Living with interrupts enabled

Step three in this lesson “Led by the Spirit” from LifeWay is based on Romans 8:9-11. The overall work of the Spirit is extensive and may confuse learners if you attempt to describe His ministry in any kind of detail. The key is to be clear and stay focused on the teachings in the focal passage. Previously, I mentioned the idea of an interrupt. Computer science includes the idea of running with interrupts enabled. In Christain terms, that's living in such a way that the Holy Spirit in us is not quinched or grieved and we follow His direction in life.

My reading of the focal passage makes clear that the Spirit lives in believers (vs. 9), provides life God considers righteous (vs. 10) and assures believers of a future bodily resurrection (vs. 11).

The first action of answering the Spirit’s call is to become a believer in Jesus Christ. After salvation the Spirit leads believers (Galatians 5:16-18) and guides them into truth (John 16:13) of the wisdom of Christ’s teachings. The extent of our sanctification then depends on our willingness to listen to the Spirit.

Ask the class to listen for how the Spirit worked in leading as Roy Becomes a Christian (see conclusion). The key quote I had in mind is: “By the time Roy and I had worked through all of this, including questions and reading through the passages, I knew it was his day of salvation. [How did he know?] At this critical juncture in the conversation, the Spirit seems to lead us at times to pray right then with the person if the person is ready to do so, or to recommend that the person takes some time that day to think about it further and pray to God in private. I sensed the Spirit leading me to encourage Roy to take what we had just spoken about, pray about it and think about it that afternoon, and then to seize the opportunity to invite the Spirit of God to come and live inside Him to make him a Christian. [Why did he pray?] Then I asked him to tell his Christian friend in the lab, and call me, as soon as he invited the Spirit of God to come within him. Roy promised me he would.” The questions in italics illustrate what I would ask the class as I read the quote.

Ask the class to share examples of when or where they have sensed the Spirit’s leadership personally (possibly in some of the following ways: share the gospel, encourage someone, know the truth of God’s Word, give to support a ministry, pray in a particular situation, discernment in a situation, etc.). Follow up by discussing tips from learners as to “How do we sense leadership of the Spirit?” I would post up the pictured PPT slide and work thru the points as we study the focal verses.