Sermon Notes:
1. The Spirit’s work can be validated. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
2. The gifts of the Spirit are diverse, but they come from the same source. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
3. The gifts of the Spirit are expressions of His supernatural power through the lives of individual believers for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
a) Gifts are not skills.
b) Gifts are supernatural.
c) Gifts do not all necessarily work the same way.
d) Gifts are revealed as we serve God’s purposes.
4. The gifts of the Spirit connect us within the Church and give us a unique and necessary role in God’s work on earth. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Digging Deeper:
1. Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 and compare it to 1 John 4:1 and John 10:10. Paul is reminding the Corinthians that they need to be careful and validate spiritual teachings. Why do you think this is important especially as Paul begins to talk about spiritual gifts? What dangers do you think could happen to a church if they approached spiritual gifts in an unbiblical way?
2. If someone was to ask you what a spiritual gift was what would you say?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. What do these verses say about the Holy Spirit and His role in giving us spiritual gifts?
4. In this list of gifts, Paul emphasizes some of the more astounding gifts. Compare this to a somewhat different list in Romans 12:6-8. What do you learn as you compare the different lists? Have you seen God work through you in connection with any of the gifts that are listed?
5. Read 1 Corinthians 12:31. Paul tells the Corinthians to desire the “greater” gifts (i.e., the gifts that minister to others). He also tells them he will show them the “most excellent way” and then writes one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible (1 Corinthians13). Why is love the most excellent way to approach life and ministry? What happens in a church that lacks the kind of love he describes?
6. Spiritual gifts happen in connection with our service, and the best way to discover them is to serve God. Read Philippians2:12-13. Explain our responsibility in the process of cooperating with God’s purposes in our life.
Closing Growth Group activity:
Take turns affirming each person in the group with which spiritual gifts and Christlike qualities you have noticed in them.