Recap
How have you experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit operating in your life? Were you able to use your spiritual gifts recently to bless others? How?
Main Thought
The Health and Wellness industry has experienced a boom over the last ten years with no signs of slowing down. Indicators actually show a continued acceleration. People are spending a lot of time and money (Billions of dollars!) to stay physically and mentally sharp by focusing on personal health and fitness. The truth is, there are no shortcuts when it comes to results and the process in getting them isn’t easy. The same is true about our spiritual sharpness. As we walk along our spiritual journey, the Holy Spirit reveals and entrusts us with spiritual gifts. We are to develop and use them responsibly. Just as going to the gym and eating right gives us an advantage physically and mentally, spiritual disciplines keep us optimal when it comes to operating in the spiritual gifts that God has entrusted to us. Prayer, reading the bible, giving, and serving others daily keeps us spiritually sharp allowing us to properly represent God, the giver of our incredible gifts. To make the deal even sweeter, no membership dues or additional costs are required!
Main Passages
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts,
- 1 Corinthians 14:17 Don’t waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. 8 Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too.
- 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (The Living Bible)5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
- 2 Peter 1:5-9
Discussion Questions
Most people will admit that they are well disciplined in certain areas of their daily life while less disciplined in others. Identify one area in your life which you are well disciplined in and one area where you can improve.
When it comes to reading the bible, prayer, serving or giving through time or money, which do you find the easiest? Which do you find the most challenging?
Application
This week, identify one area mentioned above that you find is easy for you and encourage someone else in that area. In the same way, how will you focus on an area where you yourself might need to improve?