This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - 12:30pm Sunday Service | Live from Rossview” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Small Group Discussion Guide
A Closer Walk with the Holy Spirit
Life Point Church | Holy Spirit Series — Week 4
A Note to Facilitators: Welcome, and thank you for leading! You don't need to be a theology expert to guide a great discussion — your job is simply to create space for honest conversation and let the Holy Spirit do the work. Read through this guide before your meeting, choose the questions that best fit your group, and feel free to adapt the language to sound like you. The estimated times are guidelines, not rules. Most importantly, enjoy this time with your group!
OVERVIEW
In this final message of the Holy Spirit series, Pastor Mike challenged the church to move beyond simply knowing about the Holy Spirit to actually walking with him every day. Drawing from Romans 8:16, Galatians 5:16, John 16, and James 4:8, the sermon explored five key truths: the Holy Spirit wants relationship with us, he wants to walk with us daily, he wants to speak to us, he wants to convict us, and we can mishandle our relationship with him. The message closed with a practical invitation to spend daily quiet time with God, surrender to the Holy Spirit each morning, and trust the Spirit's work through the local church community.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Key Scriptures for This Week:
- Romans 8:16-17
- James 4:8
- Galatians 5:16
- John 16:7-14
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Central Theme: The Holy Spirit is not just a doctrine to study — he is a person to walk with, listen to, and grow closer to every single day.
One Sentence to Keep Coming Back To: "Don't try to be holy. Get close to the Holy Spirit and he'll make you holy." — Pastor Mike
SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
[Leader Tip] This question is intentionally lighthearted to help people relax and open up. Don't rush past it — a good laugh or a warm story at the start sets the tone for the whole conversation. If your group is larger, have people share with a partner first, then invite a few to share with the whole group.
Opening Question:
Think about a relationship in your life — a friendship, a marriage, a mentor, a parent — that has genuinely changed who you are as a person. Without naming the person if you'd prefer not to, what was it about being close to them that shaped you?
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Have someone in the group read each passage aloud. Invite the group to listen for one word or phrase that stands out to them.
Romans 8:16-17 (ESV)
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."
James 4:8 (ESV)
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
Galatians 5:16 (NLT)
"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves."
John 16:7-8, 13-14 (ESV)
"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... 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."
Quick Reflection Before Discussion: "What one word or phrase from these passages is sticking with you right now?" (Invite 2–3 brief responses — no explanation needed yet, just the word or phrase.)
SECTION 3 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through as many questions as time allows. Questions are organized by theme and move from lighter to deeper. You do not need to cover every question — choose what fits your group best.
THEME A: The Holy Spirit Wants Relationship With You
(Romans 8:16-17)
Question 1 (Observational — good starter) Pastor Mike said that the Holy Spirit "bears witness" with our spirit — he described it like puzzle pieces clicking together or two hands coming together. In your own words, what do you think it means for the Holy Spirit to "bear witness" with your spirit? What does that kind of connection feel like in real life?
[Leader Tip] This is a foundational question that helps people engage with the passage before diving into personal territory. If the group seems unsure, try this follow-up: "Has there ever been a moment in your faith journey where something just 'clicked' — where you felt like you truly belonged to God? What was that like?"
Question 2 (Personal — invites sharing) Pastor Mike pointed out that Romans 8:17 calls us "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" — not servants, not employees, but family. How does thinking of yourself as a child of God and a co-heir with Jesus change the way you see your relationship with him? Does that feel real and personal to you, or is it something you're still growing into?
Question 3 (Interpretive) James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." Pastor Mike made the point that God has already taken the first step — through creation, through Jesus, through the gift of the Spirit. So what does it actually look like for us to take the step of drawing near? What are the practical, everyday ways we do that?
[Leader Tip] This question naturally sets up the "three practical steps" from the end of the sermon. Let the group brainstorm freely here — don't rush to the "right answers." You can reference Pastor Mike's three suggestions (quiet time, daily surrender, trusting the Spirit through community) at the end of this discussion as a natural summary.
THEME B: Walking With the Holy Spirit Every Day
(Galatians 5:16)
Question 4 (Application — gets practical) Pastor Mike described the Christian life as a spirit-led, spirit-filled life — and he used Jesus himself as the example, pointing out that Jesus was anointed, filled with, led by, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to walk out his daily life and ministry, what does that tell us about our own need for the Spirit? How does that land with you personally?
Question 5 (Personal — invites honest reflection) The New Living Translation of Galatians 5:16 says, "Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives." Pastor Mike pointed out that the word "let" puts the invitation in our hands — we choose to let him lead. What are some areas of your life where you find it easiest to let the Spirit lead? What are some areas where you tend to take the wheel back?
[Leader Tip] This question can go deep quickly. Model vulnerability if you're the facilitator — share your own honest answer first. Remind the group that there are no wrong answers here, and that everyone is at a different place in this journey. If the group goes quiet, try: "Is there a difference between our 'church life' and our 'everyday life' when it comes to letting the Spirit lead?"
THEME C: The Holy Spirit Wants to Speak to You
(John 16:13-14)
Question 6 (Observational + Personal) Pastor Mike gave several examples of how the Holy Spirit speaks — through Scripture, through a sermon, through a spouse, through a strong impression in your spirit, through other people, and occasionally in more direct ways. Which of those ways resonates most with your own experience? Have you ever had a moment where you felt like God was clearly speaking to you? What was that like?
Question 7 (Interpretive — theologically grounded) Pastor Mike offered some "basic rules" for identifying the voice of the Holy Spirit: he always sounds like the Bible, he never confirms the desires of the flesh, he brings comfort rather than confusion, and he always moves us toward God and his family — never away. Why do you think those guardrails matter? How do they protect us while still leaving room for God to speak in personal and specific ways?
[Leader Tip] Some group members may have had confusing or even painful experiences with people claiming to "hear from God" in ways that were harmful. Acknowledge that this is a real concern without dismissing the idea that God still speaks. The guardrails Pastor Mike gave are a healthy, grounded framework. You might say: "These guardrails aren't meant to make us skeptical of God speaking — they're meant to help us trust it more confidently."
THEME D: Conviction, Relationship, and Mishandling the Spirit
Question 8 (Honest reflection — handle with care) Pastor Mike said that living in sin should bother us — that the Holy Spirit's role includes convicting us when we're out of alignment with God. He made a distinction between conviction (which draws us back to God) and condemnation (which just makes us feel like a horrible person). What's the difference between the two in your experience? How do you tell them apart?
Question 9 (Community-focused) Pastor Mike described four ways we can mishandle our relationship with the Holy Spirit: grieving him, resisting him, quenching him, and ignoring him. Which of those four do you think is the most common struggle for Christians today — and why? Which one do you personally find yourself most prone to?
[Leader Tip] This question invites honest self-reflection without requiring people to confess specific sins publicly. Keep the tone curious and grace-filled, not heavy or shaming. If someone shares something vulnerable, affirm their honesty and move forward gently.
Question 10 (Community + Application) We heard Zay's testimony about how his small group, his prayer team, and his men's ministry community have been part of his transformation. Pastor Mike closed by saying, "Trust the Spirit through your church." What has community meant in your own spiritual journey? How have other people in the church been part of how God has spoken to you or shaped you?
SECTION 4 — PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are for personal reflection. You can invite people to share, but give them permission to keep their answers private if they prefer. Consider allowing 1–2 minutes of quiet reflection before inviting responses.
[Leader Tip] Transition here by saying something like: "Let's shift from talking about the message to letting it talk to us. I'm going to read a few questions — take a moment to sit with them quietly before we share."
Reflection Question 1: Pastor Mike ended the sermon with three practical steps: spend quality quiet time with God, give daily surrender to the Holy Spirit, and trust the Spirit through your church. Which of these three is your biggest growth area right now? What would it look like to take one small, specific step in that direction this week?
Reflection Question 2: The sermon opened with the prayer lyric: "Holy Spirit, you are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere." If you were to honestly evaluate your daily life — your home, your work, your relationships, your phone habits — how welcome is the Holy Spirit in those spaces? What might need to shift?
Reflection Question 3: Pastor Mike described the Holy Spirit as our comforter, companion, friend, convict, accountability partner, and the one who promises to never leave us. Which of those roles do you most need from the Holy Spirit in this particular season of your life? Why?
Reflection Question 4 (Optional): Is there an area of your life where you've been ignoring what you sense the Spirit saying — through Scripture, through a sermon, through a trusted friend, or through that quiet inner nudge? What would it take to stop ignoring it and respond?
SECTION 5 — THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
(Share before closing prayer)
Pastor Mike suggested a simple daily prayer. This week, try praying it every morning:
"Father God, I come to you in Jesus' name and I ask for more of your Holy Spirit in my life today."
Then add: "Welcome, Holy Spirit. Have your way in me."
Choose one or more of the following this week:
- 📖 Read: Set aside 15–30 minutes each day for quiet time — read Scripture, pray, listen, and worship. Try starting with Galatians 5 or Romans 8.
- 🙏 Pray: Use the simple trinitarian prayer from the sermon every morning this week.
- 👥 Connect: If you're not in a small group or serving somewhere, take one step toward deeper community this week — sign up for Growth Track, join a serve team, or reach out to someone in your group.
- 📝 Reflect: Keep a simple journal this week of moments when you sense the Holy Spirit speaking, prompting, or convicting you. At the end of the week, look back at what you wrote.
- 💬 Share: Tell someone — a friend, a family member, someone in your group — one thing God is doing in your life right now.
SECTION 6 — PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. Here are some suggested prayer themes based on the sermon — use as many as time allows. Consider inviting different group members to pray for each topic.
[Leader Tip] If your group is newer or less comfortable praying out loud, you can pray over the group yourself using these themes, or invite people to pray silently while you close aloud. You might also try "popcorn prayer" — short, one-sentence prayers from anyone who wants to participate.
Pray Together For:
Relationship — Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for calling us his children and heirs. Ask for a deeper awareness of his presence in daily life.
Surrender — Ask the Holy Spirit to have full access to every area of your life — not just the "church parts," but work, home, relationships, finances, and habits.
Listening — Pray for ears to hear what the Spirit is saying — through Scripture, through community, through conviction, and through the quiet voice of God.
Conviction — Ask the Holy Spirit to convict (not condemn) where needed, and for the courage to respond with genuine repentance and change.
Community — Pray for your small group — that it would be a place where the Spirit moves, where people are honest, and where transformation happens in relationship.
One Another — Take a moment to pray specifically for the person to your left or right. Ask the Lord to speak to them, fill them, and walk closely with them this week.
Closing Prayer Suggestion: Use the prayer Pastor Mike led at the end of the service, or close with your own words inviting the Holy Spirit to be welcome in your group and in each person's life this week.
SECTION 7 — OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For groups with extra time or who want to go further)
These bonus questions are for groups that want to go deeper theologically or spend more time in Scripture. They work well for a second meeting on this topic or for personal study during the week.
Deep Dive Question 1 — The Trinity and You: Pastor Mike described the Trinity as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit — and then pointed out that humans are also triune: body, soul, and spirit. He said when the Holy Spirit connects to our spirit, he begins to transform our soul (mind, emotions, will) and eventually our body (behavior, habits). How does this framework change the way you think about spiritual growth? Does it give you more patience with the process — or raise new questions?
Explore further: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Deep Dive Question 2 — Grieving, Resisting, Quenching, Ignoring: Look up these four passages together and discuss what each one reveals about our relationship with the Holy Spirit:
- Grieving: Ephesians 4:30
- Resisting: Acts 7:51
- Quenching: 1 Thessalonians 5:19
- Ignoring: Hebrews 3:7-8
What do these four passages, taken together, tell us about the nature of the Holy Spirit — that he can be grieved, resisted, quenched, and ignored? What does that reveal about the kind of relationship God is inviting us into?
Deep Dive Question 3 — Jesus and the Holy Spirit: Pastor Mike walked through Luke 3–4 to show that Jesus himself was anointed, filled with, led by, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Read Luke 3:21-22 and Luke 4:1, 14, 18 together. What strikes you about the fact that Jesus — fully God — still needed and relied on the Holy Spirit for his earthly ministry? What does this mean for how we should approach our own need for the Spirit?
Explore further: Isaiah 61:1-2 (the passage Jesus reads in Luke 4:18), Acts 10:38
QUICK REFERENCE FOR FACILITATORS
| Section | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Icebreaker | 5–10 min |
| Scripture Reading | 5 min |
| Discussion Questions (choose 5–7) | 30–45 min |
| Personal Application | 10–15 min |
| This Week's Challenge | 2–3 min |
| Prayer Focus | 5–10 min |
| Total | 60–90 min |
Key Scriptures at a Glance:
- Romans 8:16-17 — Children and heirs of God
- James 4:8 — Draw near to God
- Galatians 5:16 — Walk by the Spirit
- John 16:7-8, 13-14 — The Spirit convicts and guides
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — Your body is a temple
Three Practical Steps from the Sermon:
- Spend quality quiet time with God daily
- Give daily surrender to the Holy Spirit
- Trust the Spirit through your church community
Daily Prayer from the Sermon: "Father God, I come to you in Jesus' name and I ask for more of your Holy Spirit in my life today."
This guide was prepared for small group use at Life Point Church. Feel free to adapt questions and timing to fit your group's needs. For questions about small group resources or to connect with a small group, contact the church office or visit our website.
Next Sunday: Water Baptism Sunday — if anyone in your group has been considering baptism, encourage them to take that step!
"Just a closer walk with thee. Grant it, Jesus, is my plea. Daily walking close to thee. Let it be, dear Lord. Let it be."