Sermon Discussion Guide

Transcription

1 Sermon Discussion Guide

2 A Place for Everyone It doesn't matter who you are, where you ve been, or what you've done, there's a place for you in the local church. And that place can only be filled by you, because you re the only you the only one with your gifts, passions, and relationships. God has designed you and gifted you for a purpose. Discover your unique wiring as we uncover A Place for Everyone. In this Sermon Discussion Guide, you ll find questions to start great conversations with your group about discovering and using your gifts. If you don t have a group, go to to find a listing. As part of this series, we want to encourage everyone to take a spiritual gifts assessment. Please go to and complete the questions. I can t wait to see what God does in you and through you as you find your place! God has a place for everyone in BIG CHURCH and small church. Pastor Nathan A Guide to Sermon Discussion Guides Sermon Discussion Guides are designed to propel your group into great conversations. Here s how it works: 1. Attend one of LCC s 3 worship gatherings. If you have to miss, watch the sermon at (If someone in your group doesn t attend worship, they can still get a lot out of the group experience!) 2. Meet with your group (or you can do this with your family, spouse, or other friends) and discuss the questions together. 3. Experience God move in your life in awesome ways!

3 God s Vision January What did everyone do for New Years? Did anyone make a New Year s Resolution? 2. Tell about a time when you felt like an outsider to church? How did that experience affect your attitude towards church? 3. When you think of church, which of these images most accurately reflects your understanding and experience? Why? A spiritual show to watch (and critique) A place to get spiritually fed A group of people to know and serve with all your heart, as God changes you all A ministry of a certain pastor/leader that you can volunteer in 4. Read Romans 12:1-2. Paul, the writer of Romans has just got done explaining the fact that all have sinned and the only hope we have for true life is God s mercy, which he freely gives to us in Jesus. In light of this incredible gift, what are we called to offer to God? What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? How is this different than what the world tells us is important? 5. Read Romans 12:3-5. In your own words, explain the comparison of a person s body to the Body of Christ (the church). What does it mean that each member belongs to all the others (vs. 5)? How is this different than the individualistic mindset of our culture? 6. Read Romans 12:6-8. No matter what your gift is, what are you to do with it? 7. Based on Romans 12:1-8, which description from Question #3 most accurately reflects God s vision for the church? Why? 8. What is one step God is calling you to take today to live more connected with other Jesus-followers and serve them with the gifts God has given you? 9. Share prayer requests. Thank God for His mercy. Ask for help to serve one another with the gifts God has given you.

4 Your Gifts January In preparation for this discussion, please complete a spiritual gifts assessment: Bring the results to your group gathering. 1. Share highs and lows from the past week. 2. Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-7. Define spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are special abilities to serve others given by the (vs. 4) to each follower of Jesus for the good of the church (vs. 7). How does it make you feel that God has given you gifts to serve? Is it important for everyone to use their spiritual gifts? Why or why not? 3. Read 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and Romans 12:6-8. What spiritual gifts are listed in these passages? (Note: these passages do not contain an exhaustive list of spiritual gifts.) 4. Share the results of your online spiritual gifts assessment with your group. What are your top gifts according to this test? (No test is perfect or completely telling, but the results can be one helpful piece of determining your gifts.) Do the results resonate with you? Anything surprise you?

5 5. Go around your group and put each person in the hot seat. Everyone else shares with that person the gifts they see in him/her. Write down what is said about you so you can refer to it later. 6. Homework: Ask others what gifts they see in you. Ask your spouse, co-workers, friends, etc. 7. What common themes do you see from the above questions and answers about the gifts God has given you? 8. Close in prayer, thanking God for the gifts he has given each person and asking for the discernment to discover how to use them.

6 A Place for Everyone In Big Church January Share highs and lows from the past week. 2. Read Acts 6:1-7. What need arose in verse 1? 3. Why did the twelve apostles not want to take care of this need themselves? Do you think they a) were lazy, b) thought waiting tables was beneath them, or c) had a clear understanding of what their gifts were and what their gifts were not? 4. What do you think would have happened if the twelve tried to do everything themselves? 5. What did the apostles do for those selected for this new ministry in verse 6? What does this signify about the importance of this ministry? Why is praying for and encouraging others in their ministry so important? 6. What was the result of empowering more people to do ministry in verse 7? What good things have you seen God do when new people have been invited to serve? 7. Based on your conversation and reflection from last week, what gifts do you believe God has given you? Are you currently using those gifts to serve your local church? If so, how? If not, what s holding you back? Or do you feel like you are serving, but not serving in the place where your gifts could best be utilized? 8. As a group, help each group member connect the dots between their gifts and a great fit for ministry within LCC. 9. Pray for each person in your group (like they did in verse 6), asking that God would bless them in the ministry they are called to.

7 A Place for Everyone In Small Church January Share highs and lows from the past week. 2. Read 1 Peter 4:1-11. What did Christ do in his body for us (vs. 1)? Specifically, in what ways did Christ suffer? How does this communicate to you God s love for you? 3. What is the result of experiencing this kind of unconditional love according to verse 2? What does it mean to live for the will of God? How have you experienced this shift in your life from living for yourself to living for God? 4. Living for God means following His commands. What does Peter say in verse 8 to do above all? On a scale of 1-10, how well do you think your group loves each other? Give examples of ways have you have seen your group loving each other? 5. When you serve others, what are you administering according to verse 10? What does it mean to administer God s grace? What does this tell you about the significance of serving others in your group? 6. As you discerned your gifts over the past couple weeks, how does using your gifts allow you to love others more deeply? 7. What needs exist in your lcc group? Are there opportunities to enhance the ministry to one another when you meet and/or in between gatherings? How could your group expand your ministry to impact others? 8. How could each group members gifts meet some of those needs and opportunities? 9. Pray and commit your gifts to God s service that you might love one another deeply.

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