Teaching Series Introduction:
“If God was small enough to be comprehended, he would not be big enough to be worshipped.” (Imad Shehadeh)
This is a series all about the Holy Spirit. Who, or what, is the Holy Spirit?
The bible is mainly written in Hebrew (Old Testament) and in Greek (New Testament). Each of these languages has one word (Hebrew – ruach; Greek – pneuma) that is used for three different English words – Spirit, breath and wind. And so, the way the bible describes the Holy Spirit can be both confusing and illuminated by these ideas…the wind that powers the sails, and the breath that gives life. So, what role does the Holy Spirit play in the life of Christians? This series takes a deep dive in who the Holy Spirit is and the difference he makes in our lives. It’s time to breathe again.
“The Lord of hosts is with us. He’s not watching us move through this stream of history, he’s actually navigating it with us through his Holy Spirit.” (Karen A Ellis)
Session 5: Gifts that keep on giving
TEACHING SERIES: And, Breathe
TITLE: Session 5: Gifts That Keep On Giving
BY: Judy Moore
DATE: 20 February 2022
PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians (Chaper 12, verses 1 to 7) Read online
Listen Online: Podcast
Watch Online: Church At Home
Listen Online
Watch Online
Children’s & Youth Resources:
These resources will be used within the various groups in-person on a Sunday morning. This means that if you are unable to attend one of our Sunday Gatherings, you can still study and follow along with the same material at a time that is best for you. However you study, we encourage you to engage with your group as much as possible. If you would like to know about how you can get connected with our children’s or youth groups please contact us, we would love to hear from you.
Youth Resources
This Weeks Youth Video:
Children’s Resources
This weeks Children’s Video:
Bible Study Questions:
There are three different sets of questions for you to use, whether you are exploring God’s word within your Life Group, in other group settings, or simply using them on your own.
A. DISCUSSION STARTERS
These are simple questions to provoke discussion together out of the talk (ideal if you are watching our Sunday Service online with others in your group):
1) What particularly struck you, or impacted you in the talk?
2) Was there anything that you disagreed with, or found difficult, in the talk?
3) Out of the talk, are there any things that you would like to do differently, or put into place?
B. QUESTIONS TO EXPLORE
These are questions that are based on the talk and the surrounding themes:
1) Today we are exploring ‘spiritual gifts’. What do you think the difference is between spiritual gifts and natural talents?
2) Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-7. In verses 1-3, Paul describes a crucial role of the Holy Spirit. What is that? According to this, how can we determine if something is the work of the Holy Spirit or not?
3) If the Holy Spirit point us to Jesus, what might that say about the purpose of each of the gifts of the Holy Spirit? How does that change how we value each gift of the Spirit?
4) Read also Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:27-30; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:9-11 In her talk, Judy mentioned that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are beneficial in three ways:
a. For us
b. For the world
c. For the church
Even though these list of gifts in these bible passages are not exhaustive, select a few different gifts that are described. Work out how they might be beneficial in each of the above three ways.
5) How does 1 Corinthians 12:6 change how we see the different gifts of the Spirit?
6) What gifts do you think you might have? (You may like to ask others who know you well to help with this.) What role could these gifts have in:
a) your life?
b) for the world?
c) for the church?
7) Take some time to pray, asking that God would you reveal the gifts he has for you, and how you might use these to help point people to Jesus.
C. GOING DEEPER
These are questions to help you go a little deeper, by exploring the wider biblical context.
1) In this session we are exploring ‘spiritual gifts’. What do you think the difference is between spiritual gifts and natural talents?
2) Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-7. In the original language, Paul uses two different words for ‘gift’ in verse 1 and 4. In verse 1, the word translated ‘gift’ is a more general word, and the the word in verse 4 specifically refers to the gifts given supernaturally by the Holy Spirit (Charismata). It seems that Paul is trying to answer a question about what makes a person spiritual. Or, to put it another way, how do we tell if someone is truly a spiritual person? What according to the v2-3 is the answer to that question? How does this change how we see the different gifts of the Spirit?
3) Read also Romans 10:9-10. If, according to Paul, there are two groups of people – those who say ‘Jesus is Lord’, and those who don’t – what role does the external use of gifts play in being ‘spiritual’? Why is this so freeing?
4) Notice the use of the words in v4-6, alongside reading 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. Paul blends three words – gifts (v4); service (v5); working (v6). What does this tell us about the different gifts of the Spirit? And what might this say about too narrowly defining the list of gifts or comparing ourselves with other people?
5) Read also Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:27-30; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:9-11 In her talk, Judy mentioned that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are beneficial in three ways:
a. For us
b. For the world
c. For the church
Even though these list of gifts in these bible passages are not exhaustive, select a few different gifts that are described. Work out how they might be beneficial in each of the above three ways.
6) Read 1 Corinthians 12:7. On Sunday Judy used the following quote from Aaron Niequist, ‘God has given a spiritual gift to the church in you, and you dare not keep it to yourself.’ What spiritual gifts do you think you may have been given? What might it mean to use these for the ‘common good’?
7) Take some time to pray, asking that God would you reveal the gifts he has for you, and how you might use these to help point people to Jesus.
TRANSCRIPT:
Coming Soon
