What is the Holy Spirit?
10 minutes
Read Joel 2:28–30 together and get the group to write on post-it notes words that come to mind when they hear the words ‘Holy Spirit’. Stick these on the wall. Discuss what has been written and add any other words you think may be helpful.
Say: The Holy Spirit is a gift from God that enables us to experience him here on Earth. It helps us shift from simply knowing that God exists, to encountering the intimacy of a relationship with him.
Ask your young people to discuss what Joel means when he says that God will pour out his Spirit on all people. Say: in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit predominately rested on specific ‘anointed’ individuals. Joel promises that one day, this limitation will be lifted and everyone, regardless of gender, culture, class or age will be able to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Ask your group if any of them has encountered the Holy Spirit. If they’re happy to, encourage them to share what happened. Did they feel anything (peace, tingling, heat)? How did it make them feel afterwards (encouraged, challenged, equipped)?
How does God reveal himself?
10 minutes
Stick a large piece of paper on the wall. Ask your young people to shout out different ways people may hear from God and draw a spider diagram on the paper with their words. In a different colour, ask them to add biblical examples. For example, dreams (Joseph), still small voice (Elijah), tongues (apostles), parables (Jesus), signs (Moses).
Ask your group if they have ever heard from God – if so in what way? What did God say? Was it for them or for someone else?
Say: God reveals himself in many different ways to his people. As we grow in our relationship with God, it will become easier to decipher his voice. Use the example of a child lost in a supermarket. If they hear a stranger saying their name, they may not be able to hear it over the noise, but as soon as they hear a parent’s voice, they recognise it and will run towards it. It is the same with God; the more time you spend listening to him, the easier it becomes to hear his voice.
KEY POINT 1
The Holy Spirit is for everyone. All that’s needed is an open heart.
Spiritual Gifts
5 minutes
Split into small groups and read 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 together. Ask the group to discuss the different gifts. Do they know anyone with these gifts?
Say: When the Holy Spirit rests on someone, they can be anointed with a unique spiritual gifting. One of these is prophecy. None of the gifts are ‘better’ than others; they are all used for different things and are equally important.
What and why?
10 minutes
Ask your young people to discuss briefly what they think prophecy is and then say: prophecy is simply hearing from God. It is sharing and revealing God’s heart. It is used in various ways:
- Generally, to speak God’s truth into situations. Throughout history, political movements have been birthed by the Holy Spirit placing a loathing of injustice on the hearts of great leaders such as William Wilberfoce (abolition of the slave trade in the UK) and Martin Luther King (black rights in the US). Joel prophesies about a time when God’s people would repent and be restored from their impending destruction. He speaks of a new hope – the hope of Jesus Christ. In a broken world, we need to hold onto this hope, believing that God is, ‘a refuge for his people’ (Joel 3:16)
- Specifically, to encourage other Christians. Words spoken over people should always be uplifting and enriching. They should always fall in line with biblical truth.
- Evangelistically: God may give you a picture, or word to speak to a non-Christian (either a friend or a stranger). While this may sound scary, this is a great way to reveal God’s love. If you are given specific insight into a non- Christian’s life and a message from God to encourage or help them, this could be the trigger they need to start thinking about the God who cares.
Some Christians are called, like Joel, to be a prophet, and this becomes their job, just as people are called to be a vicar or an evangelist, but prophecy is a gift of the spirit that any Christian can ask for and use in their context.
KEY POINT 2
If we learn to open our eyes and ears, God can use us powerfully to speak his truth into situations, impacting the lives of Christians and non-Christians alike.
Listening prayer
20 minutes
Say: Listening and waiting on the Lord is not just for the ‘holy’. God encourages all Christians to recognise the sound of his voice, just as sheep recognise the call of their shepherd: ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me’ (John10:27).
Split into small groups preferably of same sex, and place one young person in the centre of the circle. Get the others to pray, asking God to speak to them about the person in the middle (the ‘receiver’ should just sit, eyes closed, waiting on God). Encourage them to write whatever comes into their mind on a slip of paper – a picture (they can either draw or describe it), a word, a Bible verse etc. Ask them not to be dismissive, it may not make sense but encourage them to write it down anyway: the Holy Spirit might be revealing something very relevant to the ‘receiver’. After a few minutes, ask everyone to share their thoughts and give the ‘receiver’ the pieces of paper to keep. Swap until everyone has been prayed for. This may be completely foreign to some of your youth so ask those who are struggling to write Bible verses or more general encouragements, if they’re not sure what else to do. Ensure they only write what will build up and encourage individuals.
Listening prayer helps young people open up to hearing God and encourages a new level of vulnerability within small groups which strengthens relationships but be careful: words being spoken over your young people may cause an emotional response, so be sensitive and willing to pray for them, or even take them aside if necessary.
Anna Mcgarahan is a West End performer, volunteer youth worker and worship leader.
