptation or to stumbling through life making decisions with nothing more than their own flawed reason to guide them. Others live a dull, powerless brand of Christianity.” Do you agree or disagree with Robert’s assessment of most Christians? Explain your thoughts. If indeed many or most believers are not as strong, loving, joyful, or effective as they can be, to what would you attribute their weakness?
4. Jesus promised His followers “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name” ( John 14:26). Think back on your own Christian walk: how has the Holy Spirit helped you along the way? Share a recent example.
5. Jesus goes on to say, “He [the Holy Spirit] will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” What does this passage mean to you personally regarding the Spirit’s ministry in the Christian’s life?
6. Robert writes, “Hearing God’s voice begins by recognizing which member of the Trinity is tasked with speaking to us in this season of history. It is, of course, the Holy Spirit. The Father is on His throne. Jesus has been seated at His right hand and, according to Hebrews 10:12–13, will remain there ‘waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.’ The Holy Spirit, however, is active and present and commissioned to interact with us on the earth today.” What are some ways in which a Christian might hear the voice of God? In such instances, who is doing the speaking? Can the Holy Spirit’s guidance ever be contrary to God’s Word or God’s will? Why or why not?
Key Verse
Between now and session 2, claim Jesus’s promise as your own: “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:25–26).
Prayer
Take time to share needs and requests for closing prayer. Be sure, too, to thank God for providing His Holy Spirit to help, teach, guide, and empower His children.
For Next Time
To prepare for the next study and discussion, read chapters 3 and 4 of The God I Never Knew.
2. Who Is the Holy Spirit?
(Chapters 3 and 4)
Introduction
If you’re like many Christians, you may have encountered—even embraced—some negative stereotypes regarding the Holy Spirit and the “Spirit-filled life.” The author of The God I Never Knew sure did. It took Robert a while, but once he finally opened his mind and heart to the Bible’s truth about the Holy Spirit, he quickly realized the incredible benefits he had been missing!
In session 2 we will continue our look at who the Holy Spirit is. Notice the emphasis on who, not what, for the Spirit is indeed a person and not some vague cosmic force. In chapters 3 and 4, Robert clarifies from God’s Word that the Holy Spirit is God, just as God is God and Jesus is God. The Spirit is God’s glorious way of being a very present and active friend in the life of everyone who trusts Christ as Savior and Lord.
We saw in session 1 that God sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper. Today’s study builds on the identity of the Spirit by showing that He is also our friend…and that He is God.
Reflection and Discussion
1. The author writes, “These stereotypes are indeed alive and thriving today among huge numbers of Jesus-loving people. Many are sincerely reluctant to embrace the opportunity of a life-transforming relationship with the Holy Spirit because of such stereotypes.” Robert contends that Satan is the author of the world’s “weird” stereotypes of Spirit-controlled living. Why do you suppose Satan would not want God’s people to embrace the help, friendship, and godhood of the Holy Spirit?
2. From your own observation and experience, what are some of the tactics Satan uses to convince us that embracing the Spirit’s personal ministry might make us uncomfortable or weird? Have you struggled with such fears? Share your story.
3. In chapter 3, Robert cites four amazing benefits that the Holy Spirit brings into the life of the believer. Which one of these benefits stands out as particularly meaningful to you today? Why is this benefit significant to you? When the Holy Spirit is truly in control of your thoughts and actions, what kind of difference would this particular blessing make in your life?
4. Summarize the author’s teaching of how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. If we, as Christians, do not believe we’re hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit, what might be impeding such communication?
5. Robert writes, “The witness of Scripture is that the Holy Spirit is a full and equal member of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is not a force, a thing, or an it. The Holy Spirit is God in one of His three persons. Treating Him as some sort of heavenly afterthought or a lower order of supernatural being we can choose to ignore is grievous.” Look up and read aloud Matthew 28:19, John 14:16 and 15:26, and Acts 5:3–4. After each passage, address this question: what does this passage affirm about the person of the Holy Spirit?
6. Focus for a few moments on the final paragraph of chapter 4: “I encourage you to realize three truths before we go further on this journey: (1) the Holy Spirit was sent to be your helper, (2) He wants to be your intimate friend, and (3) the truth that makes those two statements most amazing of all is He is God.” What do these truths mean to you personally, today? How would you assess the state of your present relationship with the Holy Spirit?
Key Verse
Between now and session 3, focus on this admonition from the apostle Paul: “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:16, niv).
Prayer
Take time to share needs and requests for closing prayer. Be sure, too, to thank God for providing His Holy Spirit as your personal helper and friend.
For Next Time
To prepare for the next study and discussion, read chapters 5, 6, and 7 of The God I Never Knew.
STUDY GUIDEThe God I Never Knew
So that you make the most of each session, this study guide is designed to be used after the chapters assigned for each session have been read. Whether you are studying The God I Never Knew as an individual or in a group, the goal is for you to think a little more deeply, contemplate and pray about what you are learning, and apply the truths of God’s Word to your personal life.
The study guide has eight sessions. However, if your group wants to move more slowly, just adjust the reading assignments and use of questions accordingly.
Read the Chapters Prior to Each Session
Each session covers designated chapters of The God I Never Knew. As you read the chapters, make notes and highlight passages in the book that speak to, challenge, or apply to you personally. In your reading and reflection, ask the Lord to reveal insights so that when you come to the study-guide section,
you will be equipped to benefit the most from the questions.
Introduction and General Feedback
At the start of each group session, ask about answers or updates to prayer from prior sessions. Then spend some time in prayer together. Next have someone read the brief introduction aloud to remind everyone of the focus
of the discussion. The leader should then invite the group to share any questions, concerns, “ahas,” insights, or comments arising from their personal time with the material.
No Fear
The God I Never Knew is about the wonderful person and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. As you might imagine (and as the author readily admits in his personal testimony), it’s possible that your group
members represent a variety of backgrounds and teaching about the Holy Spirit. That’s okay! There are only three prerequisites for group participation: (1) a humble desire to grow in Christ and learn from His Word, (2) hearts and minds truly open to what God may reveal through the author’s insights into His Word, and (3) a commitment to interact gently and respectfully with one another and with the material presented.
Group facilitators and participants need not be afraid of the topic or of differences of opinion. A healthy approach for handling disagreements or concepts that may be new to someone is to say, “Let’s see what God’s Word has to say,” and then review the pertinent scriptures referenced by the author. If after discussion it’s obvious that a participant continues to struggle with a concept, consider moving on by saying, “Let’s agree to take this concept to the Lord in prayer this week and report back, okay?” This will not only help keep discussions calm and on-target, but it will also help the group refocus on the Bible as the final word on an issue.
Above all, there should never be any pressure or browbeating for others to see things in a certain way. You’re on a journey of discovery together. Gentleness is the key—trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and, if necessary, change hearts and minds. You just never know: the heart or mind He changes might be your own!
Go Through the Questions
The reflection and discussion questions are designed to focus on how each person relates to the main topics of the chapters. Most questions are designed to serve the group and encourage discussion, not to elicit a particular answer. With that mind, don’t race through the questions. Take your time and allow the Holy Spirit to work. It isn’t necessary to go around the circle before moving on to the next question. The best discussions occur when people feel free to speak into the discussion. Group discussions are actually opportunities for God’s Spirit to minister uniquely through one believer to another in very specific ways. If you don’t get through all the questions for a session, no worries. Relax and trust God to take the discussion where He wants to take it.
Key Verses
Each session offers a theme verse that connects to the session’s content. Groups should read the verse out loud, and if someone in the group has a different Bible translation, ask him or her to read it aloud so the group can
get a bigger picture of the meaning of the passage. Encourage participants to memorize these verses to enrich their understanding and appreciation of the personal ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
Close Each Session in Prayer
Praying together is the most powerful way to make your discussion effective, authentic, and relevant. Do not leave too little time for prayer! Be sure group members have opportunity to share their requests. In several of the sessions, we also suggest that you begin the prayer time with a few minutes of silent
prayer, in which each participant can talk with God personally regarding anything He may be telling them.
Assign Chapters for the Next Session
Prior to session 1, group members should read chapters 1 and 2 of The God I Never Knew. Then, as you wrap up each session, remind participants of the book chapters to be read before the next meeting.