Preaching About the Holy Spirit
Preaching About the Holy Spirit
In this post we continue our series on preaching about doctrine. This post reflects on the next phrase of the Apostles’ Creed: I believe in the Holy Spirit. Preaching about the Holy Spirit is a huge subject. And, frankly, this is likely the least understood person in the Trinity. So let’s look at some ways to approach this subject.
Scripture’s Testimony About the Holy Spirit
It might be helpful for you to review the many Bible passages about the Holy Spirit before sitting down to compose your sermon. Here is a list of almost all of the passages. With so many to choose from, how do you make a choice about which to preach? This subject may take more than one sermon. Let me share an approach that I have found helpful.
Preaching About Jesus’ Promised Holy Spirit
A good place to start is Jesus’ statements about the Holy Spirit in John 14 and 16.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:12-15
Main Points for An Initial Sermon about the Holy Spirit
The Spirit will be “another helper”. The word “helper” here is sometimes translated as “comforter”. The word in the original language is “Paraklete”. The word describes one who is called alongside to help. Jesus says that when he is gone another helper will come. The way this is phrased is that this will be a helper like Jesus. Create some verbal pictures from the gospels about Jesus having compassion on a leper, giving hope to a Samaritan woman, weeping at the grave of Lazarus. That love, caring Savior and Lord is still available to you right now.- The amazing truth that the Spirit will be “in” us. We are never far from the presence of the Spirit because he lives in us.
- His task is to glorify Jesus. I went through a phase in my spiritual journey where I was attracted to the “charismatic” movement. People in churches or gatherings would speak in tongues, would prophesy, and would claim knowledge that came straight from God. I learned much from these brothers and sisters, though I did not join their churches or their movement. I still emphasize in my preaching that God is never far away. Last week, in a class I am teaching on prayer to a group of men, I could say it again. One man texted afterward that that was an insight for him. God is present whenever we pray. Our prayers, literally, cannot bounce off the ceiling. Let your people know this as you are preaching about the Holy Spirit.
A Warning As You Preach About the Holy Spirit
There is another aspect to give your people as you are preaching about the Holy Spirit in this initial sermon. Reflect on these words from Paul’s letter to Galatians:
We are able to get out of step with the Spirit. I’ll testify to that!Conclusion
Plan your preaching about the Holy Spirit, and your people will grow in their experience of Jesus.
