Small Group Discussion Guide

"The Helper Has Come: Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit"

Based on the sermon by Jacob Boss | John 13–16

A Note to Facilitators: This guide is designed for a 60–90 minute gathering. You know your group best — feel free to skip questions, linger where conversation is rich, or swap in the Optional Deep Dive questions if your group is ready to go further. The goal isn't to get through every question; it's to help your group encounter God together. Pray before you meet, and trust the Holy Spirit to lead the conversation.

OVERVIEW

For the Facilitator — Read before your group meets

In his final hours with his disciples before the cross, Jesus made an extraordinary promise: that after his departure, he would send a Helper — the Holy Spirit — who would empower his followers to do "greater works" than even Jesus himself had done during his earthly ministry. This week's sermon walked through six specific promises Jesus made about the Holy Spirit in John 13–16, showing how those promises were fulfilled in the book of Acts and how they remain powerfully true for every believer today. The central message is this: you don't have to be spiritually impressive or globally experienced to be on mission — you simply have to be available, because the Helper lives in you.

ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

To open your time together, ask everyone to share briefly:

"Think of a time when someone unexpectedly showed up to help you during a hard moment. What did their presence mean to you?"

After a few people share, transition by saying something like: "Today we're going to talk about the greatest Helper who has ever existed — and the stunning promise that he lives inside every one of us."

SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Have someone read the following passages aloud. You may want to ask two or three different people to read one passage each.

John 14:15–17

"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 15:26–27

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning."

John 16:7–8

"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment."

Acts 1:4–5, 8

"And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now... But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'"

After reading, say: "These passages form the foundation of what we heard Sunday. Let's dig into what they mean for us today."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Work through as many of these questions as time allows. Questions are organized from lighter and observational to deeper and more personal. Feel free to move at the pace that fits your group.

SECTION 1: What We Heard

Opening Observations (5–8 minutes)

1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message — a story, a scripture, a phrase, or an idea? Why did it catch your attention?

[Leader Tip]: This is a great warm-up question with no wrong answers. It helps you quickly learn where people are and what resonated. Let several people share briefly without going too deep yet. If someone mentions Riley's baptism or the story of Jay in prison, make a note — those may come up naturally in later questions.

2. The speaker described the context of John 13–16 as Jesus's "last supper" conversation with his disciples — the final hours before the cross. Knowing that, how does it change the way you hear Jesus's promises about the Holy Spirit?

[Leader Tip]: Help the group feel the weight of the moment. These weren't casual teachings — they were final, urgent words from someone about to die. If discussion is slow, ask: "What would you want to make sure the people you love most knew if you had one last conversation with them?"

SECTION 2: The Six Promises

Understanding the Message (10–15 minutes)

The sermon outlined six promises Jesus made about the Holy Spirit. Let's explore a few of them together.

3. Jesus said in John 14:12 that his followers would do "greater works" than he did. That's a bold claim. What do you think Jesus meant by "greater works" — and how does the coming of the Holy Spirit make that possible?

[Leader Tip]: The sermon clarified that "greater" refers to geographic and numerical scope — not greater in power or importance. Jesus worked in one region; through the Spirit, his gospel reaches every nation. Help the group avoid getting stuck on the phrase "greater than Jesus" — redirect toward the idea of expansion through the Spirit dwelling in every believer.

4. The speaker used the analogy of walking through a cemetery and telling a dead person to rise. He said: "Who in here has the power to bring somebody that's spiritually dead to life? None of us." How does this image reshape the way you think about sharing your faith with others?

5. One of the promises is that the Holy Spirit "guides us into all truth" (John 16:13) through Scripture. The speaker shared a story about an Indian pastor who noticed that many American church leaders had bookshelves full of books about the Bible, but rarely the Bible itself.

• What do you think the pastor's observation reveals?
• What role does the Bible actually play in your daily life right now — and what role do you want it to play?

[Leader Tip]: This can feel convicting for some people. Keep the tone gracious and self-reflective rather than critical. You might share honestly from your own experience first to model vulnerability.

6. Jesus told his disciples: "It is to your advantage that I go away" (John 16:7). That must have sounded unbelievable to them. In your own words, why is it actually better for us that Jesus ascended and sent the Spirit rather than remaining physically present on earth?

SECTION 3: The Spirit in Real Life

Personal Connection (10–12 minutes)

7. The speaker told the story of Jay, a missionary who was arrested and imprisoned for baptizing new believers. While in prison, he and the new believers shared the gospel with 30 men — and three came to faith. The authorities then separated them into different cells, which only created three different cells where the gospel could spread.

• What does this story reveal about how God works, even through circumstances that seem like setbacks?
• Have you ever experienced a situation where something that felt like a loss or obstacle turned out to be something God used for good? What happened?

8. The sermon highlighted that the Holy Spirit's work isn't limited to overseas missionaries or trained pastors — it belongs to every believer. Do you genuinely believe that the same Spirit who empowered the disciples in Acts lives in you? What makes that easy or hard to believe?

[Leader Tip]: This is one of the most important questions in the guide. Some group members may struggle with feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness. Gently remind the group that the Spirit's power isn't based on our qualifications — it's based on God's faithfulness. If the group is quiet, share your own honest struggle with this first.

9. The speaker reported that in Iran today, more people are coming to faith than in almost any other country in the world — despite intense opposition. He also mentioned 100 million evangelical believers in China. How does hearing what God is doing globally affect your faith and perspective right now?

PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

These questions are for more personal reflection. Encourage honest, grace-filled sharing — people can share as much or as little as they're comfortable with.

1. The sermon said: "Every believer in this room is qualified and empowered to the gospel mission — whether it's across the street, in your community, or to the ends of the earth." When you hear that, what's your honest reaction? Excitement? Doubt? Relief? Something else?

2. Think about one person in your life right now — a neighbor, coworker, family member, or friend — who doesn't know Jesus. What would it look like to trust the Holy Spirit's work as you simply show up and care for that person this week?

3. The speaker challenged us to "put our yes on the table" — to surrender to whatever God is calling us to, even before we know what it is. Is there an area of your life where you've been holding back a "yes" from God? What's making it hard to let go?

4. The sermon connected the Spirit's work to consistent engagement with Scripture. On a practical level, what's one small, specific change you could make this week to give God's Word more space in your daily life?

5. Riley, a young man with autism from the Thrive Ministry, was baptized during the service. When asked what he believed about Jesus, he simply said: "He is my Savior." What does Riley's testimony stir in you — about faith, about belonging, about what the church is meant to be?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one (or more) of the following to put into practice before your group meets again:

🕊️ Pray Daily for Someone Far from God Choose one person you know who doesn't follow Jesus. Pray specifically this week that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction and open their heart — and ask God to show you how to love them well.

📖 Read with Fresh Eyes Pick one chapter from the Gospel of John (chapters 13–16 work great this week) and read it slowly, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal something new. Write down what you notice.

💬 Share Something Look for one natural opportunity this week to share something about your faith — not a full gospel presentation, just an honest word about what God has been doing in your life. Trust the Spirit to work through it.

🙋 Say Yes to Something If you've been sensing a call toward ministry, serving, or mission, take one concrete step this week — whether that's attending a discovery event, signing up to volunteer, or simply having a conversation with a pastor or ministry leader.

PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. You may want to break into pairs or triads for more personal prayer, or pray together as a whole group.

Suggested Prayer Topics:

• Gratitude — Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for the promises of Jesus that are still true today
• Openness — Ask God to increase your awareness of and sensitivity to the Spirit's leading in your daily life
• Courage — Pray for boldness to share your faith with the specific people God has placed in your life
• Global Mission — Pray for believers around the world facing persecution — in South Asia, Iran, China, and other places — that the Spirit would sustain and multiply their witness
• Your Church — Pray for your church community, for ministries that reach people who might otherwise feel excluded (like Thrive Ministry), and for those who are still searching for faith
• Personal Surrender — Invite each person to silently offer God whatever "yes" they may have been holding back

You might close with this simple prayer together:

"Lord, thank you for the Helper. We don't bring much to the table on our own — but you don't need us to. You simply ask us to be willing. So here we are. Use us. Lead us. Fill us. To the ends of the earth and across the street. In Jesus' name, Amen."

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

For groups with extra time or those who want to go further

A. Read Acts 2:1–4, 14–17, 36–41. This is the fulfillment of everything Jesus promised in John 13–16. Walk through it together:

• How do you see each of the six promises (the Spirit empowers witness, convicts the world, glorifies Christ, guides into truth, expands the mission, sustains under persecution) showing up in this single chapter?
• What would it look like for your group — or your church — to be the kind of community described in Acts 2:42–47?

B. The sermon made a distinction between the Spirit "dwelling with" the disciples during Jesus's ministry and later dwelling "in" believers after Pentecost (John 14:17). Why does this distinction matter? What changes when the Spirit moves from being with you to being in you? How should that reality shape the way you live Monday through Saturday?

C. Jesus promised that the Spirit would "convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment" (John 16:8). This is often misunderstood.

• What do you think the Spirit's work of conviction actually looks like in a person's life?
• How is Spirit-led conviction different from guilt, shame, or religious pressure?
• How does understanding the Spirit's role in conviction change the way you approach sharing your faith — specifically taking the pressure off of you to "convince" anyone?

RELATED SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER STUDY

For those who want to explore more throughout the week:

• John 14:1–31 — The full context of Jesus's promise of the Helper
• Acts 2:1–47 — Pentecost and the birth of the church
• Romans 8:9–17, 26–27 — The Spirit's presence in every believer
• 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 — Spiritual gifts distributed by the Spirit
• Galatians 5:16–25 — Walking by the Spirit and the fruit he produces
• Ephesians 1:13–14 — The Spirit as a seal and guarantee of our inheritance

This guide was prepared for small group use at Calvary Church. For questions about small groups or ministry involvement, visit calvary.us.

Next Week: Continue the conversation — check with your group leader or church website for the upcoming sermon series and discussion guide.