October 18, 2026
In week two of the series "Ghosted," Pastor Jared explores what he calls Costume Christianity — the reality that some people use the Holy Spirit as a costume they dress up in rather than an authority they are led by. Just as a costume can give the look of a superhero without any of the power, religious performance can produce the appearance of the Spirit without any of the fruit underneath.
Weekly Leadership Lesson
From this week's messagePrioritize Truth Over Spiritual Performance
Authentic spiritual leadership requires testing all experiences against the Word of God rather than relying on outward religious performance.
Start your group meeting by grounding your discussion in a specific passage of scripture before sharing personal spiritual experiences. This habit protects your group from manipulation and ensures that your collective growth is defined by the Word rather than subjective emotion.
Leader Encouragement
Caring for Your Group"Know the season your group members are in. Someone going through grief needs connection, not curriculum."
Key Insights
- 1
Not everything that shows up in the name of God is God, and believers are called to test every spirit against the Word of God.
- 2
A costume can give the look of the Bible but will never give the power of the Bible.
- 3
The first and most important test of the Holy Spirit is the Word of God itself, because knowledge of the truth protects against spiritual manipulation.
- 4
The second test is the fruit of the person operating in the name of the Holy Spirit — who they are when the costume comes off.
- 5
You cannot recognize the counterfeit until you understand the real thing, which is why studying the Spirit before seeking an experience is essential.
Application Points
Read one chapter per day from 1 Corinthians 12, 13, and 14, writing down one thing you learned about the Holy Spirit and one thing that chapter corrected in what you previously believed.
Identify one area of your life — at home, at work, or in relationships — where your fruit does not yet match the words of the Bible, and bring that gap honestly before God this week.
If you have received a prophetic word from someone, take time this week to test it against the Word of God and honestly evaluate the fruit in the life of the person who gave it.
Ask someone who sees your real life — a spouse, a close friend, or a trusted community member — to speak honestly with you about the fruit they observe in your daily life outside of church.