ROOTED · WEEK 06
You were never meant to do this alone.
The Holy Spirit is not just something we talk about at church. He is God's presence with us-forming us, guiding us, and empowering us.
Leader Prep · 5 Minutes
Don't begin with manifestations.
Some students have grown up around Pentecostal language and still do not understand who the Holy Spirit is. Others may have almost no background at all.
Begin with the Person before you begin with the experience.
The Holy Spirit is not an atmosphere, emotion, force, or spiritual accessory. He is God present and active in the life of the believer.
Then help students see that the same Spirit who transforms us also empowers us for witness, service, holiness, and mission.
Do not reduce tonight to "Did everyone feel something?" The deeper question is: "Are students beginning to understand that life with Jesus is meant to be lived in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit?"
The Big Idea
God doesn't only call you to follow Jesus. He gives you His Spirit to help you do it.
The Holy Spirit makes the presence of God real in us. He teaches, convicts, changes, leads, strengthens, and empowers ordinary believers to live as witnesses for Jesus.
Scripture
Power to be witnesses.
ACTS 1:4-8Before Jesus sends His disciples into the world, He tells them to wait.
They already know Jesus. They have heard His teaching. They have seen the resurrection. Yet Jesus still tells them they need something more: the promised Holy Spirit.
Jesus tells them that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and that they will become His witnesses.
The Spirit's power is not given simply so believers can have an experience. He empowers the Church to become the people Jesus has called us to be and to carry His mission into the world.
Tonight's Flow
Explain. Invite. Make room.
Teach clearly, answer questions honestly, and leave enough room for students to respond to God.
Table
Ask students what they think of when they hear "the Holy Spirit." Do not immediately correct every answer. Listen first and discover what they already believe.
Word
Read Acts 1:4-8 and use the teaching points below to establish who the Holy Spirit is and why He matters.
Talk
Let students ask questions about the Holy Spirit, Pentecostal experience, spiritual gifts, guidance, and anything they have seen or wondered about.
Respond + Pray
Invite students to ask the Holy Spirit to fill, lead, transform, and empower their lives. Do not manufacture a moment. Make room for one.
Teaching Guide · 15 Minutes
Four truths to establish.
Students need a clear Pentecostal theology that begins with relationship with God and leads toward Spirit-empowered living.
The Holy Spirit is God.
The Holy Spirit is not merely a feeling in a worship service. He is the Spirit of God-personal, present, holy, and active. Christianity is not simply believing truths about a distant God. God comes near to His people by His Spirit.
The Holy Spirit changes us.
The Spirit convicts us of sin, produces spiritual fruit, reshapes our desires, teaches us truth, and forms the character of Jesus in us. Spiritual power without spiritual formation is not the goal.
The Holy Spirit leads us.
The Spirit helps believers recognize truth, remember God's Word, pray, make wise decisions, and respond obediently to God. His leading will never contradict Scripture.
The Holy Spirit empowers us.
Jesus promised His followers power from the Holy Spirit so they could become His witnesses. Pentecostal faith expects God to work through ordinary people with supernatural power for mission.
Make It Practical
What does the Holy Spirit actually do?
He changes me.
The Spirit produces Christlike character, confronts sinful patterns, and helps us become increasingly like Jesus.
He leads me.
The Spirit directs believers toward truth, obedience, wisdom, prayer, and the purposes of God.
He empowers me.
The Spirit gives courage, spiritual gifts, and supernatural power so believers can serve and witness beyond their natural ability.
He is with me.
We are not abandoned to figure out the Christian life alone. God's Spirit lives and works among His people.
Pentecostal Formation
We expect God to still move.
Pentecostal faith does not teach that the Holy Spirit stopped working when the Book of Acts ended.
We believe the Spirit still fills believers, distributes spiritual gifts, empowers witness, heals, speaks, convicts, calls, and moves among His people.
We also believe Spirit-filled living should produce holy character, bold witness, love for people, obedience to Scripture, and greater dependence on Jesus.
Students should never feel pressured to imitate someone else's spiritual experience. Our responsibility is to teach truth, create space for response, pray with faith, and trust the Holy Spirit to work in each life.
Talk
Give them room to ask what they really wonder.
Before tonight, how would you have explained who the Holy Spirit is?
Why do you think Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before beginning their mission?
Which part of the Spirit's work do you most want to understand: changing us, leading us, empowering us, or being present with us?
Have you ever experienced a moment when you believed God was speaking, helping, convicting, or strengthening you?
What questions do you have about being filled with the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, or Pentecostal worship?
Practice + Pray
"Holy Spirit, I welcome You."
Give students several quiet minutes. Invite them to pray in their own words: "Holy Spirit, change what needs to change in me. Lead me. Fill me. Give me courage to follow Jesus. Use my life for His purposes."
Pray with expectation.
Ask students who desire prayer to respond. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill them, deepen their hunger for God, strengthen them against sin, empower their witness, and help them recognize His work. Keep the environment prayerful, safe, and unforced.
Leader Coaching
Notice this.
Parent Table Talk
Talk about your own encounters with God.
Don't only explain Pentecostal theology. Let your student hear how the Holy Spirit has worked in your own life.
What questions do you have about the Holy Spirit?
Tell your student about a time when you experienced God's conviction, guidance, presence, or power.
Read Acts 1:8 together and talk about one person your family could intentionally encourage or witness to.
"Holy Spirit, fill our home. Help us hear You, obey You, become more like Jesus, and boldly live our faith."
Before Week Seven
Keep the conversation going.
Check in personally with any student who responded strongly during prayer or asked significant questions.
Encourage students to pray each morning: "Holy Spirit, help me follow Jesus today."
Ask students to notice one moment this week when they sense conviction, courage, compassion, wisdom, or spiritual prompting.
Make sure students understand that every spiritual impression should be tested by Scripture and should lead toward Jesus, truth, love, and obedience.
If a student wants to talk more about Spirit baptism, spiritual gifts, or a personal encounter with God, involve the pastor and continue discipling them intentionally.
Next
Week 07 - Who Am I?
Students are beginning to understand that God's Spirit is at work in them. Next, we confront one of the loudest questions of adolescence: Who gets to tell me who I am?