Greetings Friends!
Some of you may not realize this yet, but I have subdivided much of this series already. So far here is where we have been and where we are going:
Week 1 - Pentecost What? An exploration of what Pentecost was/is and how that impacts our lives today.
Week 2 - The Fruits of the Spirit - How to listen to the voice of the Spirit in our lives.
Week 3 - The Guide of Life - Looking at the role of Holy Spirit as guide.
Those three have already been done. Here's what's next:
Week 4 - The HS as Counselor - looking at the concept of Paraclete in Scripture.
Week 5 - The HS as Teacher - How the HS helps us in our understanding of the Word.
Week 6 - The HS as Intercessor - The HS's role in prayer, particularly as interpreter to the Father on our behalf.
Week 7 - The Gifts of the Spirit - Moving in the direction of community and mission.
So that's the layout. Now for your input!
Here are some of the passages I am working on for this week on the HS as counselor:
John 14:15-18
15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
NIV
John 14:25-27
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
NIV
John 15:26-27
26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
NIV
John 16:5-11
5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
NIV
The Greek uses a very specific term (Paraclete), which could be translated counselor, comforter, encourager, or advocate. What are your impressions from these passages, and in particular I am interested in your thoughts on the final section where the Spirit is the convictor of guilt.
Thanks for your help.
Bless You!
