Michelle Quinn—This week’s message looks at the importance of intergenerational relationships in the church, and how they can have an impact on the lives our young people.

Nartarsha Wisewould—Living by the Spirit is both about being formed in Christlike character and being filled with the Spirit’s power. While daily surrender and obedience gradually shape us, encounters with the Holy Spirit can deepen our awareness of God’s presence and accelerate our growth as disciples.

The goal is not to chase emotional experiences or manifestations, but to pursue relationship and intimacy with the Holy Spirit. His presence forms us, His power fills us, and His purposes work through us. A Spirit-filled life is ultimately evidenced by a changed life—growing Christlike character, obedience, spiritual fruit, spiritual gifts, and an increasing ability to represent Jesus to others.

Resources—Study Guide

Sarah Hudson—Around the 12th century, Church leaders realised that there was a process by which our souls become increasingly awake to the indwelling presence of God, and increasingly free from what competes with Him, helping us simply be at home in His Presence. That process was described as four movements of the soul towards what GOD was doing. These four movements were: Awakening → Purgation → Illumination → Union. Today looks deeper into the second movement themed purgation. Purgation is God simplifying the soul where he loosens our attachment to everything we want alongside Him. We then realise that Jesus is the prize, not just the answer.

Resources—Study Guide

Shane Willard—The Old Testament has types and symbols that are fulfilled in the New Testament. In Acts 2, we see the Presence of GOD come upon those in the Upper Room. The Presence of God coming in a full way here, is a fulfillment of the types and shadows of what happened in previous Old Testament experiences.

Common occurrences in the Old Testament of God’s Presence coming in a more full way, are symbolized by a mixture of smoke, fire, voices, and this is seen as God’s Presence coming, or the establishment of a temple - holy ground. In the Old Testament, the understanding was that the Presence of God rested on Kings, Priests, the Temple, and Prophets. In the New Testament, when the Spirit of God came in Acts 2, the Spirit of God rested upon ‘all of them’.

Maurice Benington—Humility is a fruit of the Spirit that postures us and enables us to give GOD charge of our world. Only a posture of humility will enable me to trust GOD with a sense of waiting for Him to move in my life. A J Swoboda says it this way, ‘Waiting is not weakness or foolishness, as our digital world would have us believe. It is not a bug; rather, it is a feature of the spiritual life. To wait on what God has promised is to choose trust and the fear of God at the very core of our being.’

Resources—Study Guide

Andrew Gilbert—We follow an Extraordinary GOD, and His influence in our lives can cause us to feel extraordinary too. Most of the time, the slow process of growth in Him, can cause us to feel ordinary more than extraordinary. However, whilst Jesus was Extraordinary, HE chose the most ordinary bunch of people to become HIS disciples. The disciples were all ordinary - that is until Jesus invited them to come and follow HIM. Through encounters with the Holy Spirit, they were able to become true Jesus followers, and represent or re-present Jesus to the world.

Resources—Study Guide

Matt Romano—We all live by stories, stories about God, ourselves, other people and the world around us. But what happens when a painful experience, an unanswered question or an old wound begins shaping a story that isn’t entirely true?

In this message, we explore Jesus’ words in John 8: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Through the stories that form us, the lies that enslave us and the Truth who sets us free, we discover how deception can become the reality we organise our lives around and how Jesus confronts the father of lies with a freedom only He can give.

The invitation is to allow the Spirit of Truth to expose the stories we have believed, reveal the character of the Father, and teach us to live in the freedom Jesus has already won.

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:36

Resources—Study Guide

Anna Joyce—The Holy Spirit is our powerful ally and strength. He is our comforter, our counsellor, our advocate, and He wants to be all these things for us in this season. But He's not going to impose Himself where He is not welcome. We have a choice in this moment to rely on our own understanding or to adopt a posture of humility and surrender and lean into the voice and strength of the Spirit. What choice will we make?

Resources— Study Guide

Nartarsha Wisewould—The Holy Spirit is God's constant presence with us: our Strong Ally, Comforter, Advocate, and faithful guide. As we grow in our relationship with Him and learn to walk in step with Him, we are both formed by His presence and filled with His power, allowing Him to shape our lives and reveal the kingdom of God through us.