This Bible study was created by Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicagoland, under the leadership of Founding and Senior Pastor James MacDonald. Copyright 2013 Harvest Bible Chapel. All rights reserved. For additional copies and more resources, visit Store.HarvestBibleChapel.org. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
BIBLE STUDY GIFT DISCOVERY
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 4 15 23 54 56 58 Introduction Session 1: You ve Got a Gift Session 2: Understand Your Gift Session 3: Use Your Gift Appendix: Prayer Requests Appendix: Social Covenant Appendix: Small Group Contract
INTRODUCTION I know that as Christians we re not supposed to believe in the Easter Bunny, but as a child my favorite part of Easter was searching for the eggs. I still remember the thrill of the hunt and knowing there was a treat hidden inside. I just wish I online, if you haven t taken it already. - 3
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SESSION 1 YOU VE GOT A GIFT 6
PRINCIPLE MEMORIZE 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. INTRODUCTION I 7
THINK ABOUT IT purpose. 8
READ 1 Corinthians 12 Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were many parts, yet one body. parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts INTERESTING 9
DISCUSS topic? 10
of the body? body maintain? CROSS REFERENCE 11
STUDY In the church at Corinth, there was great division between social classes and ethnicities. Well-to-do Christians were concerned about what their social peers would think of their teachers. They expected their Paul seemed to embarrass them by being a second-rate speaker, unlike Apollos (see 1 Corinthians 1-4). Plus, Paul worked a blue-collar job during the day (1 Corinthians 9). In addition these problems, there were sexual issues (1 Corinthians 5-7), and women were forsaking the traditions of the church (1 Corinthians 8-11). On top of all this, the Corinthians were abusing the spiritual gifts. Apparently, some Corinthian Christians were boasting they could pray in languages unknown to themselves or their audience. Paul puts speaking in tongues in its places, noting the purpose of any gift in the public assembly was to build up the church (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:1-5, 19). The Corinthians were also excited about wise and knowledgeable speech (1 Corinthians 1:5, 17), so Paul mentions these gifts as well (12:8). But Paul puts all the gifts in their place: spiritual gifts are to be used only to serve the church, not yourself! APPLY God commands us to zealously pursue spiritual gifts and emphasizes that spiritual gifts are necessary for the health of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). 12. How can you use your gifts in a way that draws attention to the glory to God? Conversely, how can you use your gift to draw attention to yourself? 13. When have you been jealous of another person s spiritual gift? How does jealousy among the members of a body cripple your spiritual growth? 12
14. Reread 1 Corinthians 12:25. This is God s goal in giving various gifts: That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. How are you caring for one another? What are some additional ways you can care for others in your church? 15. Thinking again of the body metaphor, how can your spiritual gift bless the rest of body? Why is it important to use your spiritual gift to care for one another rather than simply using your gift however you desire? member of the body is honored? 13
SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY - they wrote with the group. 14
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SESSION 2 UNDERSTAND YOUR GIFT 16
PRINCIPLE MEMORIZE INTRODUCTION 19
THINK ABOUT IT Based on this baseball analogy, how important is each player in the church? READ holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. cheerfulness. DISCUSS doing this? INTERESTING 20
us to have a realistic view of ourselves. Why is having a realistic view of ourselves important to Christian life? CROSS REFERENCE you? 22
to be very private in our spiritual walk, Paul tells us to we are to be members of one another. When are Christians sometimes tempted to isolate themselves? What does Paul mean when he says we are 7. What happens in a human body when certain parts or organs stop working? What is the parallel to this in the body of Christ? 23
STUDY with their worship of Christ. APPLY changed since you came to Christ? What are you doing to renew your mind on a weekly basis? 21
SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY 22
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SESSION 3 USE YOUR GIFT 24
PRINCIPLE MEMORIZE I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. INTRODUCTION D THINK ABOUT IT 25
READ Luke 19:11-27 nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who DISCUSS we have to understand the meaning of each of the following aspects in the story. Who does the nobleman represent? What does the distant country stand for? Who would the slaves be? What is the mina? 26
in the modern church? CROSS REFERENCE - 26
INTERESTING STUDY important, why can we feel we are less important and less useful? 27
STUDY APPLY progress our spiritual maturity also progresses. But we eventually hit a point where we have to take all PERSONAL MINISTRY CHART 28
given to you? SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY opportunity caused them to mature most. 29
BOUNDARIES their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 30
without love hurt yourself and others? 31
TAKE THE ASSESSMENT Before you complete this week s small group study, go to: HARVESTBIBLECHAPEL.ORG/DISCOVERMYGIFT opportunity to register to serve within our church. SHARE THE RESULTS 32
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APPENDIX: PRAYER REQUESTS 34
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APPENDIX: SOCIAL COVENANT Love One Another Care Intentionally Be earnest in my love at all times Listen to understand, don t assume or accuse Pray for one another with compassion Forgive One Another - Pursue Unity Serve One Another Minister Actively Be intentional in blessing others Stay teachable and show deference Submit To One Another Esteem Others Highly Serve others interests before my own Know my limits and respect the boundaries of others Encourage One Another Cultivate Redemptive Relationships Be a safe person to get real with Seek to build up always and never tear down Complement other s character when I think it twice Value the person more then their performance Point to Christ for hope and help 36
Be Devoted To One Another Commit Wholeheartedly Be there in the hard times Seek reconciliation between others Guard my relationships with truth and love Go gently if correction is needed In order to protect this community, I will avoid both speaking or listening to unhealthy criticism of others immediately, and speak directly with those involved. I am committed to living out the values outlined above and will pursue to model Christ-like character and build up the church for Christ s glory. Signature Date 37
APPENDIX: SMALL GROUP CONTRACT guidelines for our community. ahead. understand my small group leader may communicate appropriate information to those in leadership as necessary and I trust his or her discernment in this. further God s work. Christ. Signature Date 38
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