1. Pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you might behold wondrous things out of his Word (Ps. 119:18). 

2. Read Sunday's passage. Feel free to read it more than once, or in another translation.

3. Review the sermon outline. Try to see how the points came out of the text.

4. Answer the questions below. Focus on personal application.

5. Pray. Praise and thank the Lord, then ask him to work in mighty ways. 

Remember, we live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4).

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 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. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 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. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 

Intro: Do you ever wish you talk to, or sit with, or touch, or share a meal with the living Lord Jesus? Why did he have to go? Wouldn't it have been better if he stayed, so we could be with him? 

I. The Counterintuitive Coming of the Spirit (v. 4–7). Jesus' response is surprising: No, it wouldn't be better if he stayed. Jesus goes so that the Spirit can come. This fulfills prophecy concerning his Messianic reign (see Ezekiel 36:26–28). His departure (Ascension) is directly connected to the Spirit's coming (Pentecost), which is all part of God's Plan. Jesus says this is "for your benefit" (v.7 CSB). But how, specificially?

II. The Convicting work of the Spirit (v. 8–11). When the Spirit comes, he will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. This sounds harsh at first, but remember that Jesus just told his disciples "the world" would hate them, and persecute them, and even kill them. So this is actually good news for believers! The Spirit's work will expose who is with the victorious king Jesus, and who is with the "ruler of this world," who has been judged, and therefore his followers will be too. Which side are you on? Believe in the Lord Jesus!

III. The Conveying work of the Spirit (v. 12–15). Jesus is the truth (Jn 14:6), and the Spirit will guide his disciples into all the truth. He will continually convey the truth about Jesus, always pointing people to him, glorifying him. He will be with Jesus' disciples, and even in them, and this will enable them to stick with Jesus to the end. 

Conclusion: As much as wish we could sit with the physical Lord Jesus, we should rejoice in the gift of the Holy Spirit in us! His coming means Jesus is King, his enemies will be defeated, and his people will be saved. So, don't lament the physical absence of Jesus, but live in the powerful presence of the Spirit! It's how we face the world and stick with Jesus until he comes again.

1. The counterintuitive coming of the Spirit.

- What does it mean that Jesus is ascended on high, seated at the right hand of the Father? (see Psalm 110; Acts 2:33; Ephesians 1:20)

- How would you explain the connection between Jesus' ascension and the Spirit's coming? 

- How is the Spirit's presence today different from Old Testament times? (see Ezekiel 36:25–27)

- What are some of the benefits of the Spirit's indwelling presence in believers?

2. The convicting work of the Spirit.

- Why is it good news that the world will be convicted? 

- What is the only way to escape God's judgment? 

- What do the people of "the world" need to hear? 

- How will they hear it? 

- What are you going to do about it? 

3. The conveying work of the Spirit.

- How has the Holy Spirit led you into the truth?

- How does he do this truth-conveying work? 

- How can we know for certain if something is true? 

- What will the Spirit always do? 

- What will he never do?

- What does it look like for you to live in the powerful presence of the Spirit today? 

- Why is the Spirit's coming cause for joy and gratitude?

1. Praise and thank God for sending the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower us. 

2. Ask God to show you the people in your life who are not the side of King Jesus. Pray for their salvation now. Ask for help to share the Gospel with them. 

3. Ask for more awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in you. 

4. Ask for the desire and discipline to spend time each day in the Word, which was inspired by the Spirit, is aprehended through the Spirit, and is used by the Spirit to point us back to Jesus.  Feast upon the Word!

Thanks for reading the Bible Study Guide! I pray it helps us "continue to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Eph. 4:15).

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Tom Hansen, Senior Pastor