"Refiner's Fire" Discussion Guide

Recap

  1. How did you encourage or help someone using a gift or talent this week?

Main Thought

It’s great to receive gifts, but we should try our best to use them properly. How can we be sure that we’re using God’s spiritual gifts appropriately? By love! We should grow in our love for God and one another as we grow in our gifts. You might even say that God gave us the spiritual gifts as a means to express our love. If we don’t love more as we grow in our gifts, then we’re likely to find ourselves off track. Love should be the motive behind the activation of our spiritual gifts. We must seek God’s glory and each other’s benefit.

Main Passages

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:1-4

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ - Matthew 7:22-23

Discussion Questions

  1. Reflect on the main thought and passages above. What stands out to you and why?

  2. What activities or habits do you find yourself doing primarily for God or other people? What activities or habits are primarily for your own benefit?

Application

  1. Ask God to teach you to experience the Holy Spirit’s presence and use your spiritual gifts in a balanced, Biblical way over the next week.