GIFTED BY GOD

Click here for PDF version

MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 NLT 1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What did you learn from what we just read?

TRUTH #1

Give credit where credit is due! (v. 1-3)

  • God has given us “special” abilities and gifts that only come from Him.  
  • These abilities differ from natural-born talent or the self-taught skills we gain through practice, although God can use these as well.
  • God intends for our “special” Spirit-given gifts to be used for the edification and common good of the body of Christ. 
  • DEFINITION - Pagan: a person who worships many gods or goddesses (i.e. idols), the earth or nature.
  • God did not give us ‘special’ abilities to use them to glorify the world, lead others astray or be led astray ourselves.
  • Spiritual gifts are intended to be used to point others to God.
  • How tragic would it be to take a special gift someone has given you, turn around, and use it in ways that harm them or are counter productive to their plan? 

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

If we’re not careful, we can be lured away and enticed by this world to use our God-given gifts in improper ways. How do people use their abilities to worship or bring glory to these worldly things?

TRUTH #2

God is the source of all the spiritual gifts. (v. 4-6)

  • There is a diversity of different gifts at work within the church to minister to the diverse needs of God’s people.
  • Because all spiritual gifts come from God and everything made by God is good, no one gift is superior to another.
  • Each gift serves a unique and specific purpose. Therefore, we should not be jealous or ‘hate’ on someone else’s gift.
  • Paul (the author of I Corinthians) wanted the Corinthian church to understand they were not in competition with one another for ‘the best’ gift. No gift is higher than another.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Have you identified your spiritual gifts? What are they? Have you ever felt inadequate (compared your gift to someone else), or not good enough to use your spiritual gift? How does knowing God is the one working through you help you overcome this fear?

TRUTH #3

Our gifts are meant to help one another. (v. 7-11) 

  • Many spiritual gifts are mentioned throughout scripture including: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation of tongues, teaching, encouragement, evangelism, shepherding, helps, leadership, giving, administration, service, mercy, and hospitality.
  • Spiritual gifts are often broken up into three major categories: speaking gifts; service-based gifts and signs.
  • Speaking gifts use your words to build up and equip others in faith to help people understand scripture, apply wisdom, hear the gospel, be comforted and encouraged.
  • Service based gifts tend to be action oriented and behind the scenes (i.e. administration, helps and mercy). 
  • Sign gifts include healing, tongues and miracles.
  • All spiritual gifts are God-given. We should be thankful for and put to work the gifts He has given us. 
  • If we are sitting on our gifts (not using them), we should repent and get to work!

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Why is it so important that we identify and use the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us?

CLOSING QUESTION

What is one thing you have learned from today’s lesson?

GIVING

Generosity and godliness go hand in hand.

Psalm 37:21 (NLT)
The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?