First Baptist Church Delray

Sermon Application Questions

December 7, 2025

Pastor Steve’s Message: “The Christmas Spirit”

Scriptures: Ephesians 5:15-21; Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (ESV)

Introduction

1.     What is one of your favorite Christmas movies and how does it exemplify Christmas spirit?

2.     Off the top of your head, what is the difference between Christmas spirit and the Holy Spirit?

Review the Exegesis of the Scripture

3.     What do each of these verses promise us about the Holy Spirit?

a.     And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16–17

b.     And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4

c.     Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

4.     What are three things we have been given in Jesus?

a.     For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8–10

b.     But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:13–14

c.     Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21

5.     How did Paul describe in Ephesians 5 how we should live in light of all that we have received in Jesus?

a.     verses 15-16:  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

b.     verse 17:   Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

c.     verse 18:   And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

d.     verses 19-21:   addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

6.     How did Paul combat the wrong idea that salvation comes through Jesus plus good works?

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16

7.     What did Paul teach about how walking by the Spirit changes how a person acts?

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18

8.     What metaphor did Jesus use to describe how a person can walk with the Spirit?

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:19-22

9.     What metaphor did Jesus use to describe how Jesus stands ready to come in and renew and revive His relationship with someone?

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

10.  Does God in His sovereignty allow humans to resist or quench His Spirit? In what ways can that happen?

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16–21

Make Personal Applications of the Scriptures

11.  Which of these differences between Christmas spirit and the Holy Spirit speaks most to you?

·      Christmas spirit is a feeling, but the Holy Spirit is a person.

·      Christmas spirit lasts for a season while the Holy Spirit is eternal.

·      Christmas spirit exists only if people let embrace it, but the Holy Spirit exist because He is God.

·      Christmas spirit requires the generosity of humans. The Holy Spirit demonstrates the generosity of Jesus.

·      Christmas spirit is received by deciding to be good. The Holy Spirit is received by admitting you cannot be good.

·      At its best, Christmas spirit is a temporary and weak imitation of the Holy Spirit.

12.  How should a follower of Jesus approach the Christmas season, and this thing called Christmas spirit?

13.  This Christmas will you take the opportunity to repent of just trying to be good or trusting in your own goodness, and receive Jesus and live filled with the Comforter Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit?

14.  This year will you replace Christmas with the Holy Spirit? Which metaphor speaks best to you and what difference will it make in what you do this Christmas season?

a.     Drink Him in

b.     Walk with Him

c.     Breathe Him in

d.     Open the door to Him

15.  Consider what it would mean for you to accept Pastor Steve’s challenge: “Declare that being led by your flesh is to disconnect from your intelligence and from the will of God and to be driven by a desire to earn and accumulate value for yourself rather than trusting in the value you have in Jesus.

16.  Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the areas and activities in your life that cause you to abandon the Holy Spirit. How will you discard them?

a.     Repent of living as though the Holy Spirit is not present.

b.     Repent of intentional sin

c.     Believe what God has said rather than quench the Spirit.