Big Idea: Repentance without Jesus is incomplete, but faith in Him brings the Spirit who confirms, transforms, and equips us for His mission. Paul shows us only Jesus makes our faith complete. 1. Repentance Without Jesus Is Incomplete (vv. 1–4) 1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. 2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” Acts 19:1-4 (NLT2) "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11 (NIV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NLT2) “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NLT2) 2. The Spirit Confirms Genuine Faith (vv. 5–6) 5 As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:5-6 (NLT2) “Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), 11 Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” Acts 2:9-11 (NLT2) And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT2) 3. The Spirit Works In The Lives Of All Believers With Transformation & Gifting Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. Acts 19:6-7 (NLT2) There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (NLT2) The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NLT2) Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. 1 Corinthians 12:29-31 (NLT2) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT2) Where in your faith do you feel incomplete right now? My Next Right Steps. I Will: Accept Jesus As My Savior and Lord Be baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ Sign up for Cornerstone’s Partnership Class, Sunday, September 21. 12:30-3:00 TALKING IT OVER Ice breaker: Can you think of a time you started something but didn’t finish it (diet, project, hobby, house project)? How did it feel to leave it incomplete? Read the Passage: Acts 19:1–6 Big Idea: Repentance without Jesus is incomplete, but faith in Him brings the Spirit who confirms, transforms, and equips us for His mission. Discussion Questions Paul shows us only Jesus makes our faith complete. 1. Repentance Without Jesus Is Incomplete (vv. 1–4) These disciples had John’s baptism of repentance but hadn’t yet trusted Christ. Why isn’t repentance by itself enough? How do we sometimes confuse “being good” or “religious” with true salvation? Why do you think only Jesus makes faith complete? 2. The Spirit Confirms Genuine Faith What role does the Holy Spirit play in confirming that someone truly belongs to Christ? Read: Acts 2:9-11. What do you learn about the gift of tongues in this passage? Read: Ephesians 1:13–14 How have you personally experienced the Spirit’s confirmation in your own faith journey? How does the Spirit remind us that only Jesus makes faith complete? 3. The Spirit Works In The Lives Of All Believers with Transformation & Gifting In Acts 19, the Spirit’s arrival came with tongues and prophecy. In other places, He doesn’t. Why do you think the Spirit sometimes works with miracles and sometimes quietly? What are some ways you’ve seen the Spirit at work—either through powerful moments or quiet transformation? Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 1 Corinthians 12:29-31 What do you learn about the work of the Holy Spirit? Read Galatians 5:22-23 How does the Holy Spirit Transform us? Which of the fruit is the Holy Spirit working on in you? What would it look like this week to invite the Holy Spirit to fill and guide you more completely? Where in your own faith do you feel “incomplete” right now? How can our group help each other stay focused on Jesus—the One who makes our faith complete? Closing Prayer Thank God for completing what repentance starts through Jesus and His Spirit. Pray for each person to live in the fullness of Christ this week.