Apostles’ Creed Week 10: Holy Spirit
Introduction
In the coming weeks, we’re going to walk slowly through one of the oldest, most widely embraced confessions in the history of the Church—the Apostles’ Creed. This ancient creed is more than a set of beliefs; it’s a narrative. It tells the story of God, the story of the gospel, and the story we are invited into.
The Kansas City Underground holds this creed as a foundational confession. It’s a declaration of trust, a form of spiritual formation, and a shared language that binds us together with the global Church across time and culture.
Each week, we’ll sit with a single line or phrase. You’ll engage Scripture, linger in reflection, and respond in prayer. This is not a study to rush through, but an invitation to abide with truth until it shapes your imagination and your life.
If you want to dive deeper into the meaning behind each line, we highly recommend The Apostles’ Creed: A Guide to the Ancient Catechism by Ben Myers. It’s a short but powerful companion that can enrich your journey.
Apostles’ Creed
Read the following line from the Apostles’ Creed:
“I believe in the Holy Spirit.”
The Creed now turns to the present tense.
After tracing the story of the Father, Son, and the work of Jesus—from incarnation to resurrection, ascension, and return—we come to a simple but profound confession: “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”
This is not an afterthought. This is not a lesser part of the Trinity. This is the Spirit of God, poured out on the Church, alive in the world, breathing life into the story even now.
The Spirit is how we experience the life of God.
The Spirit convicts and comforts.
The Spirit empowers and equips.
The Spirit brings to life what would otherwise remain dead.
Without the Spirit, there is no Church.
There is no transformation.
There is no mission.
There is no power.
When Jesus ascended, He promised: “I will send the Advocate… the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17) And at Pentecost, the Spirit came—not as a whisper, but as wind and fire. And the Church was born.
To confess, “I believe in the Holy Spirit” is to declare that we are not alone. That the same Spirit who hovered over creation hovers over us now. That the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. That the mission of God continues through His people, animated and sustained by His presence. This is the Spirit who guides our steps, forms our hearts, stirs our gifts, and carries the mission forward.
This week, we turn our hearts toward the Spirit’s presence. We open our hands to receive. We remember: God is not just “out there.” He is here.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 1:1–2 – The Spirit hovers over the waters.
Ezekiel 37:1–14 – The Spirit brings dry bones to life.
John 14:15–27 – Jesus promises the Spirit.
Acts 2:1–21 – The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Romans 8:9–17 – Life through the Spirit.
Reflection
To believe in the Holy Spirit is to confess that God’s work didn’t end at the resurrection or the ascension—it continues. Right now.
The Spirit is present—breathing life where there was once death, filling hearts with power, shaping communities in love. The same Spirit who hovered over creation in Genesis, who filled the prophets, who empowered Jesus in His ministry, is the same Spirit poured out on us.
Without the Spirit, faith becomes dead ritual. Mission becomes human striving. Transformation becomes impossible. But with the Spirit, the impossible becomes reality. Dead things come alive. Dry bones rattle and rise. Ordinary people speak with power, love with courage, and live as witnesses to the kingdom.
The Spirit is the animating force of the Church. The Spirit forms Christ in us. The Spirit empowers us to carry the mission forward. When we confess “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we are declaring our dependence. Our openness. Our longing to be filled again.
Consider
Before continuing on to the prayer prompts, considering journaling your answers to the following questions:
Do you live with an awareness of the Spirit’s presence?
Are you relying on the Spirit’s power—or your own strength?
Where in your life do you need the breath of the Spirit to bring something back to life?
Where are you resisting the Spirit’s guidance or invitation?
How can our network stay attentive to the Spirit—together, not just individually?
Prayer Prompts
Let your prayers this week center on receiving, listening, and responding to the Spirit’s presence.
Worship: Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Let Acts 2 or Romans 8 shape your worship—praise the Spirit for bringing life, power, and presence.
Receive: Open your hands. Pray simply, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Wait in silence. Trust that God is present.
Confess: Where have you resisted the Spirit’s leading—out of fear, control, or distraction? Name it. Ask for grace to follow where the Spirit leads.
Discern: Ask the Spirit to reveal where He is moving in your life, in your relationships, and in your neighborhood. Pray for the courage to join in.
Intercede: Pray for our network to be a Spirit-led people. That we would not rely on human effort, but on the breath of God. Ask that the Spirit would breathe fresh life into every microchurch, every leader, every disciple—that we would move in power, love, and unity as the body of Christ.