The Story Abides

Small Groups

Fellowship — Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes) Father and Son seem easy to describe and discuss, but the Spirit may be more elusive. In pairs or small groups, talk about what you believe about the Holy Spirit. How is the Spirit identified? What is the role or function of the Holy Spirit?

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes) Read John 14:15-21.

• Share this background of United Methodist theology: We receive God’s grace in (at least) three distinct ways. First is God’s prevenient grace, going before us to prepare our hearts and minds for belief and relationship. Second is God’s justifying grace, which leads to our acceptance of and commitment to our call to faith and discipleship. Third is God’s sanctifying grace, which nurtures our spirits and deepens our love of God and our surrender to God’s will.
   
• Optional: Have a copy of The United Methodist Hymnal available. Take a look at the “Affirmations of Faith” (880, 883, 884, 885) that describe the Holy Spirit. List those attributes as support for the other teaching activities.
   
• The Preaching Notes (5/10/2026) suggest three insights to the Holy Spirit. The first is that the Spirit brings us to awareness of God and God’s activity in our lives and the world (prevenient grace). Think about your earliest experiences of church, God, and faith. In what ways were you prepared to believe in God? For a relationship with God and with others in the faith? Who was your mentor or teacher? Who modeled the faith for you?
   
• The second insight is that the Holy Spirit reminds us (justifying grace). At some point, we must take responsibility for our own beliefs and growth. What was the turning point for you? When did you realize that you were forging your own beliefs and relationship with God apart from your childhood (or other) lessons? When we face novel, disturbing, painful, or challenging circumstances, it is easy to simply react, but the Spirit’s role is to remind us of all that Jesus taught us. When has this reminding function helped you? What changed? 
   
• The third insight is that the Holy Spirit teaches us, lifting us to new, deeper levels of understanding (sanctifying grace). Simply growing older does not guarantee maturity in life or in faith. Still, the Spirit is present to teach us to dig deeper, think more critically, pray more diligently, and practice the spiritual disciplines more faithfully. How do you put yourself in the hands of the Spirit for this sort of growth? What spiritual disciplines do you practice? What new discipline might stretch you beyond your comfort zone? How would you learn? Who might help you try?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Most Holy God, who comes to us as Creator, Savior, and Spirit, we thank you for your abiding presence in our lives. Open our hearts and minds more fully to your reminders and teachings. Help us to grow more deeply in our surrender to your will. We ask this in Jesus’ name and for his sake. Amen.