Holy Infusion

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    Holy InfusionLife Group

    Holy Infusion - Week One

    INTRODUCTION

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    Getting to know your group . . .

    Whats your name?

    How long have you been at Newbreak?

    What service or campus do you attend?

    If you were a car, what kind of car would you be and why?

    How does a sermon-based Life Group work?

    You know those dinners you buy in the freezer aisle of the grocery store?

    The ones you can put in the microwave and eat in three minutes? Some ofthem are pretty good. BUT if you read the fine print, they might say, For

    best results, bake in the oven for 45 minutes. AND if you want your frozen

    dinner to taste as good as it possibly can, you turn on the oven and wait until

    the dinner is done. BUT if youre in a hurry, you can have a reasonably good

    meal in less than five minutes. Its your choice.

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    A sermon-based Life Group is a little bit like that.

    Microwave instructions:

    Come to your Life Group. Enjoy the fellowship and the conversation!

    Itll be great. (The people in your Life Group are AWESOME!)

    OR, if you have some time, you can do a few extra things and youll have an

    even better experience.

    For BEST RESULTS:

    Participate in a weekend worship experience

    Sometimes thats not possible. For example, youre sick, or your

    kids sick, or your dogs sick, or youre on vacation. In that case,

    you can watch the message online athttp://www.newbreak.org/sermons/.

    Highlight Scripture that stood out to you or jot down a thoughtthat the Holy Spirit brought to mind as you listened to the

    weekend message.

    You can share them with your Life Group when you meet.

    Read the Scripture in this book in between group and answer

    some of the questions in this book.

    Do what you have time for--youll be better prepared to share

    and better prepared to learn.

    This can be part of your daily devotions.

    Pray for the people in your group!

    You can keep track of prayer requests in Appendix A at the end

    of this book.

    Make your Life Group a priority in your schedule. You all NEED

    each other?

    For even BETTER RESULTS, check out Appendix B at the end of

    this book!Newbreak Life Group Guidelines

    We believe that being a part of a healthy spiritual community is one of the bestways to grow into DEVOTED followers of Jesus Christ. In order to foster that kind of

    community, its a good idea to establish some common expectations, based on

    Scripture, and to put them into words. That way we can avoid confusion or

    misunderstanding and learn to trust each other.

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    http://www.newbreak.org/sermons/http://www.newbreak.org/sermons/
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    We want to grow healthy spiritual lives by developing healthy spiritual

    community.

    We get to know each other by meeting together regularly. Thats not always

    possible so when we cant be here, we let the group leader or another

    member know.

    Whats said in the group stays in the group.

    Seriously, if we cant count on true confidentiality, we wont feel free to share

    honestly.

    If something concerns you, go the individual and share your concerns

    privately.

    We listen carefully without offering quick answers, snap judgments, or simple

    fixes. That way group members feel heard, valued, and loved.

    At the same time, we give group members permission to challenge us to live

    out our faith.

    We agree to limit our freedom by not serving or consuming alcoholic

    beverages during Life Group meetings or events.

    We look for opportunities to invite people to this Life Group and welcome

    people when they join us.

    Some studies require smaller, more intimate group settings and

    therefore are only open at certain times of the year.

    We pray for each other regularly and look for opportunities to get to know

    each other better.

    We value each others schedules so we start on time and end on time:

    Start time: ________________________________

    End time: _________________________________

    Child Care ________________________________________________________________

    Newbreak Life Group Calendar Fall

    Quarter

    Use the Discussion Date section to mark the week well discuss eachlesson.

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    DiscussionDate

    LessonPage

    Special Instructions Snack

    1

    Intro to Holy InfusionActs 9:1-19

    2

    2

    Week 2Acts 7:54-8:3

    8

    3

    Week 3Acts 19:1-12

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    4

    Week 4Acts 8:9-25

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    Week 5Acts 8:26-40

    6

    Week 6Acts 19:13-22

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    10

    Talking Points . . .

    This sermon series began with the idea offusion.You start with two or more things, put them together, and now you havesomething new.Something unique that didnt previously exist.

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    Dictionary.com says, A ballet production is the fusion of many talents.With thermonuclear fusion, atoms fuse together to produce energy.Binocular fusion is the correct blending of the images of both eyes.Fusion cooking combines two cooking styles to produce a new one.

    Fusion is a one-time event. In a wedding, for example, a man and a womansay, I do, and the two become one (Genesis 2).

    When Saul saw Jesus on the Damascus Road, he underwent a sort offusion.His life with the life of Christ. Saul becomes a new creation.

    Watch what happens when Saul, the persecutor of Christ followers becomesPaul, the defender of the Gospel. The Lord sends Ananias to minister to Paul,who is now blind. Ananias said, Are you sure, Lord? And the Lord answers(Acts 9:15-19):

    Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before theGentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show himhow much he must suffer for my name."

    Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul,he said, "Brother Saul, the LordJesus, who appeared to you on the roadas you were coming herehas sent me so that you may see again and befilled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell fromSaul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, andafter taking some food, he regained his strength.

    In the same way, when we surrender our lives to Jesus, we undergo a sort of

    fusion.We become new creations.

    2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, . . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;the old has gone, the new has come!

    Share a short version of your Fusion Story with your Life Groupthisis the story about how you began your life as a Christ-follower. How are youa new creation?

    Its okay if you dont have a Fusion Story yet. Were glad youre here.You could share what attracted you to Newbreak or this Life Group.

    Its important to remember that although we are new creations, we dontchange all at once. Brennan Manning says, A Christian is always in theprocess of becoming a Christian.

    And that brings us to the subject ofInfusion.Infusion is different than fusion.

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    Ralph Waldo Emerson recommended a general infusion of wit in order toheighten civility. In his textbook on the English novel, Wilber Lucius Crossobserved that Dickens had an infusion of imagination.

    On a more serious note, chronically ill people needing regular therapeutic

    medication often get infusion pumps that provide a continuous source ofmedication, directly through the veins. That way patients receive constant,consistent therapy.

    In order for the infusion to be helpful, it must be continuous. We cant seethe infusion.But we need itfor civility, for writing stories, and for healing and relief ofpain.

    And we need a daily infusion of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives andmake us more like Jesus. So, in addition to a Fusion Experience, we all

    need Infusion Experiences.

    We receive the Holy Spirit when we become followers of Jesus Christ, but weneed continually filling with the Holy Spirit to live as Christ followers.

    In Ephesians 5:18, Paul instructs followers of Jesus Christ to be filled (infused)with the Spirit. Read Ephesians 5:15-21 to see these instructions incontext.

    What do you think Paul means? (Yes, this is the same Paul from Acts 9!)

    It is important to note that in the Greek language, the verb tense indicatesthat filling with the Spirit is not a one-time experience. We need continualfillinginfusionbecause it is Gods Spirit that empowers us for worship,service, and testimony.

    We can only live the kind of life that God desires if we allow Him to fill uswith His Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can transform our lives, change ourhearts, and empower us to break away from sin.

    Spend some time in your prayer groups. There is a prayer chart at the endof this book so that you can keep track of prayer requests and answers to

    prayer.

    FOR BEST RESULTS: Begin looking at Holy Infusion Week Two during yourdevotions this coming week. The Scripture Infusion will prepare you for theWeekend Experience!

    Holy Infusion - Week Two

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    Day One

    Jesus chose ordinary fishermen from Galilee as his first disciples. Nobodyspecial.

    He added a couple of zealot, a tax collector, and a few guys we dont knowmuch about.Not the powerful people youd pick if you were building a spiritual empire.

    And yet, by the end of the first century, there were Christ followers all overthe Roman Empire, in Asia, in Europe, and in Africa.

    Christ followers spoke boldly.And people responded.Acts 2 tells us that when the people heard Peter on the day of Pentecost,they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles,

    Brothers, what shall we doWe read that those who accepted his message were baptizedabout threethousand of them.Crazy.

    These men, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, did inexplicable things,things they definitely couldnt do in their own strength.Totally supernatural.

    And if you read through the book of Acts during this series (and werecommend that you do), youll see this type of thing over and over and over

    again.

    They NEEDED a HolyInfusion of the Holy Spirit.And so do we.

    We need His power to live.We need His power to love.

    Without Him, we operate in our own strength, and we accomplish human-size results.When we live with an Infusion of the Holy Spirit, when we allow Him to live

    through us, we see God-size results.

    Take a look at Acts 1:8. What will an Infusion of the Holy Spirit do in ourlives?

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    The more you spend time in Gods Word, the more time you spend thinkingabout these ideas, the better prepared you will be to learn from the people inyour group and to share what God is showing you! What else will do HolySpirit do in our lives?

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    Other notes:

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    Day Two

    Living as a Christ follower isnt always easy.

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    Right away, Peter and John get thrown in prison for healing a man whocouldnt walk. (You can read about it in Acts 3-4.) That story has a happyending, but thats not always the case, as you will soon see. If you want asynopsis, read Hebrews 11:35-38.

    In Luke 9:23-25, Jesus warns potential followers, saying, If anyone wouldcome after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and followme. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his lifefor me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, andyet lose or forfeit his very self?

    Tough words.Thats definitely radical faith.What does it mean to you to take up your cross? What does it mean that tolose your life?

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    Hard to do without an Infusion of the Holy Spirit.

    And yet, these words come with a promise.Read Romans 8:28-39.

    All things working out for good doesnt always mean that theres a happyending.

    In light of this passage, whats going on when we take up our take up ourcrosses? When we lose our lives for the sake of Jesus? Why is that a goodthing?

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    What is Jesus doing at the right hand of God?_______________________________________

    Nothing can separate us from the love of God, but sometimes we dontfeel Gods love. Which of the things on this list makes you feel separatedfrom Gods love?

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    Day Three

    This coming weekend well be looking at the story of Stephen from the bookof Acts. This is definitely a case when take up your cross meant lose yourlife. As you read, think about whats going on in the early church, about thegrowth of the church, about what this means to the Jewish leaders.

    Think about infusion. Several places in this passage, Luke (the writer ofActs) reminds us that Stephen was filled with the Spirit. Note thosepassages.

    Read Acts 6:8 8:1.

    What was Stephen doing when the opposition broke out?

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    What was the opposition about?

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    What is Stephens attitude toward the people?

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    Once again (7:54-56) we read that Jesus is the right hand of God. This timehe is standing. What do you think he is doing?

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    Stephen was asked to take up his cross in a very literal sense, and losing his

    life wasnt a metaphor for surrender. He actually did lose his life.

    Hebrews 12:1-4 reminds us about the great cloud of witnesses thatsurrounds us and asks us to do a few things. Jot down a few of those thing.(Note Jesus at the right hand of God again.)

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    What difference will an infusion of the Holy Spirit make in attempting tolive out the instructions in this passage?

    Day Four

    Review your sermon notes.What Scripture or sermon point stood out to you and why?

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    Did the Holy Spirit bring anything else to mind as you listened? Did He askyou to do anything?

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    Holy Infusion - Week Three

    Day One

    This coming weekend, were going to talk about miracles.We see them throughout the book of Acts.They speak in tongues. And prophesy.The lame walk. The blind see.The dead come back to life.

    And yes, God still does miracles.But miracles are not the point ofInfusion.

    Heres what Francis Chan has to say:

    A lot of people want to talk about supernatural things like miracles,healing, or prophecy. But focusing on these things quickly becomesmisguided. God calls us to pursue Him, not what He might do for us oreven in our midst. Scripture emphasizes that we should desire fruit,that we should concern ourselves with becoming more like His Son.God wants us to seek to listen to His Spirit and to obey. The point of itall was never the miracles in and of themselves. Those came whenthey were unexpected, when people were faithful and focused onserving and loving others . . .

    God does miracles when He sees fit and for His own purposes. Weneed to run from the temptation to conjure up miracles that God neverpromised to give. Instead, we are called to focus on the priorities Hehas outlined for us in Scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to empower usas He sees fit. Ask Him to supernaturally enable you to love Him andothers. And lets trust Him to display miracles for His glory, in His time,and in His way. (Forgotten God, page 88-89)

    God infuses us with His Spirit to transform our lives so that we becomemore and more like Jesus. Infusion produces a stronger church body.Infusion draws people to Jesus.

    Jesus did lots of miracles when He lived on earth. And we only know aboutthe ones that were written down.

    Take a look atJohn 20:30-31 and 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. Why did Jesus domiracles? Paul?

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    Day Two

    We all want to see supernatural miracles, but most of us do not want to

    NEED supernatural miracles.

    Think about it. Which of us wants to volunteer ourselves or a loved one for adiagnosis with terminal cancer, chronic pain, blindness, or . . . death? Whichone of us wants to live in a desperate situation that requires miraculousdeliverance?

    We know that God does not always eliminate cancer or pain.He doesnt always cure blindness.He doesnt always resurrect the dead.

    Sometimes healing (and resurrection) happens in heaven.Sometimes God doesnt deliver us from desperate situations; He delivers usthrough them.

    God does miracles on earth when He sees fit, and for His own purposes.And we still pray with faith for miracles, for healing, for deliverance.In fact, the Bible instructs us to do so.

    Read James 5:13-20. What miracles should we pray for? What is thegreatest miracles of all?

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    What kind of miracles have you seen? What did God do as a result of thosemiracles?

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    Have you ever prayed for a supernatural miracle, but God didnt seem to

    answer? What did He do instead?

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    Sometimes miracles are more subtle, but just as real.

    Do you have friends or family members who are so far from God that only amiraculous infusion of the Spirit can bring them to faith? Remember, your

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    own fusion story. You are saved by faith, and the faith is not your own.(See Ephesians 2:8-9.)

    It is the Holy Spirit who speaks truth in our hearts, and it is the Holy Spiritwho convicts us of our sin. (See John 16.)

    List those people here, and ask your Life Group to begin praying for them.

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    An infusion of the Holy Spirit can heal hopeless marriages.An infusion of the Holy Spirit can equip us to defeat addictionsdrugs,alcohol, eating, shopping . . .An infusion of the Holy Spirit transforms our attitudes and produces love inour hearts.

    Where do you need an infusion of the Holy Spirits power in your life?Where do you need a miracle?

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    Day Three

    Take a look at our Scripture passage for this coming weekend.

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    Read Acts 19:1-12.

    What kind of miracles do we see happening in Ephesus?

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    What kind of miracles do you want to see in your own life or in the lives ofpeople around you?

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    Are you actively asking the Holy Spirit to infuse his miraculous power intothis situation?

    Have you asked your Life Group or other Christ followers to pray with youabout this situation?

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    Day FourReview your sermon notes.What Scripture or sermon point stood out to you and why?

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    Did the Holy Spirit bring anything else to mind as you listened? Did He ask

    you to do anything?

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    Holy Infusion - Week Four

    Day One

    This coming weekend, well be looking at the story of Simon the magician.

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    Simon is a Samaritan. And the Jews really dont like Samaritans. (Thinkabout the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 or about the woman at thewell in John 5.)

    But God LOVES Samaritans, and when Philip preaches the Gospel in Samaria,

    the people of Samaria listen, and God reveals His power in fantastic ways.Lame people walk. Lives are transformed.

    Enter Simon. Magician extraordinaire.Maybe hes an illusionist. Or maybe he has actually connected with somesort of demonic power. Either way, hes got a lot of followers.

    But now the people are more interested in Jesus. They demonstrate theircommitment to follow Jesus by getting baptized. (If you have questionsabout baptism, or you want to get baptized yourself, talk to your Life Groupleader.)

    When the church leaders in Jerusalem hear that Samaria has accepted theword of God, they send Peter and John to Samaria to find out whats goingon.

    Read Acts 8:1-25.

    How did Peter and John pray for the Samaritans when they got there? Andwhat happens?

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    Why does Peter rebuke Simon the magician?

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    The Bible doesnt really tell us, but why do you think Simon asks for aninfusion of the Holy Spirit in his life?

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    Day Two

    All throughout this series, weve talked about the Holy Spirit and why weshould seek holy infusion. It would be good at this point to slow down for amoment and ask why. Why do you desire a holy infusion in your life? Whydo you want the Holy Spirits activity in your life?

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    Francis Chan asks some very tough questions to help you clarify youranswer:

    Do you want to experience more of the Holy Spirit merely for your own

    benefit? When the answer is yes, then we are no different from Simonthe magician, who tried to buy the Holy Spirits power from theapostles . . .

    The Holy Spirit is not a commodity to be bought or traded according toour individual wants, whims, or even our felt needs. We absolutelycannot have this discussion about the Holy Spirit without calling ourmotives into question.

    Right now I want you to take a break from reading and spend sometime asking yourselfwhyyou want the Holy Spirit. Is it for power? Is it

    for your own betterment and purposes? Or is it because you want toexperience all that God has for you? Is it because you love the churchand desire to be a better servant to your sisters and brothers?(Forgotten God, page 84)

    We absolutely cannot experience all that God has for us withoutan infusionof the Holy Spirit. But its easy to lose sight of the reason why we want thatinfusion. Take a few minutes to examine your heart. Why do you want aholy infusion in your life? What do you long for God to do in your life andthrough your life?

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    Reflective Questions:

    On a scale of one to ten, how much do you love the church? When yousee the people at a weekend service, when you think about the peoplein your Life Group or your ministry group, do you think to yourself, I

    love these people so much that I really want God to empower me toencourage them to love Him more?

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    God has given you spiritual gifts. You didnt earn them, and you dontdeserve them. He gave them to you for the manifestation of thecommon good (1 Corinthians 12:7). How are you using those gifts toglorify God and serve the people in the church?

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    There are several passages in Scripture that discuss spiritual gifts. You canfind out more in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12, and 1 Corinthians 14. Ifyou want you can take a Spiritual Gifts Assessment at gifttest.org.

    Remember, when the Holy Spirit moves, God is the one praised. Jesus islifted up. In Acts 2, when Peter preaches to the people on Pentecost, its Godwhos moving, and the people praise Him, not Peter.

    Pray that God infuses you with His Spirit so powerfully that people see ourworks and glorify God alone!

    Day Three

    Sometimes people seek an infusion for the wrong reasons.

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    More often, people dont seek holy infusion at all.

    Maybe, like the people of Samaria, they havent never even heard about theHoly Spirit.Or maybe, theyre afraid to ask.

    God gives the Holy Spirit freely to those who ask.Infusion is a gift.

    A wonderful gift that draws us closer to Jesus, transforms our lives from theinside out, and equips us to glorify God in ways we could never do on ourown.

    Why wouldnt we ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit?Why would we ask for a holy infusion?

    Read Luke 11:5-13.What does God promise to give to those who ask?

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    Do you really believe that your Heavenly Father will give His Spirit to you ifyou ask? Do you reallybelieve it? As Francis Chan says, This truth andwhat it means is so incredible that no one who actually believes it could thenfail to ask for the Holy Spirit.

    How diligently do you seek the Holy Spirit in your life?

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    What keeps you from seeking an infusion of the Holy Spirit every singlemorning before you begin your day?

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    In your prayer time, pray that God would grant you an infusion of hisSpirit so that the people you know will see the change and can experiencefusion and holy infusion.

    Day FourReview your sermon notes.

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    What Scripture or sermon point stood out to you and why?

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    Did the Holy Spirit bring anything else to mind as you listened? Did He ask

    you to do anything?

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    Holy Infusion - Week Five

    Childrens Ministries will not meet the week before October 31. The goal isto get Newbreak ready for Hallopalooza. Therefore, our Life Group wont be

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    meeting either. Instead, on Sunday, October 31, well work together as ateam at one of the Hallopalooza events (either at Newbreak Tierrasanta orNewbreak El Cajon).

    The lessons in this book will prepare you for the Outreach on Sunday

    evening. You never know who youll meet this weekend.

    In fact, you never know who youll run into this week. When you are filledwith an infusion of the Holy Spirit, the people you run into will see Godsreflected through your life.

    The lessons in this book will also prepare for the Sunday morning service. Ifanything in particular stands out to you as you go through these lessons,well have time to share when we get together again.

    Day One

    Think about your fusion story. What experiences brought you to thatplace?More importantly, whatpeople played a role in your decision to follow Jesus?

    Maybe you grew up in a Christian home and made a decision as aresult of the examples of loving parents and Childrens Ministryworkers.

    Maybe a series of friends and coworkers shared their faith stories withyou, and then one of them invited you to church. At that point, lots of

    new people got involved.

    Maybe you made a decision to follow Christ as a result of being in aLife Group. Every member of that group became part of your decision.

    If you are a follower of Jesus, then God is calling you to play a role inintroducing someone else to Jesus.

    To plant a small seed of Gods truth.To water that seed with Gods love.To nurture the seed with acts of kindness.

    To harvest the fruit of Gods Word.

    1 Corinthians 3:6-9 describes this process. Who ultimately causes the seed

    to grow?

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    When Jesus says to go into the world, instructions to go into all the world

    (see Matthew 28:32, Mark 16:15) and preach the Gospel, the word go is

    best interpreted as as you go or as you go.

    In other words, wherever you are, whatever youre doing, whoever youre

    with, listen to the Holy Spirit and watch for God at work. Meet new peopleand renew old friendships. Hang out where people dont yet know Jesus.

    Look for opportunities to get to know people, to be Christ in their lives, to

    love them and serve them. Look for opportunities to share your life with

    them, and invite them to share life with you and other Christ-followers.

    Remember your own fusion story. Your job is not to save them or

    convince them to follow Christ. Be patient. Your job is to love, to share

    your life; Gods job is to lead them to faith.

    How can holy infusion help you discern where God is already working?

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    Day Two

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    Leonard Sweet defines evangelism as awakening people to the God who isalready there.1The Holy Spirit is already at work around them, but they may not know it yet.

    Every fusion story involves the Holy Spirit.

    Its the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin. (John 16:5-11). Its the Holy Spirit who gives us a spirit of adoption as children,

    allowing us to experience intimacy with God, our Father. (Romans8:15-16)

    Its the Holy Spirit who brings us life and freedom. (Romans 8:10-11, 2Corinthians 3:17)

    Leonard Sweet compares our evangelism to a nudge. Basically a nudgeis a friendly note sent to a Twitter friends phone, reminding them to updateyour Twitter profile. And he compares evangelists to nudgers.

    When we nudge someone, were prompting them to pay attention to whatGod is doing in their lives and reminding them to respond to the initiative ofthe Holy Spirit. God doesnt ask us to save people. We nudge, and Godtakes it from there.

    Every nudge is a little different.Sometimes it looks like a smile.Sometimes its a bottle of cold water.This coming Sunday, every encounter you have at Hallopalooza is anopportunity for a nudge. Every word. Every gesture. Will people see Jesusin you?

    Nudging is made up of small things. Small things can have massiveconsequences. As Sweet says, No moment is too small, no person is toosmall, to gently steer and move people down life paths and away from deathvalleys.2

    God wants to use you to do big things.

    You represent Jesus.Who should you nudge?

    1 Sweet, Leonard. Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Whos Already There.Colorado Springs: David C. Cook (2010), p. 28.

    2 Sweet, p. 37.

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    Day Three

    In Acts 8:25-40, we see the Holy Spirit prompting Philip to nudge theEthiopian eunuch. Take a look at this passage?

    What things does the Holy Spirit prompt Philip to do?

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    Philip wasnt the person who planted the seed in the eunuchs life. Hes notthe one who gives him the book of Isaiah. He does get to explain it, though.He gets to pray with him and he gets to baptize him. And then they partways.

    He doesnt get to see what happens next.

    Sometimes God involves us in a fusion story, but we never get to see themmake a decision to follow Christ. Sometimes we pray with someone, butsomeone else gets to baptize them and disciple them.

    Who is the Holy Spirit prompting you to nudge today? What is He promptingyou to do?

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    Day FourReview your sermon notes.What Scripture or sermon point stood out to you and why?

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    Did the Holy Spirit bring anything else to mind as you listened? Did He ask

    you to do anything?

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    Holy Infusion - Week Six

    Day One

    Talking about an Infusion of the Holy Spirit reminds us there is a world wecant see with our eyes, touch with our hands, or hear with our ears.

    Most of the time.

    Thats probably why most of us dont talk about Him very much. Were morecomfortable with the physical world. But the spiritual world is just as real asthe physical one we see every day.

    And theres a lot going on in that spiritual world.

    In Colossians 1, Paul reminds us that we should be thankfulbecause Jesusrescued us from the Dominion of Darknessand brought us into theKingdom of God, the Father. (Colossians 1:13)

    Yeah. Theres a real Dominion of Darkness.There are demons. And theres a devil. They are the spiritual forces of evilin the heavenly realm. (See Ephesians 6:12)

    We dont want to obsess about this Dominion of Darkness, but we dont wantto ignore it either. So, over the next few days well examine what the Bible

    says.

    Jesus speaks about the enemy in John 10:10 and identifies him as a thief. Hesays, The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that theymight have life and have it to the full.

    What is the enemy trying to steal, kill, and destroy in your life?

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    Take a look at 1 Peter 5:8.What does self-controlled and alert look like in your life?

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    How might you be devoured?___________________________________________________

    Sometimes its helpful to look at a verse in context. Read 1 Peter 5:5-6.What thinks might get in the way of being self-controlled and alert?

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    What are some ways you can stay strong in the faith?_______________________________

    Just one more word. If youve ever watched one of those shows on AnimalPlanet, those ones where the gazelle or the impala gather at the wateringhole, you know theyre most susceptible to getting eaten by the lion whenthey stop paying attention.

    Destruction can be quick.

    Our spiritual battles come when we least expect them.And they happen whether we acknowledge them or not.

    How can a daily Infusion of the Holy Spirit help you stay self-controlled andalert?

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    Day Two

    The Dominion of Darkness is real.Our enemy is real.

    But we dont have to live in fear. God has given us everything we need toresist the enemy.

    Take a look at Ephesians 6:10-20.In fact, read it slowly, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you about thesubject of spiritual warfare.

    Our battle is not against flesh and blood. Its not against people who giveus a hard time. Its not against family members, neighbors, or coworkers.

    Who or what are we really fighting?

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    The pieces Armor of God gives us insight into the way our enemy fights.

    Truth: John 8:44 tells us that Satan is the father of lies. What kind of liesdoes he bring against you? (You know its a lie if it contradicts Gods Word,or Gods character as revealed in His Word.)

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    Based on this, why is it important to be familiar with Gods Word?

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    Righteousness: According to Philippians 3:8-9, who or what is the sourceof our righteousness?

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    Faith: How does holy infusion help us grow in faith? What do your doubtslook like? Are any of them based on lies?

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    What role do the Sword of the Spirit (the Bible) and praying in the Spiritplay protecting you against the evil one?

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    Based on everything youve read or heard in this series or in other studiesabout spiritual warfare, why is it important to experience holy infusion on adaily basis?

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    If you want to learn more about this subject, you can watch or listen to theWay of the Warriors sermon series, available athttp://www.newbreak.org/sermons/archive/?p=3 .

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    http://www.newbreak.org/sermons/archive/?p=3http://www.newbreak.org/sermons/archive/?p=3
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    Day Three

    This weekend, were going to look at Acts 19:13-22, the story of the sevensons of Sceva, some Jews who were going around Ephesus trying to cast outdemons.

    The spiritual realm tangibly intersected with the physical realm,demonstrating the very real need for continuous spiritual infusion.

    Take a few minutes to read this passage, thinking about the importance ofinfusion, as stressed in Ephesians 6.

    How do the seven sons of Sceva know about Jesus? What is the differencebetween knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus? Have the sons of Scevaexperienced holy infusion?

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    How does God use this episode to glorify His Name in spite of the seven sonsof Sceva?

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    What does this tell you about the power of God?

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    Day FourReview your sermon notes.What Scripture or sermon point stood out to you and why?

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    Did the Holy Spirit bring anything else to mind as you listened? Did He ask

    you to do anything?

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    APPENDIX A: Life Group Prayer Requests

    Date Person Prayer Request Update/Answers

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    APPENDIX A: Life Group Prayer Requests

    Date Person Prayer Request Update/Answers

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    Appendix B For even BETTERRESULTS!

    This study is all about allowing the Holy Spirit to infuse your life with powerpower to witness, power to change, power to love . . .

    Well be looking at stories from the book of Acts, which is all about how theHoly Spirit infused the lives of ordinary people, like us, and how the Churchof Jesus Christ spread throughout the Roman Empire.

    For BEST RESULTS, we recommend that you do the lessons in this book.

    For even BETTER RESULTS, we recommend that you:

    Read the book of Acts through. Picture yourself as part of the earlychurch. What was it like? I mean, these are crazy, crazy times.

    If you read two chapters a day, youll get through the book of

    Acts twice during this series.

    Read Forgotten God, by Francis Chan. Too often we talk aboutGod the Father, and we talk about Jesus, but we forgot about thetransformative power of the Holy Spirit, we dont desire the gifts of theSpirit, and we end up trying to live for God out of our own strength.

    When you pray, ask God to INFUSE you with his Holy Spirit, tosupernaturally enable you to love Him and others.

    We definitely need a daily infusion!