As we move from Easter Sunday toward Pentecost, the rhythm of the Christian calendar invites us to consider the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Easter proclaims that Jesus is risen—Pentecost proclaims that He reigns through the Spirit poured out on His people. That’s why, in this season, we’re turning our attention to a pneumatological study—a theological exploration of the Holy Spirit.
But why even study the Holy Spirit? Why now? Why at all?
1. The Spirit Is the Gift of the Risen Christ
Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead and disappear. He ascended—and before doing so, He promised another Helper. Pentecost is the fulfillment of that promise: the moment when the Holy Spirit came in power upon the Church. To understand Easter fully, we must follow it to Pentecost.
The resurrection wasn’t the end of the story. It was the beginning of a new chapter in redemptive history—one in which the risen Christ sends His Spirit to empower, teach, sanctify, and lead His people.
2. The Spirit Always Points to Jesus
Many Christians feel uneasy talking about the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it’s because of unfamiliarity—He’s mysterious, harder to picture than Jesus. Other times, it’s because we’ve seen the conversation around the Spirit dominated by controversy, extremism, or confusion.
But Scripture gives us a clear framework: the Holy Spirit isn’t the main character of the biblical story—Jesus is. The Spirit’s role is to glorify Christ, not Himself. As Pastor Matt put it in this week’s study, “The Holy Spirit is like the spotlight shining on the portrait of Jesus—not the focus, but the one who illuminates the focus.”
That doesn’t mean the Spirit is unimportant—far from it. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no incarnation, no resurrection, no church, and no Christian life. But the Spirit doesn’t demand attention. He directs it.
3. We Need the Spirit to Know the Spirit
It’s tempting to approach the study of the Holy Spirit like we would a topic in history or science—gather the facts, analyze the data, draw conclusions. But the Holy Spirit isn’t a topic. He’s a person.
To know the Spirit, we must invite Him to reveal Himself to us. And when He does, He doesn’t just inform. He transforms. He confronts our idols, uncovers our sin, and conforms us to the image of Jesus. Studying the Spirit is not merely an intellectual exercise—it’s a spiritual act of worship.
That’s why we must approach this study with reverence and humility. As Pastor Matt reminded us, “You don’t get the Holy Spirit without taking off your shoes.”
4. The Spirit Speaks Through Scripture
Central to this study is the conviction that the Bible is the Spirit’s book. It is inspired by God—breathed out by Him. That means it carries His authority, reveals His character, and is sufficient for knowing His will.
To know the Spirit, we don’t turn to speculation or private revelation. We turn to the Word. And we ask the Spirit, the One who authored it, to help us interpret it.
The Spirit doesn’t only illuminate the text—He also illuminates our hearts. That’s what the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture means: not that every verse is easy, but that the essential message of God’s Word is clear to those who come with hearts ready to love and obey.
5. Our Goal: Not Just Knowledge, but Communion
At the end of the day, we’re not here to just gather information about the Holy Spirit. We’re here to encounter Him. To yield to Him. To be filled, led, convicted, and comforted by Him.
As we walk this journey toward Pentecost, may our prayer be simple and sincere: “Come, Holy Spirit.” Not so that we might become experts, but so that we might become saints.
Reflection Questions:
- What has your experience been like in churches when it comes to talking about the Holy Spirit?
- How does thinking of the Spirit as the spotlight on Jesus change the way you approach worship and theology?
- In what ways are you inviting the Holy Spirit to transform—not just inform—you?
Join the Conversation
We’re just getting started. Over the next several weeks, we’ll explore how the Holy Spirit is revealed in Scripture, how He functions in the life of the Church, and what it means to be filled with the Spirit in our everyday lives. Stay with us as we move from resurrection to reign, from Easter to Pentecost.
