May 2 - 23 series: "Inner Strength: How God's Spirit Works in Us and For Us"

May 2 Message: "The Challenging Teacher" (John 14:25-26; 16:1-15)

Jesus says one of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to serve as our Teacher. The Spirit reveals truth about God and a bout Jesus. But truth is challenging, and the Spirit - like all good teachers - uses truth to challenge us. The Spirit challenges (convicts) on issues of sin and unrighteousness (John 16). The Spirit also challenges us about our perception of people and where God is at work in their lives. Peter's experience in Joppa (Acts 10 and the report about it in Chapter 11) reminds us that sometimes in order to learn something new we have to unlearn some other things first.

May 9 Message: "The Comforting Guide" (John 14:15-27)

God guided the Israelites in their 40-year desert journey with a pillar of fire at night and a cloud by day -- very visible signs. Jesus says God now will guide us with an internal presence -- the Holy Spirit. The Greek word used in John 14 to describe the Spirit is "paraclete", meaning one called alongside to help. The word is often translated as Comforter or Advocate. It is the "by-our-side" presence through Whom God offers assurance and guidance to us.

May 16 Message: "The Giver and the Guarantee" (Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:9-23)

Jesus Speaks to His disciples about the gift of the Spirit, who will empower them to bear witness. Paul says the Spirit serves another important role: that of a guarantee, a kind of promissory note for our salvation (1:13-14). On this Ascension Sunday, we'll explore this guarantee from the Spirit and what it means in the life of followers of Jesus.

May 23 Pentecost Sunday

Message: "The Power of Living" (Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:14-30); John 14:8-17)

The sermon recalls the promise of Jesus from Acts 1:8 - "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." The promise came true on the day of Pentecost when a "mighty rushing wind" brought the powerful presence of the Spirit into the life and witness of the church. Paul tells us that Spirit empowers us through prayer and spiritual formation (Rom. 8:26-30). But how are believers to understand power? As something for themselves (i.e. personal freedom), or as something for the world (servant leadership)? The sermon will explore this gift of power and the call to invest it in the mission of Christ.