Following the Lead of the Holy Spirit (feat. Dave Buehring)

Jul 15, 2024

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Following the Lead of the Holy Spirit in Disciple Making

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In this episode, learn how to follow the Holy Spirit's lead through two powerful biblical stories and three key observations. Dave Buehring shares his journey from limited teaching on the Holy Spirit in a Lutheran upbringing to deeper understanding through Youth with a Mission (YWAM). He highlights the Holy Spirit's crucial role in discipleship for personal growth and teaching others. The discussion covers listening to the Holy Spirit in daily life and prayer, the importance of immediate obedience, and avoiding grieving or quenching the Spirit. Practical examples, like interactions with Mandisa, illustrate discipling in various vocations and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/

Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background

02:41 LionShare's Mission and Impact

04:06 Biblical Foundations for Discipleship

08:06 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

11:16 Peter and Cornelius

13:19 Obedience and Transformation

19:13 Practical Examples of Listening to the Holy Spirit

28:28 The Importance of Immediate Obedience

35:27 Grieving and Quenching the Holy Spirit

42:17 Practical Insights on Hearing God's Voice

50:17 The Role of Timing in God's Direction

58:30 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

Resources on Discipleship

Becoming a Disciple Maker

Disciple Making Culture: 10 Minute eBook

National Study on Disciple Making in USA Churches

DiscipleShift: 5 Minute eBook

See below for a longer description:

The episode explores the Holy Spirit's role in guiding and transforming disciples, focusing on how to follow His lead in disciple-making. Dave Buehring begins by sharing his journey from growing up Lutheran in Minnesota, where he received little teaching about the Holy Spirit, to joining Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and learning from its founder, Lauren Cunningham. This experience gave him a fresh understanding of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity.

Emphasizing the Holy Spirit's central role in his 40 years of disciple-making, Dave describes the Spirit as a partner and transformer in spiritual growth. He highlights the importance of helping people recognize the Holy Spirit's presence and follow His lead, especially when feeling stuck.

The speaker shares a story about guiding Mandisa, a disciple for 22 years, in learning to wait on the Lord and follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. He discusses the broader impact of discipleship, which extends beyond church walls to vocations like government, arts, business, media, and education, integrating faith into professional lives to make a societal impact.

Throughout today’s episode, practical aspects of discipling others by paying attention to the Holy Spirit's work are emphasized. Dave recounts two biblical stories:

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40): An angel instructs Philip to go to a desert road where he meets an Ethiopian official reading Isaiah. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Philip explains the Scriptures and baptizes the eunuch, highlighting the importance of being sensitive to the Spirit's guidance.
Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10): Peter receives a vision while praying, leading him to visit Cornelius, a Gentile centurion. Despite initial hesitation, Peter obeys the Holy Spirit, shares the Gospel, and Cornelius and his household convert, underscoring the importance of prayerful listening and immediate obedience.

The speaker draws three key observations from these stories:

Listening on the Way vs. Listening While Praying: Philip’s encounter shows the need to be attentive to the Holy Spirit during daily activities, while Peter’s experience highlights the importance of waiting on the Lord in prayer.
Immediate Obedience: Both Philip and Peter obey the Holy Spirit without hesitation, crucial for effective disciple-making.
God’s Knowledge of Our Gifts: The Holy Spirit knows each believer's gifts and positions them for Kingdom purposes.

The episode also discusses grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit:

Grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30): This occurs when the Holy Spirit says "no," but we proceed to say "yes," causing grief. It’s often related to unloving conduct and relational sins.
Quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20): This happens when the Holy Spirit says "yes," but we say "no," stifling divine influence. It involves resisting promptings towards joy, prayer, thankfulness, and prophecy.

Dave gives practical advice for discerning the Holy Spirit's voice in disciple-making including asking clarifying questions and listening attentively to the person being discipled. Communal discernment and confirmation from spiritual leaders are also emphasized.

In conclusion, the episode calls for a balanced approach to disciple-making that integrates both the Word of God and the active leading of the Holy Spirit. The speaker encourages listeners to cultivate a life of continuous listening and immediate obedience, trusting that the Holy Spirit will lead both them and their disciples into deeper transformation and effective witness in their vocations and communities.

Overall, this episode offers a rich and practical exploration of partnering with the Holy Spirit in making disciples who are knowledgeable in Scripture and sensitive to the Spirit’s guidance in all areas of life.