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Meeting aim

To remove the fear associated with encountering the Holy Spirit and to explain why we respond in different ways.

Background preparation

You will need a blown up balloon hidden somewhere close to where you are sitting that you can pop at an opportune moment. Find someone to share their story of an encounter with the Holy Spirit that helped them overcome their fear (a team member, an older young person, someone from your church) or think about an experience you’ve had that you could share.

How do you react?

Get your group to describe times and situations when they have reacted in exciting, fearful or unusual ways to situations. As someone in your group is sharing their story burst the balloon to see how people react. Explain that we all react to experiences in different ways; we have senses and emotions that make us feel and interact with people and circumstances in different ways.

Testimony

Ask the prepared person to share their testimony about a significant time they encountered the Holy Spirit which helped them overcome a fear of waiting, encountering the Holy Spirit, or being prayed for. Leave time for your young people to ask them a few questions.

Exploring the Bible

Split your group into individuals or groups of two or three, then give each group a different one of these verses: 2 Chronicles 5:12-14; Isaiah 6:1-5; Genesis 17:1, 15-17; Acts 4:31; Luke 10:21; Daniel 10:4-11; Ezekiel 3:23-24; Acts 8:39-40; Acts 2:1-3; Acts 2:4; Joel 2:28-29. Get each individual or group to look at their passage and ask them to think about how the people in their verses responded when they encountered the presence of the Holy Spirit and why they might have responded the way they did. When everyone has had a few minutes gather some feedback. Then read Acts 2:1-13 together and spend a little bit of time thinking about how this scene must have looked to those who saw.

Key point 1

Sometimes strange things can happen when we pray for each other and we react to God’s presence. Sometimes it is very gentle and peaceful with little or no physical reaction at all. Sometimes people cry because they are letting out pain or receiving compassion; sometimes people scream or shake because they’re letting go of things that have hurt them. Sometimes people get a warm sensation in their hands because God is preparing them to serve. Sometimes people are completely still because they are receiving God’s peace. Sometimes it’s all a bit crazy and like the early disciples we might look as though we’re drunk. Is all of it God? Probably not. Is some of it us? Yes, most likely. But what is important is not whether we shake, fall or cluck like a chicken - the important thing is to seek more of the Holy Spirit. The more we seek the Holy Spirit, the more we change. The true test of what is happening when someone is being prayed for is what happens in the way they live life afterwards.

Everyone gets to play

Read Acts 2:14-21 and then ask the group to discuss these questions:

• How does Peter explain the reaction of the disciples?

• Who does he say the Holy Spirit is for?

Say: the Holy Spirit is for all believers - he is not just for superstar Christians, or the more mature in faith. There is no sexism, or racism and it doesn’t matter what your background is or what you’ve done. These verses remind us that God loves to pour out his Spirit on all people. You don’t even need to be somewhere special, at Soul Survivor or another conference or church meeting to encounter the Holy Spirit; it is simply about being willing, open and expectant to meet with him.

In Ephesians 1:13-14 we read that the Spirit is given to us when we believe; he is a seal of God’s work in our lives and a promise that we belong to God. So if we believe, we already have the Spirit. But the verses in Acts also show us that the Spirit equips us to reveal God’s kingdom and specifically reminds us that young people will prophesy and see visions. It’s an encouragement to keep being filled with the Spirit and to walk in step with him throughout our lives. Ask the group to discuss:

• How does this make you feel?

• Have you ever experienced prophecy or had a vision?

• Have you felt excluded from these things?

Recap

Ask your group to think back over the last four sessions and discuss these questions:

• What has stood out to them about who the Holy Spirit is?

• What have they learnt about what the Holy Spirit does?

• Do they have any fear of waiting on the Spirit like the first believers in Acts?

Pray

As you finish you might like to encourage your group to stand together and wait for a few minutes for the Spirit to come and meet with them. Encourage your group to wait patiently, not straining to encounter God, but also not zoning out; remind them to welcome God in their hearts and minds and to say ‘Holy Spirit meet me’. Wait in silence and see what happens. As leaders, perhaps wait with your eyes open so you can see what God is doing, and maybe lay a hand on the shoulder of anyone that God seems to be meeting with. Perhaps ask God to give your young people words, pictures and visions for your group. When it seems right, thank God for meeting with you and gently finish. Offer your young people space to share what they felt was happening. If your group are still a little fearful or unsure, simply pray for the Holy Spirit to give you all a sense of boldness and courage in seeking him as a group.

Ali Etheridge, Steve Todd & Liza Hoeksma

Ali Etheridge is responsible for supporting youth leaders and youth ministry for Soul Survivor through SoulNet.

Steve Todd is PA to the Soul Survivor directors.

Liza Hoeksma is the copy writer for Soul Survivor.