You, Me, and Martin Luther This week we will start looking at the last part of the Apostle’s Creed. We encounter the 3rd Person of God, The Holy Spirit. This part of God, I think, is the one we often don’t talk about much. Why do you think that is? I have my ideas which I will share with you on Sunday. Let’s see what we can understand about the Holy Spirit by looking into our handy dandy Lutheran heritage. |
The Third Article: Sanctification
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
From the explanation, we learn that the Holy Spirit:
Calls us – through God’s Word - what does that mean to you? How does that happen?
Enlightens us – the explanation says with the Spirit’s gifts. We'll get to that part in class. In the meantime, what might be some ways the Spirit enlightens you? (Think of the word itself – En – LIGHT – en)…
Talk about it - Have you ever have a time when an idea came to you, or some explanation about something finally clicked or made sense? Ask your parents to enlighten you with a time something became clear to them in their faith.
Sanctifies us – OK, this one is going to take a little more work to explain.
Let's start with looking it up in the dictionary. What does this word mean?
Goto: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sanctification
Calls us – through God’s Word - what does that mean to you? How does that happen?
Enlightens us – the explanation says with the Spirit’s gifts. We'll get to that part in class. In the meantime, what might be some ways the Spirit enlightens you? (Think of the word itself – En – LIGHT – en)…
Talk about it - Have you ever have a time when an idea came to you, or some explanation about something finally clicked or made sense? Ask your parents to enlighten you with a time something became clear to them in their faith.
Sanctifies us – OK, this one is going to take a little more work to explain.
Let's start with looking it up in the dictionary. What does this word mean?
Goto: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sanctification
Sanctification also means being ‘set apart’ to be a holy people. How can we do this today? Name 3 ways with your parents, and have them share too.
Notice that it isn’t just you or me that the Holy Spirit works upon, but the whole church. God, through the Holy Spirit, has, is, and continues to call us, gather us together, helps us grow more and more into God’s holy people, and also keeps us (helps sustain and protect us).
The B-I-B-L-E - Yes, that's the book for Thee!
We learn the most about the Holy Spirit by reading passages from God’s Word. Choose one of the 3 columns below. Look up each verse in your column.
Bring your column of verses you chose, and your questions or comments ON AT LEAST 3 of your texts to class.
- What does it say about the Holy Spirit?
- Does that make sense to you?
Bring your column of verses you chose, and your questions or comments ON AT LEAST 3 of your texts to class.
Column A Romans 8:9-11 John 16:7 Acts 1:8 Romans 8:26-27 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 Ephesians 4:30 John 16:7-11 Isaiah 11:2 Romans 8:2 Acts 2:1-4 Luke 4:1 Romans 15:16 1 Peter 4:10-11 | Column B John 14:16 John 14:26 1 Corinthians 3:16 Romans 8:9-11 Romans 8:26-27 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 2 Corinthians 1:22 John 16:7-11 Genesis 1:1-2 Romans 8:2 Acts 2:1-4 Luke 4:14 2 Timothy 3:16 | John 15:26 Romans 8:14 Ephesians 2:21-22 Romans 8:26-27 1 Corinthians 1:11 Ephesians 1:13-14 John 16:7-11 1 Peter 1:21 John 16:13 Romans 8:2 Acts 2:1-4 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 Mark 16:14-17 |
Picture It!
How would you draw the Holy Spirit? What are some images that we associate with the Holy Spirit? Here are a few that I thought were pretty awesome. Do some surfing and bring in a link or image that talks to you to share with the class. What characteristic about the Holy Spirit does your image evoke for you?
This is a clip from "The Lorax" . It is about them planting a tree - new growth, new beginnings. It reminded me a little bit about sanctification, in that sense. Then I thought about the group of people too. How does this tie into the 3rd Article? Think about the whole 3rd Article.