Series Introduction
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Series Introduction” inside PodZeus.
Pastor Dave Ripper launches a new nine-week series at Crossway Christian Church titled 'Filled with the Spirit,' anchored in Ephesians 5:18 and the broader vision of being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. He confronts common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit—particularly the idea that the Spirit is a force rather than a person—and emphasizes that the Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, the very love between the Father and the Son. Drawing on St. Augustine and Daryl Johnson, Ripper reframes the Christian life not as mere belief, but as participation in God’s eternal relational love. He challenges listeners to move beyond individualism and instead be filled through speaking life-giving words, singing from the heart, and giving thanks for 'good, true, and beautiful' things daily. The series also introduces a companion course on spiritual renewal, with a strong call to action: pour yourself out in service, not just to receive more of the Spirit, but to become a church that reflects Christ’s self-giving love in a broken world.
The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force—He is the love between the Father and the Son, making relationship the core of Christian identity.
Being filled with the Spirit means living in continual surrender, not just a one-time experience, and is contrasted with being controlled by alcohol or worldly distractions.
Practical ways to be filled with the Spirit include speaking life to others, singing from the heart, and giving thanks daily for good, true, and beautiful things.
Gratitude is not just a feeling—it’s a spiritual discipline that combats sin and opens space for the Spirit’s presence.
The most effective way to be filled with the Spirit is to pour yourself out in service, sacrifice, and generosity—just as Jesus did on the cross.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Series Launch
“What an incredible prayer. Some people call that the boldest prayer in the Bible, that we would be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Understanding the Holy Spirit
“The Father is the lover. The Son is the beloved and the Holy Spirit is love itself.”
The Antithesis of Being Filled
Paul contrasts being filled with the Spirit with being drunk on wine. Ripper explains this is not a blanket prohibition on alcohol but a call to avoid being controlled by anything other than God’s will.
Making the Most of Kairos
Ripper reflects on the church’s 'Kairos' campaign, a three-year initiative to expand the Pond Campus, and calls for continued generosity to complete the project, emphasizing that this is a divinely appointed opportunity.
How to Be Filled with the Spirit
“If you gravitate toward that mean-spiritedness or overly critical kind of approach, how might God be nudging you to speak life and receive words of life to each other?”
“The Father is the lover. The Son is the beloved and the Holy Spirit is love itself.”
“What an incredible prayer. Some people call that the boldest prayer in the Bible, that we would be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
“The whole act of looking to give thanks has caused me to actually feel more grateful, more filled with the Spirit.”
Host
Dave Ripper
person
Crossway Christian Church
organization
Ephesians 5:18
other
Kairos Campaign
organization
St. Augustine
person
Daryl Johnson
person
Dionysius
person
Craig Blomberg
person
Celebrate Recovery
organization
Alistair Begg
person
A New Heart and New Spirit
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 28m • 4/19/2026
The Spirit as Teacher
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 33m • 4/26/2026
When the Advocate Comes
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 35m • 5/3/2026
Praying with the Spirit
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 31m • 5/10/2026
Your Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
Crossway Pond Sermon Podcast • 36m • 5/17/2026
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “Series Introduction” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime