Study Guide

BEFORE YOU GATHER

• Familiarize yourself with this Group Study Guide.
• If you missed it, CLICK HERE to watch the weekend sermon.
• Spend some time in prayer before your group gathers.
• To prepare for discussion, CLICK HERE for a few facilitation tips.
• As a leader you always have the option to use some or all the questions and/or write your own questions.

GROUP DISCUSSION

Opening Prayer: (1-5 minutes)
In light of what God is saying through this week’s message, here’s some suggestions of how your group can invite God into your time together.

Ask God to give your group a spirit of unity, love for one another, appreciation of the diversity in our church, and a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Quick Connection: (5 minutes)

What is the best gift you’ve ever been given that you had no idea you wanted or needed?

Group Discussion: (30 minutes)

Paul lists some spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and in Romans 12:3-8: 

Wisdom	Distinguishing spirits	Teaching
Knowledge	Speaking in tongues	Encouragement
Faith	Interpreting tongues	Giving
Healing	Serving	Leadership
Miracles	Prophecy	Mercy

•  Share an experience in your life when someone has used one of these gifts to bless you or someone you know. Next, call out spiritual gifts you see in each other.  Finally, reflect on how the Holy Spirit has gifted you.
  
• There were barriers to unity even in the early church: Acts 6:1-7, Acts 15:1-2, and 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 , speak to challenges in that early community. In 1 Corinthians 12:21-26, Paul speaks to the church in Corinth about overcoming barriers to unity within the church in regards to spiritual gifts. What are ways that spiritual gifts can help overcome the disunity that we find within the church?
• Consider 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. How do we practically work in cooperation with the Spirit to love each other better? How would our relationships and our churches look different if we as Christians lived love-filled Spirit-lead lives using our spiritual gifts?
• The Holy Spirit has personally equipped you with your spiritual gifts! If you are unsure of your spiritual gifts, how can you find out? (Ask God, Ask “How can I serve?”, Ask others) What is a way in which you think you can use your gifts to serve?

CLOSING PRAYER (5-15 minutes):
In light of what God is saying through this week’s message, here’s a suggestion of what your group could talk about with God in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus our Savior, and Holy Spirit who is God’s empowering presence within us, thank You for this time of fellowship and community.  May we leave this place filled with Your power: equipped to love and to serve. May we journey through this coming week sensitive to Your leading and open to how we may be used to bring love to Your children and glory to Your name. Amen.

CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK:

Meditate daily on 1 Corinthians 13 - This is what love in action looks like!  Ask the Holy Spirit for opportunities to show this love by using your unique spiritual gifts.