Holy spirit week 3

Empowered Living: The Anointing of the Spirit

Bible Passage: Galatians 5:13-26

Summary: In Galatians 5:13-26, Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruits of the Spirit, urging Christians to live by the Spirit in order to experience true freedom and empowerment in their lives.

Application: This passage encourages teens to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength in overcoming temptations and peer pressures. By embracing the Spirit's guidance, they can cultivate virtues such as love, joy, and patience, which are essential for navigating the challenges of adolescence.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that empowerment through the Holy Spirit is not just a theological concept but a practical necessity for living a victorious Christian life. It emphasizes that living by the Spirit leads to a fruitful and fulfilling life equal to the freedom we have in Christ.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage points to Christ as the ultimate source of the Holy Spirit. As believers in Christ, we receive the Spirit, who enables us to embody the characteristics of Christ in our daily lives and helps us to transform into His likeness.

Big Idea: True empowerment and anointing from the Holy Spirit enables us to live out our faith through love and service, resulting in a life marked by the fruits of the Spirit.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider exploring the role of the Holy Spirit throughout the New Testament using your Logos library. Look for exegetical studies that unpack the implications of ‘living by the Spirit.’ You might also want to examine the context of the Galatian church's struggles with legalism, which will provide deeper insights into Paul's messages about freedom and anointing.

1. Freedom: Serve One Another

Galatians 5:13-15

You could begin by explaining that teenagers often feel the tension between personal freedom and responsibility. Paul reminds the Galatians that true freedom is found in serving one another in love. Emphasizing this can help teens see the beauty and strength in selflessly loving others as a practical expression of spiritual empowerment.

2. Fight: Walk by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-21

Perhaps focus on the struggle between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit. Paul's candid list of the works of the flesh may resonate with teens and their challenges. Encourage them to see that when they walk in the Spirit, they are not alone in battling these desires, as the empowerment from the Spirit offers a path to victory.

3. Fruits: Evidence of Empowerment

Galatians 5:22-26

Maybe draw attention to the fruits of the Spirit, contrasting them with the works of the flesh. Highlight how these fruits are evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. Illustrate how embodying these fruits—like love and patience—can transform the social dynamics teens experience daily, showcasing a life empowered by the Spirit.