Teens and Christ
← Living It Out

Lesson 2 of 4 · 8 min

The Holy Spirit

The person who makes Christian life possible.

Not a force

The Spirit is a person, not an impersonal energy: he teaches, grieves, guides and intercedes. He convicts of sin, gives new birth, unites believers to Christ, and dwells in the church.

Fruit and gifts

The fruit of the Spirit is character formed over time — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The gifts of the Spirit are abilities given for serving others, and Scripture consistently ties them to love rather than status.

Key passages

  • But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things.

    John 14:26

  • But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

    Galatians 5:22-23

  • To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

    1 Corinthians 12:7

Reflect

Which fruit of the Spirit is most under pressure in your life right now?

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Next: The Church and the Sacraments

Where this came from

We're not experts — these are the sources we used while researching this page. Read them yourself, keep digging, and hold us to them.

  1. [1]The Holy Bible — Blue Letter Bible interlinear and lexicons

    Primary source for every lesson; Strong's and BDB/Thayer entries for word studies.

  2. [2]The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381) — full text and history, Britannica

    The doctrinal frame for the lessons on God, Christ and the Spirit.

  3. [3]N. T. Wright, lectures and articles archive (NTWrightPage)

    New Testament scholarship drawn on for the gospel, kingdom and resurrection lessons.

  4. [4]Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican) and the Westminster Confession of Faith

    Consulted side by side wherever a lesson describes how different traditions teach a doctrine.