Empowered by the Holy Spirit: A Journey of Faith
Devotional
Sermon Summary
Bible Study Guide
Sermon Clips
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "And it maybe doesn't really look like fire, like what's on my head. But we call that the light of God that's in our hearts. And that we then can share with others. We can shine God's light in the world. How do you think we shine God's light in the world? What do you think we do? Being nice to people. Yes. Helping others. Yep. What else do we do to shine the light of God in the world? What do we do, Sam? What do you think? You ever give people high fives? Give me a high five. All right. That's awesome. Yeah. Try to teach other people about God. Tell them that you love them." [32:05]
2. "It's hard today because my own kiddo is one of the ones that's going to be standing up here. But it makes me think about the fact that we don't get to own, we don't own faith in the sense that it's some kind of a commodity that we just pass on down like grandma's pearl necklace, right? Faith isn't just a noun. It's a verb. It's something that you have to experience and wrestle with in life to come to that understanding on your own. Yes, with the love and support of all those people who gather around you, whether it's literally in person or virtually or have gone on before us." [45:19]
3. "Because we know to follow Jesus is costly. It requires sacrifice and commitment. As we are all invited to actively participate in God's kingdom breaking forth in this world, through the things that we say and do, to share God's love and forgiveness and grace with those around us. And just like those early disciples, this isn't going to be an easy path for us to walk all the time. Because a life of faith doesn't mean that we're immune from struggles. But it does mean that when we face those challenges, or perhaps even if we feel a little bit lost on the roadmap of life, or the weight of grief is overwhelming, we do not face those difficulties alone." [39:18]
4. "And this commitment to be a follower of Jesus, and to actively participate in a life of faith, it's something that we choose to do each day. As we make decisions about how we will treat others, how we take care of God's creation and the other resources that God has entrusted to us. And also how we pray and engage in God's word in order to deepen our faith and trust in God." [40:30]
### Quotes for Members
1. "But what we did here in our Gospel reading for today is a different kind of roadmap, one that would help guide and direct the disciples for whatever they would face in life. Now, this was not a map or a collection of places to stop during a journey, but instead it was a guide, someone who would be with them, someone who would help show them the way. Because Jesus knew that his time on earth was running short. In fact, this is the third time in John's Gospel that Jesus talks about this promised Holy Spirit who will come to be with them after he's gone. And Jesus calls the Spirit the advocate. In the Greek word, it's paraklete, which literally means the one called alongside you." [35:36]
2. "And the Holy Spirit also shows up in the people who are around us, in the ones who sit with us when we're crying, in the ones who cheer us on from the sidelines or bring us a meal when we're sick, and even in the ones who hold us accountable when we're getting off course. Because this is a wild ride that we call life, and none of us are called to take that journey alone. But we give thanks that God's Spirit is with us, and that God also shows up in the people around us, who provide us that tangible love and support and guidance when needed." [47:25]
3. "And so today we are celebrating a significant faith milestone of five young people here at St. John's who will be affirming the promises that were made for them in baptism. As they now make their own commitment to continue in their faith journey. And although they'll be the ones standing up here today making those promises, we know that they didn't get here by themselves. Just these first few pews is evidence of just a small number of people that I know has walked with these young people and has brought them to this point today. And of course, even after today, they will not stand alone." [41:32]
4. "During the last night's campfire, Pastor Drew Yost had invited one of the young men to come up and stand in front of the group. Then he invited four other volunteers to come up and place their hands on this young man's shoulders to kind of represent his parents or other people who perhaps had been with him on the day of his baptism. Then Pastor Drew asked for eight more individuals to come up and place their hands on the four people who were standing behind this young man to represent family or close friends who had been there to support and encourage him up to that point in life." [42:18]
5. "Because asking questions shows that you care about what you believe and understand about God. And so that when we have those tough seasons of life, when we aren't sure what we believe, that promised Holy Spirit will still be there, will come along beside us. Sometimes in a dramatic way, like the rush of that mighty wind, but other times in the ways that God simply tugs on our hearts and kind of leads us in the path that God wants us to go." [46:43]
Ask a question about this sermon
1. "And it maybe doesn't really look like fire, like what's on my head. But we call that the light of God that's in our hearts. And that we then can share with others. We can shine God's light in the world. How do you think we shine God's light in the world? What do you think we do? Being nice to people. Yes. Helping others. Yep. What else do we do to shine the light of God in the world? What do we do, Sam? What do you think? You ever give people high fives? Give me a high five. All right. That's awesome. Yeah. Try to teach other people about God. Tell them that you love them." [32:05]
2. "It's hard today because my own kiddo is one of the ones that's going to be standing up here. But it makes me think about the fact that we don't get to own, we don't own faith in the sense that it's some kind of a commodity that we just pass on down like grandma's pearl necklace, right? Faith isn't just a noun. It's a verb. It's something that you have to experience and wrestle with in life to come to that understanding on your own. Yes, with the love and support of all those people who gather around you, whether it's literally in person or virtually or have gone on before us." [45:19]
3. "Because we know to follow Jesus is costly. It requires sacrifice and commitment. As we are all invited to actively participate in God's kingdom breaking forth in this world, through the things that we say and do, to share God's love and forgiveness and grace with those around us. And just like those early disciples, this isn't going to be an easy path for us to walk all the time. Because a life of faith doesn't mean that we're immune from struggles. But it does mean that when we face those challenges, or perhaps even if we feel a little bit lost on the roadmap of life, or the weight of grief is overwhelming, we do not face those difficulties alone." [39:18]
4. "And this commitment to be a follower of Jesus, and to actively participate in a life of faith, it's something that we choose to do each day. As we make decisions about how we will treat others, how we take care of God's creation and the other resources that God has entrusted to us. And also how we pray and engage in God's word in order to deepen our faith and trust in God." [40:30]
### Quotes for Members
1. "But what we did here in our Gospel reading for today is a different kind of roadmap, one that would help guide and direct the disciples for whatever they would face in life. Now, this was not a map or a collection of places to stop during a journey, but instead it was a guide, someone who would be with them, someone who would help show them the way. Because Jesus knew that his time on earth was running short. In fact, this is the third time in John's Gospel that Jesus talks about this promised Holy Spirit who will come to be with them after he's gone. And Jesus calls the Spirit the advocate. In the Greek word, it's paraklete, which literally means the one called alongside you." [35:36]
2. "And the Holy Spirit also shows up in the people who are around us, in the ones who sit with us when we're crying, in the ones who cheer us on from the sidelines or bring us a meal when we're sick, and even in the ones who hold us accountable when we're getting off course. Because this is a wild ride that we call life, and none of us are called to take that journey alone. But we give thanks that God's Spirit is with us, and that God also shows up in the people around us, who provide us that tangible love and support and guidance when needed." [47:25]
3. "And so today we are celebrating a significant faith milestone of five young people here at St. John's who will be affirming the promises that were made for them in baptism. As they now make their own commitment to continue in their faith journey. And although they'll be the ones standing up here today making those promises, we know that they didn't get here by themselves. Just these first few pews is evidence of just a small number of people that I know has walked with these young people and has brought them to this point today. And of course, even after today, they will not stand alone." [41:32]
4. "During the last night's campfire, Pastor Drew Yost had invited one of the young men to come up and stand in front of the group. Then he invited four other volunteers to come up and place their hands on this young man's shoulders to kind of represent his parents or other people who perhaps had been with him on the day of his baptism. Then Pastor Drew asked for eight more individuals to come up and place their hands on the four people who were standing behind this young man to represent family or close friends who had been there to support and encourage him up to that point in life." [42:18]
5. "Because asking questions shows that you care about what you believe and understand about God. And so that when we have those tough seasons of life, when we aren't sure what we believe, that promised Holy Spirit will still be there, will come along beside us. Sometimes in a dramatic way, like the rush of that mighty wind, but other times in the ways that God simply tugs on our hearts and kind of leads us in the path that God wants us to go." [46:43]
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