Meeting guide · command 78

Receive the Holy Spirit

Receive the Holy Spirit for the risen Jesus' mission of peace, witness, and faithful announcement of forgiveness.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

John 20:22–23

22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

World English Bible

The risen Jesus enters the fearful disciples' locked room, gives peace, sends them as the Father sent Him, breathes the Spirit, and speaks of forgiveness.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. How do the Spirit, Jesus' sending, peace, and the responsibility surrounding forgiveness belong together?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Begin one act of witness or reconciliation by asking the Holy Spirit for Jesus' peace, courage, truth, and wisdom rather than relying on pressure or control.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

Where did you rely on the Spirit rather than control, and what fruit followed?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Risen Jesus, breathe your Spirit into us. Fill us with peace, courage, holiness, and wisdom for the mission you entrust to us.

Teach

Acknowledge Christian differences about the church's authority in verse 23; do not turn it into personal power to control salvation or conceal wrongdoing.