"Power Gifts Pt. 2" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. How did you connect to God over the past week?

Main Thought

God is real, and He moves in real ways today! He invites us to stay connected to Him as our Source. It’s important to listen to God as we believe for the miraculous. He may tell us to go, or He may tell us to stay. It’s impossible to move in His power when we move without Him. When we do, we’re like an appliance connected to power: God can do incredible things through us! Here are some of the spiritual gifts God releases to His people, for His glory.

• FAITH: The gift of faith is the divine strength or ability to believe in God for unseen supernatural results in every area of life.

• HEALING: The divine strength of ability to act as an intermediary in faith, prayer and by the laying on of hands for the healing of physical and mental illness and pain.

• MIRACLES: The gift of miracles is the divine strength or ability to alter the natural outcomes of life in a supernatural way through prayer, faith and divine direction.

Main Passages

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues…”
- Mark 16:17

“You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.”
- Psalm 77:14

“"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” ‭‭
- Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:4-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever witnessed God perform a miracle, or heard of someone close to you who experienced one? What happened?

2. Do you need God to move in some miraculous way for you? How might God be calling you to either move or be still, and how does that challenge your faith in God to grow?

Application

1. Partner in prayer and believe that God will move in a miraculous way for you!

"Connection Issues" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. How did you address the flaws and failures in your life and bring them to God over the past week?

Main Thought

People crave connection, and it’s because God designed us to be that way. He wants us to communicate with Him constantly. (Our souls will feel incomplete until we find our fulfillment in Him.) Yet we often experience “connection issues” when trying to connect with God. Perhaps we’re distant from God because of our sin, or maybe we don’t know how to pray. There might be too many distractions in our lives. God sent Jesus to resolve our connection issues! We can come boldly before God, starting from wherever we find ourselves right now.

As an added bonus, some of the spiritual gifts that God gave His Church can help enhance our connection to God in both personal and corporate settings. These include:

• Knowledge: The divine strength or ability to understand and to bring clarity to situations and circumstances often accompanied by a word from God.

• Discernment: The divine strength or ability to spiritually identify falsehood and to distinguish between right and wrong motives and situations.

• Intercession: The divine strength or ability to stand in the gap in prayer for someone, something, or someplace believing for profound results.

Main Passages

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
- Psalm 42:1-2

17 pray without ceasing…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Hebrews 4:16

Discussion Questions

1. The spiritual gifts of knowledge and discernment (specific expressions of prophecy), as well as the gift of intercession (a gift to pray for someone or something), help the Church connect to God. Do you think you have any of these gifts? Have you ever seen them in use?

2. Do you feel like you have any “connection issues” in your relationship with God? What might be causing those issues?

Application

1. Resolve your connection issues and get closer to God, either through prayer or in His Word.

"Me vs. Me"

Recap

1. How have you gotten to know more about God and yourself over the past few weeks?

Main Thought

God has spiritual gifts for His people. They empower us to love Him, serve others, and experience purpose. But we might be our own worst enemies when it comes to encountering these gifts and walking in God’s plan for our lives. Our sins and character flaws can derail us when we don’t deal with them. God transforms us through Christ, and empowers us to overcome our own flaws as we become like Jesus! This can only happen when we acknowledge our faults. If we don’t acknowledge our them, then they’ll thrive in the darkness of our lives. Correcting our character can be painful, but it will protect us and propel us.

Main Passages

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh... 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Galatians 5:16, 22-24

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
- Matthew 7:3-5

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
- John 3:30

Discussion Questions

1. How easy is it for you to find your fault, or even find ways in which you need to grow? Why do you think that’s the case?

2. Think about a current area of difficulty or conflict in your life. How might YOU be able to learn and grow in this situation?

Application

1. Bring your flaws and failure to God in prayer this week. Find scriptures to address them in the Bible. Ask God to help you change (repent) and become more like Christ.

"Word Gifts Pt. 2" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. Are you beginning to discover or apply your Spiritual Gifts in a Biblical way?

Main Thought

Some of the spiritual gifts can be classified as “word gifts.” The word gifts clarify the nature, actions, and purposes of God. They help us get to know God more. These gifts also help others come to know God through us. Here are three word gifts that you, or someone you know, may have:

• Wisdom: The special ability that God gives through his spirit, to certain members of the Body of Christ to know how given knowledge, both biblical and practical, may best be applied to specific needs in life, especially in the Body of Christ.

• Exhortation: The special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement, and counsel to other members of the Body in such a way that they feel helped and healed.

• Missionary: The special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to minister to others, using their unique gifts, in a culture other than their own.

Main Passages

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
- Romans 12:8

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
- Mark 16:15-18

Discussion Questions

1. Do you feel you have any of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Main Thought or passages above?

2. Has anyone with the gift of wisdom, exhortation, or a missionary gift helped or ministered to you? How so?

Application

1. Get to know God more through His Word and through prayer.

"Word Gifts Pt. 1" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. Have you recently expressed your gratitude to someone who served you in a way that made God’s love feel real?

Main Thought

Some of the spiritual gifts can be called “word gifts.” The word gifts clarify the nature, actions, and purposes of God. These things help us draw nearer to God as we understand Him more. As we employ our own God-given word gifts, we’ll be able to draw others to God too. Here are some of these word gifts:

• Leadership: The gift of leadership is the divine strength or ability to influence people at their level while directing and focusing them on the big picture, vision, or idea.

• Evangelist: The gift of evangelism is the divine strength or ability to help non-Christians take the necessary steps to becoming Christ followers.

• Pastor: The gift of pastor/shepherd is the divine strength or ability to care for the personal needs of others by nurturing and mending life issues.

• Teacher: The gift of teaching is the divine strength or ability to study and learn from the Scriptures primarily to bring understanding and growth to other Christians.

There’s a difference between a spiritual gift and a “spiritual office.” Someone with a gift uses their gift personally. Those who are called to a spiritual office takes this a step further, and equip others to operate in that gift while using it themselves. For example, someone with the gift of evangelism engages those who don’t know Christ. Someone called to the office of an evangelist helps others use the gift of evangelism.

Main Passages

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ...”
- Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-12‬

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think you have any of the gifts lifted in the Main Thought? How do you use it to serve God and others?

2. How has someone with one of the aforementioned gifts (or someone who holds the spiritual office) helped your walk with God?

Application

1. Use your spiritual gifts as a blessing for someone who doesn’t know Christ this week.

"Indispensable" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. How did you use your God-given gifts to serve someone else over the past week?

Main Thought

Spiritual gifts are meant to be used to glorify God and serve others. The “love gifts” manifest God’s love for people in practical ways. They make God’s love real and tangible. We talked about service, craftsmanship, hospitality, and helps last week. Here are a few more examples of love gifts:

• Administration: The gift of administration is the divine strength or ability to organize multiple tasks and groups of people to accomplish these tasks. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

• Giving: The gift of giving is the divine strength or ability to produce wealth and to give by tithes and offerings for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God on earth. (Romans 12:8)

• Mercy: The gift of mercy is the divine strength or ability to feel empathy and to care for those who are hurting in any way. (Romans 12:8)

• Music: The gift of music/worship is the divine strength or ability to sing, dance, or play an instrument primarily for the purpose of helping others worship God. (Psalm 150)

Main Passages

22 ...The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
- 1 Corinthians 12:22-26

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think you have any of the gifts lifted in the Main Thought? How do you use it to serve God and others?

2. Has anyone ever helped or served you in such a way that made God’s love feel more real? What happened?

Application

1. Thank someone who has helped or serve you, making God’s love feel real and tangible in the process.

"Love Gifts Pt. 1" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. How did you seek God’s glory or someone else’s benefit in love this week?

Main Thought

One way to categorize the spiritual gifts is to group them according to three categories: love gifts, word gifts, and power gifts. Love gifts manifest God’s love for people in practical ways. They’re meant for the common good of the church, and they’re distributed by the Holy Spirit as He chooses. Here are a few examples of love gifts:

• Service - to identify undone tasks in God's work, and use whatever resources are available to get the job done.

• Craftsmanship - the special ability to forward God’s kingdom through creative skills such as carpentry, drama, graphic arts, painting and sculpting.

• Hospitality - the ability to enjoy meeting new people and making them feel welcome by providing food, friendship, or shelter.

• Helps - To render support or assistance to others in the body so as to free them up for ministry.

Main Passages

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
- Matthew 25:35-40

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
- 1 Peter 4:10

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think you have any of the gifts lifted in the Main Thought?

2. How do you demonstrate God’s love practically for others on a regular basis?

Application

1. Practically demonstrate God’s love to someone this week, and use one of the gifts mentioned above if applicable.

"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.

"How to Build a Fire" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. 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 14:1

7 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

1. 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.

2. 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

1. 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?

"A Fire's Place" Discussion Guide

Recap

1. How do you try to fit your life into the Big Picture of God’s Mission?

Main Thought

The Holy Spirit’s presence, along with the spiritual gifts, can be a great blessing in the lives of Believers. But we might react to the Spirit and His gifts in one of two extreme ways. We quench the Spirit with our misunderstandings of the Bible, or through our own doubt and fear. These reactions can lead to being spiritually “dead” - devoid of God’s presence and without empowerment for His purpose. On the other hand, we become weird when we move outside the Bible’s guidelines for how the Holy Spirit operates. Being weird impedes our witness for Christ, which is one of the Holy Spirit’s primary objectives on earth. We must fully embrace the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to maximize the glory we bring to God and our own gifts.

Main Passages

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
- John 15:26-27

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
- 1 Corinthians 14:39-40

“The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions. Also, if the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.”
- George Muller

Discussion Questions

1. Which one of the Main Passages stand out to you the most? Do any of them convict or challenge you?

2. Do you tend to drift toward being “dead” or being “weird” when it comes to the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts? Why?

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.