Made in Bethlehem : Batteries Not Included
Directions
Below you will find the corresponding sermon’s small group discussion guide.
If you would like to reference the full length sermon via video, simply visit healingplacechurch.org/media and filter by date or use the
search option. Simply read over this guide prior to your meeting, pray, and discuss the content allowing time for each person to have
input. We know God will do amazing things!
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Question : What do you think is the most powerful thing on this planet?
Random facts about powerful forces:
Animals: Blue whales are 100 ft. long and weigh as much as 200 tons. They produce about 120 kilo-newtons of thrust to push
themselves through the water, or about twice the power of an F-15 fighter jet.
Weather: A hurricane releases 200 times more energy in a day than all of the world’s combined energy production abilities.
Geology: The 1883 eruption of Mt. Krakatoa in Sumatra was one of the most powerful events in human history. It was loud
enough to be heard in Australia, almost 3,000 miles away. The shock wave circled the globe 7 times and affected the atmospheric pressure of the entire planet. Approximately 11 cubic miles worth of debris was thrown into the air by the explosion, lowering
the worldwide average temperature 1.2 degrees for the next 5 years. A massive 120 foot tall tsunami destroyed all the neighboring islands.
These are all amazing examples of might, but as Christians we have access to something more powerful than them all : The Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:49 (NLT)
“And now I will send the HOLY SPIRIT, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the HOLY SPIRIT comes and fills
you with POWER from heaven.”
  
1. Holy Spirit : Power Over Sin
God gives us power in lots of ways, but one of the biggest ways we see it working in our lives is power over sin.
Question : Have you ever found yourself feeling powerless over sin and seeming like there’s no hope of ever moving on?
Question : How do you find yourself normally reacting when the frustration of sin sets in? Can you move on?
Romans 8:2 (NIV)
And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
First, we must know that sin has lost it’s eternal sting through accepting Christ’s offer of salvation, or as the Bible calls it, being born
again ( 1 Peter 1:2-4 ). Once you are His, God sees you forever as blameless because He sees Jesus when He sees you.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit also offers hope of freedom from sin’s control now, in our daily lives.
Question : Have you ever felt the tension of what you want to do as a Christian and what your flesh is prone to do ( sin ) ?
Question : Why does it sometime seem like we’re powerless against sin and temptation when Scripture says that we aren’t?
Question : If you have had any success, how has God helped you change this ?
 John 16:8 (NKJV)
“And when He has come, He will CONVICT the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”
Question : Have you ever found yourself distracted or influenced by this world’s opinions and what effect did that have on your life?
Discuss : If you have an example, how has the Holy Spirit guided you, through conviction, in a past situation or sin?
2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate
in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Leader’s Note : Romans 12 is also a great springboard text on this “renewal” process the Bible calls sanctification.
This renewal is guided by the Holy Spirit through the gift of conviction in light of His Word - the bible.
1. Holy Spirit : Comes Alongside
John 16:7 (NKJV)
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the HELPER will not come to you;
but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
Question : Why is it important that we have God’s help when it comes to sin and right living?
Question : How can /do you put focus on this truth for your daily living?
If God is strong enough to create the world and redeem your soul, He is strong enough to guide you from sin’s constraints through the
Holy Spirit.
Pray : Pray that we will allow the Holy Spirit to convict and “help” our lives reflect God’s best for us found in Scripture and bring us
clarity of eternal agenda despite the clutter and noise of this world.
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Closing
At this point, you can discuss and ask for any other thoughts, comments, and prayer needs.
When you’re done, simply pray that God deposits this truth in everyone’s hearts and gives the strength to live what was learned.