CORE: Why We Need the Holy Spirit - Part 1

CORE

Jan 7

Speaker: Pastor Kyle Horner

Description: Why do we need the Holy Spirit—and who is He, really?

In Part 1 of this CORE teaching, we lay the foundation by answering one of the most important questions for discipleship: Who is the Holy Spirit? We explore how the Spirit isn’t a vague force or “power station,” but a Person—God Himself—who empowers believers for transformation and kingdom advancement.

We walk through key Scriptures showing the Holy Spirit as the source of dunamis power, the Helper/Advocate (Parakletos) promised by Jesus, and the One who empowers creation, Christ’s ministry, and the Church today. We also trace the Holy Spirit’s work through the Old Testament as a foreshadowing of what Jesus would promise and pour out.

This teaching is part of CORE, a monthly class at The Connect Church designed to help believers grow deeper in their understanding of Scripture, theology, and the gospel.

Topics include:

Why Jesus promised Spirit-baptism and power for witness (Acts 1:5–8)
“Dunamis” power: authority for kingdom advancement, not personal glory
The Holy Spirit as Helper, Counselor, Advocate, and Intercessor (John 14)
The Holy Spirit as part of the Trinity—one God in three Persons
The Spirit as the Empowerer of Creation and giver of life (Genesis 1–2)
The Spirit empowering Jesus’ ministry and the same Spirit available to believers (Luke 4; Acts 10; John 14)
The Spirit empowering the Church and life in us (Romans 8; Galatians 3; 1 Corinthians 3)
Old Testament foreshadows: two “baptisms” (Red Sea + Jordan) and what they picture for discipleship