(15–20 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will study Romans 1:1-6 to examine how the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to live a sinless life and then raised Him from the dead.
Provide a copy the Student Worksheet and pen for each student. Also provide a dry erase board and marker.
Learning Goal: Learners will examine how the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to live a sinless life and then raised Him from the dead.
Ask: Who are some people you rely on during a week’s time? (Parents, teachers, coaches, friends) Discuss: Explain the types of tasks you rely on these individuals to help you accomplish. After responses, explain that there are different things in each of our lives that we could not accomplish without the help of others. Emphasize that, in the same way, we cannot accomplish the supernatural task of holiness without relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. Distribute a copy of the Student Worksheet and a pen to each student.
1. We are called to serve God by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1-2).
Read Romans 1:1-2. Ask: In what roles did Paul serve Christ? (As a bondservant and as an apostle.) Share that a bondservant was one who chose to dedicate his or her life as a slave to a worthy master, while an apostle was one of a select group of people who had seen Jesus, ministered with Him, and then appointed to preach the gospel.
Write the terms “bondservant” and “apostle” as two headings on the board. Ask: How did Paul serve as a bondservant? (He was a tent maker and earned his own way; he labored to support himself as he traveled to spread the gospel; he suffered hardship; he was persecuted and beaten; he was put in prison.) List responses under the first heading on the board. Then, ask: How did Paul become an apostle? (Jesus approached him on the road to Damascus; Paul was blinded by Jesus; Jesus called Paul personally to follow Him.) Ask: From what you know about the Bible, how did Paul fulfill this calling as an apostle? (He wrote much of the New Testament; he created churches all over the Roman Empire; he helped spread Christianity throughout the world.)
2. We are witnesses of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:3-4).
Read Romans 1:3-4. Discuss: In your own words, what is the message of the gospel? (The prophets foretold the coming Messiah, who would be from the lineage of King David, who would suffer and die for the sins of humanity, then be raised again.) Emphasize that the Holy Spirit plays an important role in the affairs of God. Explain that the Holy Spirit inspired the Old Testament writers to prophesy about the future Messiah. Emphasize that the Spirit of holiness empowered Jesus to live a sinless life on earth, and then raised Him from the dead. Discuss: Why did Jesus need the presence and power of the Holy Spirit while He was on earth? Remind learners that even though Jesus was fully God, while on earth He chose to set aside His deity to become fully human (see Phil. 2:5-8). Instruct students to write “The Spirit of Holiness” in the first section of line 1 on their worksheets. Then, encourage them to work with a partner to respond to the question asked in the second section (such as: The Holy Spirit has the power to lead us to live holy lives).
Discuss: What role should the Holy Spirit play in our lives? As believers respond, encourage them to take notes in the third section on their worksheets (which should include: The Holy Spirit helped Jesus live a sinless life while He was human and He can help me do the same). Emphasize that believers cannot develop holy lives by themselves, but since The Holy Spirit is God and Empowerer, they can rely on the Holy Spirit to infuse their lives with His holiness.
3. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience to God (Romans 1:5-6).
Read Romans 1:5-6. Point out that Jesus specifically appointed Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles––those who were not Jews or from the nation of Israel. Emphasize that after Paul shared the gospel with the Gentiles, he instructed them on how to live. Ask: According to this passage, what is the believer’s duty once saved? (To live in obedience to God because of his/her faith in Christ.) Discuss: In your opinion, can believers ever be completely obedient to God? Why? After discussion, point out that Paul made clear in his letter that believers cannot live a life of total obedience to God in their own strength––they must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to empower them to walk in obedience.