Bible Study - THE HOLY SPIRIT PPP - Body Building
Sermon-Based Bible Study – November 28, 2021
- What is something God has done for you that you are thankful for, or are celebrating? How have you experienced God’s love and faithfulness this week?
- Where are you experiencing stress, anxiety or discouragement? How would you like to see God move in your life or in the life of someone close to you?
- What did you hear in this week’s sermon that was new or particularly interesting? Did anything stand out to you as puzzling or troubling?
- Chris has been defining a spiritual gift as “a manifestation of the Spirit of God through a believer in a particular way. This gift enables them to say something or do something for the glory of Jesus and the good of others.” Is there anything about this definition that you would edit/amend/delete/revise? Why? Why would Chris say the gifts of the Spirit are not about the person who receives the gift?
- Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. How many times does the word “different” appear in this passage? How many times does the word “same” appear? Do any of the spiritual gifts listed in this passage make you uncomfortable? Why? What is the over-arching purpose behind the Spirit giving these spiritual gifts and the people in the church exercising them?
- Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20. What seem to be some of the misunderstandings the church in Corinth had about the gifts of the spirit? Which of the misunderstandings do you most identify with? Why?
- Paul develops the metaphor of one body made up of many parts to help the church in Corinth understand the gifts of the spirit. Do others have to faithfully exercise the gifts of the spirit they have received for you to exercise the gifts of the spirit you have received? Why?
- Read 1 Corinthians 12:21-27. What stands out to you as particularly meaningful in this passage? Have you ever been jealous of another’s spiritual gifts? Why? How is being jealous or envious of someone else different than desiring or earnestly seeking a spiritual gift?
- Which this week’s three takeaways resonates the most with you right now?
- The diversity of the gifts of the Spirit is meant to bring us together and not drive us apart.
- The diversity of the gifts call us to consider a more comprehensive view of “body-building.”
- What the Spirit of God does through us is second to what Jesus has done for us at the cross.
- What is a simple, next step you could take in obedience to what the Spirit is saying to you through this time in the Word? Who would benefit, or be interested in hearing about what you’ve learned in this study?