Planted at Home

  • Pastor Josh Smith
Are you living in stride with the Spirit, or are you letting life’s frustrations dictate your actions? Discover how the Holy Spirit empowers us to plant goodness in our homes and communities, transforming our daily lives into a reflection of divine love and purpose. Let’s explore how to cultivate a life marked by the Spirit’s presence and power.

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Planted at Home

Message Summary
Are you living in stride with the Spirit, or are you letting life’s frustrations dictate your actions? Discover how the Holy Spirit empowers us to plant goodness in our homes and communities, transforming our daily lives into a reflection of divine love and purpose. Let’s explore how to cultivate a life marked by the Spirit’s presence and power.
Key Scripture
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”
Galatians 5:16-17 NLT
Additional Scriptures

5 Day Devotional

Day 1

Day 1: Living in Stride with the Spirit

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-18 NLT
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

Devotional:
Living in stride with the Spirit means allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our decisions and actions. This requires a conscious effort to align our desires with God’s will, resisting the natural inclinations of our sinful nature. The internal battle between the flesh and the Spirit is ongoing, but the Spirit empowers us to overcome and live a life that reflects God’s love and purpose.

Response Questions:

  1. What are some areas in your life where you struggle to let the Holy Spirit guide you?
  2. How can you become more aware of the Spirit’s leading in your daily decisions?
  3. What practical steps can you take to align your desires with God’s will?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in every aspect of your life.
  2. Ask for strength to resist the desires of the sinful nature and to live in alignment with the Spirit.

Day 2

Day 2: Planting Goodness in the Home

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32 NLT
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Devotional:
Our homes are the primary places where we can plant seeds of goodness. The words we speak and the attitudes we display can either build up or tear down those we love. By choosing kindness, forgiveness, and encouragement, we create an environment where the Holy Spirit can thrive and where God’s love is evident.

Response Questions:

  1. How do your words and actions at home reflect your relationship with Christ?
  2. What changes can you make to ensure your home is a place of encouragement and love?
  3. How can you practice forgiveness and kindness in your family relationships?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for the ability to speak words that build up and encourage your family.
  2. Ask for a heart of forgiveness and kindness towards those in your home.

Day 3

Day 3: Being Marked by the Holy Spirit

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14 NLT
And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Devotional:
Being marked by the Holy Spirit signifies our belonging to God. This mark is not just a label but a transformative presence that empowers us to live out our faith authentically. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of God’s promises and our guide in living a life that glorifies Him.

Response Questions:

  1. How does being marked by the Holy Spirit influence your identity and actions?
  2. In what ways can you rely on the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of God’s promises?
  3. How can you live a life that glorifies God through the presence of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for a deeper understanding of your identity in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
  2. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to live a life that glorifies God.

Day 4

Day 4: Overcoming Challenges in a Spirit-Led Life

Scripture: Romans 8:5-9 NLT
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

Devotional:
Living a Spirit-led life is not without its challenges. The battle between the flesh and the Spirit is real, but the Holy Spirit provides the strength and guidance needed to overcome. By focusing our minds on what pleases the Spirit, we can experience the life and peace that God promises.

Response Questions:

  1. What are some specific challenges you face in living a Spirit-led life?
  2. How can you shift your focus from the desires of the flesh to the desires of the Spirit?
  3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping you overcome these challenges?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s strength to overcome the challenges of living a Spirit-led life.
  2. Ask for a renewed focus on the things that please the Spirit.

Day 5

Day 5: Reaping What We Sow

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10 NLT
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Devotional:
The principle of sowing and reaping is a powerful reminder of the impact of our actions. By planting seeds of goodness and living to please the Spirit, we can expect to reap a harvest of blessing. This requires perseverance and a commitment to doing good, even when the results are not immediately visible.

Response Questions:

  1. What kind of seeds are you currently planting in your life and relationships?
  2. How can you remain committed to doing good, even when it seems difficult?
  3. What blessings have you experienced as a result of living to please the Spirit?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for perseverance in planting seeds of goodness and doing good to others.
  2. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in recognizing and nurturing the seeds you have planted.

GrowGroup Guide

A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.

Opening Prayer

Begin with a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and open hearts to His leading.

Introduction

Briefly summarize the sermon, emphasizing the importance of living in stride with the Holy Spirit and planting goodness in our homes and communities. Highlight how the Holy Spirit is not an afterthought but central to our identity as believers.

Discussion Questions

  1. What does it mean to live in stride with the Spirit?
    • Context: The sermon emphasized that when we live in stride with the Spirit, we naturally align with God’s desires for our lives. This means our actions and attitudes reflect His love and purpose.
    • Follow-up: How can we recognize when we are not in stride with the Spirit?
  2. How can we plant goodness in our homes?
    • Context: The sermon challenged us to assess what we are planting in our homes, encouraging us to sow seeds of kindness, patience, and love.
    • Follow-up: Share practical ways you have or can plant goodness in your home environment.
  3. Why is it important to be marked by the Holy Spirit?
    • Context: The sermon explained that being marked by the Holy Spirit signifies our belonging to Jesus and empowers us to live out our faith authentically.
    • Follow-up: How does being marked by the Holy Spirit influence your daily decisions and interactions?
  4. What are some challenges you face in living a Spirit-led life?
    • Context: The sermon acknowledged the ongoing internal battle between our sinful nature and the Spirit’s desires, highlighting the need for continual reliance on the Holy Spirit.
    • Follow-up: How can we support each other in overcoming these challenges?
  5. How can we ensure that our actions reflect the love of Christ, especially in our homes?
    • Context: The sermon used personal anecdotes to illustrate how our expressions and attitudes at home can either reflect or obscure the presence of Christ in our lives.
    • Follow-up: Discuss ways to cultivate an environment at home that consistently reflects Christ’s love.

Scripture Reflection

Read Galatians 5:16-17 NLT together. Discuss how this passage relates to the sermon and your personal experiences.

Closing Activity

Encourage each group member to write down one specific action they will take this week to plant goodness in their home or community. Share these commitments with the group for accountability and prayer support.

Closing Prayer

Conclude with a prayer asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and empowerment to live out the commitments made during the discussion. Pray for strength to overcome challenges and for the ability to plant goodness wherever they go.

Family Table Talk

A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.

📖 Scripture

❓Family Question

💬 Parent Prompt:

Weekly Practice

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