GOING DEEPER
03.18.2018 | “Witness 5: Simon of Cyrene”
Join the community and go deeper with this Bible study.
Breaking Ground
Was there ever a time when you had to unexpectedly jump in and help address a situation or help accomplish a task?
What made you respond?
What did it feel like to help?
The Dig
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 and then 27-30.
Paul’s teaching here is important: In the first place he is describing the fact that ALL of the church (and we’re talking ALL believers EVERYWHERE, not just at E3) is connected. In other words, we serve each other because literally we ALL belong to each other.
Does your life reflect that reality? How do you think about or interact with believers from other churches or denominations? Are you as willing to help them as you would be someone from you own “tribe” of E3?
Secondly, he is talking about how, even within the same “local” church (e.g., E3), everyone has a role to play and how everyone can contribute.
(One more thing: If you have some time on your own, notice the fact that Paul ends his discussion of spiritual gifts with verse 31: “Use your ambition to try and to get the greater gifts. And now I’m going to show you an even better way.” What follows is 1 Corinthians 13, Paul’s “ode to love.” The key here is that—even though you’ve probably heard this verse read and used at multiple weddings—Paul here uses love to overlay the use of gifts in the church, not for romantic love.)
Though Paul only describes a few of the spiritual gifts here, there are other lists that can add up to dozens and dozens of gifts and abilities that help the church to function.
If you think you know what your spiritual gifts are, what are your top 1-2?
How do you know what they are? How were they discovered and confirmed?
Have you developed them over the years? If so, how?
How would you describe a “spiritual gift” to someone who was brand new to the faith?
Are you using your gifts at E3? If so, how?
If not, what is getting in the way?
Getting Out of the Hole
If you do not know what your gifts are (OR if it’s simply been a while since you’ve taken an evaluation), take a spiritual gifts test. There are a few online; start with this one: www.giftstest.com.
Share the results with your Growth Group or Ministry Team Leader and ask how you can get more involved.
If you already know what your gifts are, consider how you can jump in and serve in the most effective and impactful way.