Connecting To The Power Of The Holy Spirit

Small Group Discussion Guide

Based on the Sunday Morning Message by Pastor Mirek Hufton

1. SERMON RECAP

Pastor Mirek shared that of all the connections we can make in life, connecting to the power of the Holy Spirit is the most powerful, most needed, and most life-changing. He challenged the congregation that the degree of our connection to the Holy Spirit directly determines the degree to which we fulfill our God-given calling and destiny. He reminded us that Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit as our Helper — our parakletos — someone called alongside us to advocate, comfort, strengthen, and guide us into everything God has for our lives.

2. KEY SCRIPTURE

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

3. ICE BREAKER

Think back to a time when you tried to do something important completely on your own and struggled — maybe assembling furniture, navigating a new city, or tackling a big project at work. What finally made the difference when you accepted help? Share with the group!

4. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Pastor Mirek used a vivid illustration comparing spiritual connection to different voltage levels — 12 volts, 120 volts, 220 volts, all the way up to a 10,000-volt substation. - Where would you honestly place your current connection to the Holy Spirit on that voltage scale, and what do you think is limiting your "voltage"?

2. Pastor Mirek described the Holy Spirit using the Greek word parakletos — one called alongside to help, advocate, comfort, encourage, and strengthen. - Which of those roles of the Holy Spirit do you find yourself most in need of right now, and why? Have you experienced the Holy Spirit fulfilling one of those roles in a tangible way in your life?

3. He shared how Jesus said in John 16:7 that it was actually to the disciples' advantage that He go away, because then the Helper would come. - Does it feel natural or strange to you to think of the Holy Spirit as being an equal or even greater help to you than a physical Jesus walking beside you would be? What does that say about how seriously God takes your daily life?

4. Pastor Mirek was transparent about growing up in a church tradition that was skeptical — even fearful — of anything related to the Holy Spirit and Pentecostal experience. He shared how both he and his father eventually had life-changing encounters that shifted their perspective. - What prior experiences, church backgrounds, or personal doubts have shaped your own view of the Holy Spirit? How have those views changed over time, or where do you still have honest questions?

5. He described spending extended periods of time praying in the Spirit — fasting, seeking God, journaling — as the process through which he "birthed" his sense of calling and direction for his life. - What does your current practice of prayer look like? Do you feel like you regularly give the Holy Spirit enough time and space to speak into your life? What tends to crowd that out?

6. Pastor Mirek pointed to churches in Africa and Korea where corporate prayer in the Holy Spirit for hours at a time is standard practice, not exceptional — and linked that directly to supernatural breakthrough in people's lives and destinies. - What would need to change in your personal life or in our small group culture for that kind of intentional, persistent, Spirit-led prayer to become more normal for us? What feels like the biggest barrier?

5. APPLICATION CHALLENGE

This week, carve out one specific, uninterrupted block of time — at least 30 minutes — to pray with no agenda other than connecting with the Holy Spirit.

Put it in your calendar right now as a real appointment. During that time, set aside your prayer list, your requests, and your to-do thoughts. Simply open yourself up to the Helper. You might worship quietly, sit in silence, pray in the Spirit if that is part of your practice, or speak honestly to God about areas of your life where you need His guidance. At the end of the week, come back ready to share one thing you sensed, noticed, or experienced during that time — even if it felt small or uncertain.

6. PRAYER POINTS

• Pray for hunger: Ask God to stir up a genuine, growing thirst in each group member for a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit — that complacency or religious routine would give way to real pursuit.

• Pray for courage: Pastor Mirek highlighted that pride, fear of what others think, and religious tradition are often the biggest obstacles to receiving all the Holy Spirit has for us. Pray specifically that each person in the group would have the courage to lay those barriers down and yield fully to God.

• Pray for destiny and calling: He reminded us that we cannot fulfill our God-given calling and purpose without the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray that each group member would begin to sense more clarity about what God has called them to, and that the Holy Spirit would actively guide them toward it this week.

7. MEMORY VERSE

John 16:7 (NKJV) "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 depart, I will send Him to you."

"The degree of your connection to the Holy Spirit will be the degree that you fulfill your call and destiny." — Pastor Mirek Hufton