Theology discussion question: Holy Spirit

Pentecostal groups are generally good at emphasizing the empowering role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s people. What is another aspect of the Spirit’s work that you would like to emphasize in your context? Describe why you think that aspect is needed.

(Make sure you incorporate the reading from Bird in your response.)

Sanctifying

Bird talks about how a major task of the Holy Spirit is to "purify, cleanse, and prune God's people." Whether it's bringing conviction of sin or justifying us the Holy Spirit plays a major role in making us look more like Jesus. I would like to see more of this because - while legalism and religion in a bad way is always a potential trap - most students won't say pursing holiness and a holy life is something they want. It even makes me a little uncomfortable. There must be a balance of Holy Spirit loves us where we at and He wants to make us look more and more like Jesus.

Unifying
As Bird says, "He binds people together in one fellowship by uniting them with Christ and with each other". If the Holy Spirit truly unifies the body of the church through racial, ethnic, economic, etc. lines, then we should be giving him the space to do so. Sometimes I have seen unity as something we have to "muscle through" ourselves. And I agree, there is much merit to the personal perseverance towards unity. But the world of Acts 2:44-47 is all but unreachable without the divine help of the Holy Spirit.