Closer Look: Understanding the Spirit of Holiness

(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will discuss the Holy Spirit’s role of imparting holiness into the lives of believers.
Provide a dry erase board and dry erase marker.

Draw an outline of a person on the dry erase board. Write “Holy Spirit” inside the drawing. Explain that this title describes who the Spirit is: He is God and He is holy. Next, write “Spirit of holiness” in an arc around the drawing. Explain that this term indicates that the Spirit has the ability to impart holiness to believers who surrender to Him.

Next, draw 12 stick figures below the Holy Spirit. Label eight of them as believers and four as nonbelievers. Explain that the Holy Spirit will not attempt to impart holiness to the unbelievers. Draw lines between the Holy Spirit and the stick figures labeled as believers. Draw an umbrella above two of these stick figures. Explain that some believers attempt to become holy under their own power, so they shield themselves from the holiness offered by the Holy Spirit. Draw additional lines (like rain) between the Holy Spirit and four different stick figures. Explain that most believers allow the Holy Spirit to influence them by not resisting Him. Draw a large funnel over the heads of the final two stick figures. Draw many lines from the Holy Spirit into the funnel. Explain that a small number of believers intentionally rely upon the Holy Spirit to develop holiness in their lives. Ask: Why do we expect unbelievers to act like Spirit-controlled believers? Will that ever happen? Point out that we can’t expect unbelievers to develop holiness in their lives until we lead them to Christ. Ask: Since we cannot become holy by ourselves, why do we often fail to seek the power of the Holy Spirit to develop holiness within us?