LESSON 40 CONNECTIONS 1. Though all these groups of false teachers claim to worship the God of the Bible, why is it proper to say that they worship an idol invented by humans? By denying that the Holy Spirit (and the Son) is true God, they worship a different god, one of their own making.

LESSON 40 CONNECTIONS 2. What do we mean when we say that God is triune? Three persons in one God.

LESSON 40 CONNECTIONS 3. List some of the Bible references which prove that God is triune or that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. Genesis 1:26 = God speaks in the plural Matthew 28:19 = Trinity is mentioned 2 Corinthians 13:14 = 3-part blessing

LESSON 40 CONNECTIONS 4. Imagine that you are having a discussion with a person who doesn’t believe in the triune God. How might you use the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-10 to show that the Holy Spirit is God. When Peter told Ananias that he was lying not just to the Holy Spirit but to God.

1 Corinthians 12:3 No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

LESSON 41 CONNECTIONS 1. What two great things does the Holy Spirit do for us? He brings us to faith and protects our faith.

LESSON 41 CONNECTIONS 2. Why is the work of the Holy Spirit so important to us? By nature we are enemies of God, spiritually dead, incapable of believing in Jesus. Only through the work of the Spirit can we be saved.

LESSON 41 CONNECTIONS 3. What does the Holy Spirit use to bring us to faith? God’s Word and Baptism.

LESSON 41 CONNECTIONS 4. How do the world and our sinful nature team up to weaken our faith by focusing on material possessions? They try to make us love things more than God.

LESSON 41 CONNECTIONS 5. What does the Holy Spirit use to keep us in faith? God’s Word and Holy Communion.

The 3 rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed 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.

The 3 rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own thinking and choosing 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.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED – 3 RD ARTICLE THE HOLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH Lesson 42 Faith Foundations Course One

WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE HOLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH?

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 1.Recall the extraordinary things that happened on Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4,14, people were added to the number of disciples. They didn’t join a club. They didn’t pay an enrollment fee. How did they become disciples? They believed the disciples’ message and were baptized.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 2.Why do y thin so many people became believers that day? Peter preached about Jesus. The Holy Spirit worked faith in their hearts through that message.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 3.In the 3 rd Article, we say that the Holy Spirit calls people to the true faith. From the account of Pentecost, we can see what the Holy Spirit uses to call people to faith. What does he use? The truth about Jesus—the gospel.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 4.Where do we find that truth? The Bible.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 5.Read Romans 10:17. React to Jason’s father’s statement: “You didn’t give the Holy Spirit much chance to work.” We can’t bring people to faith through facts and figures. The Holy Spirit works only through the gospel.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 6.Recall when Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God in Matthew 16: Jesus said that this truth is the rock upon which he would build the church. What did he mean? The truth that Jesus is the Savior is the foundation of the church. All who believe rest upon that truth.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 7.The family that moved into the McKenzie’s house is very religious. They have a shrine in their yard to a god they call Ram. They are very kind and generous. Will they be in heaven when they die? Read Mark 16:16. How would you answer? Because they don’t believe in Jesus, they won’t be in heaven.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 8.Why do we want to share Jesus with friends who don’t know him? We want them to go to heaven and not to hell.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 9.Jolene’s friend told her that the church she attends is very interesting because it talks about the latest news or famous books. Later Jolene told her mom, “I’m so glad our pastor preaches from the Bible.” Why do you think she said that? We need to hear the Bible, because through God’s Word is the way the Holy Spirit makes members of the holy Christian church.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 10.Read Romans 10:17 again. Evaluate this statement: We can expect to find members of the holy Christian church wherever God’s Word is taught. True.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 11.Some people deny that the Bible came through the Holy Spirit. They say it was written only by men. Why does Satan want us to believe that? He doesn’t want us to pay attention to God’s Word and so grow the church through it.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 12.Although the holy Christian church is made up of sinners, the following passages show us that it is correct to call the Christian church holy. How does each passage support that truth? a. 1 Corinthians 6:11 We were washed, sanctified, and justified. In God’s sight we’re holy because of Jesus. b. Ephesians 5:25,26 Jesus made the church holy, cleansing us through the Word by the washing of Baptism.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 13.Evaluate this statement: It would be arrogant for any of us to call ourselves saints. Wrong. We have been made saints through Christ.

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 14.What is the definition of communion? “An act or instance of sharing.” (dictionary) “A coming together or having something in common.” (catechism)

BUILT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 15.Why is the church called the communion of saints? All believers are united by their common faith in Jesus.

KEY POINT All who believe in Jesus as their Savior are members of the holy Christian church.

WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE HOLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH? All who believe in Jesus as their Savior are members of the holy Christian church.