Spiritual Gifts – Discussion 4
Pray
Pray together for the group meeting, and any pressing needs within the group.
Review
Each week you’ll spend some time reviewing the previous week’s lesson. Did anything happen last week that brought the lesson to mind, and what did you learn from it?
Watch
Watch the following discussion-starter video. It’ll set the topic of discussion for the group.
Unpacking question: Is love a feeling or an action? Explain your answer.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (Supremacy of Love)
Read, Re-Read, Retell
Paul finished 1 Corinthians 12 with his description of spiritual gifts and how they operate in the body by explaining that there is a more excellent way. He then declares that love is supreme. Jesus commanded us to love even our enemies in his sermon on the mount. He commanded his disciples that love would distinguish them from others. John states that God is love. And we can not say we love Him who is invisible if we can’t love others that are visible.
The incredible, powerful supernatural gifts, without love, are nothing. Jesus also said that without Him we can do nothing. The gifts of the Spirit must operate in love, which the Spirit itself pours into our lives! (Romans 5:5)
Discussion questions:
- What are the gifts listed in the first three verses of 1 Corinthians 13?
- How does the gift of the Holy Spirit prepare us to exercise the spiritual gifts?
- How would people respond to someone who could explain all mysteries?
- What would be the danger of this person not acting in love?
- What, besides love, could motivate helping the poor? Why is this dangerous?
- Why is love crucial to the operation of the spiritual gifts?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Characteristics of Love)
Read, Re-Read, Retell
In a previous lesson we found that humility, brokenness, and yieldedness prepare us to be used by God in these gifts. Now we see that only with love can we exercise these gifts. So we can use this description of true love, along with the Spirit to make sure our hearts and motivation are pleasing to God. Knowing the importance of love, we must allow the Spirit to develop the fruit of love in our lives. These verses help us identify in ourselves what love is and what love is not.
Discussion questions:
- What does this passage say that love is?
- What does this passage say that love is not?
- What would be the danger of someone trying to use the gifts with pride in their heart?
- What might happen if someone who carries a grudge tries to prophesy?
- Are we right to judge the authenticity of the operations of spiritual gifts using the lens of love?
- Describe how a lack of love could cause the gifts to operate sparingly.
- Are there some things you need to add or remove from your life to become more loving?
As time permits: 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Read, Re-Read, Retell
Discussion questions:
- Which gifts are imperfect, or in part? What never fails?
- How do we know that the perfect, referred to in verse 10, has not yet happened?
- What are some childish things in your life that you have already put away?
- What are some childish things in your life that you still need to put away?
Next Week: The Revelation Gifts
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