The Online School assignment begins with three actions: (1) to soak 2-3 times each week; (2) to encourage 5 people each week; and (3) to keep a brief record of your activity.
These three actions are the stage on which the School Of The Spirit plays out. Look to grow in three ways: (1) a larger gift-mix, (2) more ministry opportunities, and (3) more of God’s manifest presence in your life.
How can a ministry of encouragement get you into power gifts? How will soaking lead to new ministry opportunities? I’ve gone into these and other issues in the first few categories listed in the sidebar, numbered from 1 to 6:
5. More Ministry Opportunities
Then as I do the assignment myself, I’ll post testimonies in coming weeks. These will give you a feel for what the online school should look like where the rubber meets the road:
This will be enough to get you started.
Use The Online School Resources
1. Use the numbered categories to learn how the school works. Then if you want God to start teaching you, start acting on what you read. The focus of the Online School Of The Spirit is action, not information. This is how Jesus trained the twelve, it’s how He has taught me, and I’m confident that He will teach you the same way.
2. Use the rest of the categories to read any articles that interest you. They are on a variety of topics, and they all present material I have used and that has worked in real life.
3. Use the search feature to find articles that talk about whatever you’re interested in.
What You Won’t Find On The Online School
No methods. I am always suspicious of methods for getting God to move. Forget methods. God is eager to move; He is waiting for us to line up with Him. So I’ve written principles that have helped me get into the flow and testimonies that tell what it felt like when God was moving. But God is always free to do as much or as little as He wants. Our role is to make room for Him to make that choice moment by moment.
No preferred style. Some people like to be loud and brash, some prefer to be meditative. Some are in historic denominations and some want to be in the wildest church in town. God loves all styles and He wants you to be yourself. But whatever our background, there will be times when He calls all of us to be louder or quieter than usual. Be flexible enough to let Him have His way.
I can’t teach a school of the Spirit. I can teach the school of Stan Smith, but only the Holy Spirit can make a school of the Spirit work. I’ve posted these materials, keenly aware of my limitations. It’s only as you engage with Him that He can teach you. That’s why the articles are action-oriented.
It’s Up To You…
You can get involved with the Online School as an individual, as a small group, or as a church.
Some churches have asked me to conduct workshops, but you can use the materials presented on this blog as an outline and press into spiritual gifts on your own. God will lead you into it if you keep seeking Him; Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”
Finally, every article on this blog (except this one, oddly enough) fits on a bulletin insert – this may be helpful if you want to train your small group or your church. I use 11 point type with a big headline and a couple of custom fonts, but you can lay it out yourself or email me at stansmith888@sbcglobal.net for a template.
It’s up to you. Go for it; start the discipline of the three actions and reach for three kinds of growth, and let the Holy Spirit teach you. He’s a great teacher.
I’m thrilled that a net search has led me to your site! We have a small home or ‘cell’ group Bible Study and last year our focus was on healing and the gifts of the holy spirit. Using your Free Online School of the Spirit for the Miracle Lifestyle, I can’t wait to get activated with the soaking, encouraging, journaling, and assignments with my group! Up until now, we have basically gathered to read the Word, pray, and let each one contribute at our meetings. This suggested structure however is super pro-active and will give us a whole new inter-active dimension with the Holy Spirit: I think it will really light our little group on pro-active holy spirit fire! Thank you so much for making this available — I have been reading your site for the past hour or so and will continue to press in remembering that while you gave us the gift of this suggested model, it’s all about opening up a way for God’s holy spirit to flow. Truly, this is exciting, and truly GOOD news, praise God, and thank you Jesus! Come, Holy Spirit… I think the school of the spirit course outline will help take our little group to the next level! Again, thank you SO much, Elizabeth S. (HealingMiracle77@aol.com)
Hi Elizabeth — thanks for writing.
If the people in your group start soaking 2-3 times a week and encouraging 5 people a week, they will have testimonies to share as you meet together. Some of their ministry times can happen inside the group, but they’ll grow more if a few happen outside the meeting. You can keep going with your Bible study, looking for ways the passage you study can shape your soaking and outreach; there would be time in a small group format for Bible study and a few minutes of testimony and/or ministry time to one another.
Let me know what goes right and what goes wrong as you experiment with the online school. I learn when I get input from people using the materials.
Blessings — Stan