For Sunday, July 11, 2010

Reading selections and questions for Sunday, July 4, 2010

1) 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Why was it important for the Christians to not be ignorant about spiritual gifts? What does Paul teach them about the Holy Spirit’s role in the Christian’s life in this passage? How is this message about spiritual gifts a lesson about diversity? How is it a lesson about unity? According to verse 7, what is the purpose of spiritual gifts? What are some of the gifts mentioned in the next few verses? If you are a Christian, have you identified your spiritual gifts? What helped you discover them?

2) 1Corinthians 12:12-26
How is the church like a body? How is that a lesson of diversity? How is that a lesson of unity? How do you see the truth that “no believer is unimportant” demonstrated in this passage? How is that truth demonstrated in our church? How does living according to that truth change how we treat each other? In light of the lesson of verse 19, what should our response be to feelings (in ourselves or others) that one Christian is superior to another, or that some assignment in God’s kingdom is more or less important than another? How well does our church practice verse 26? How well do you practice it personally?

3) 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Name the gifts listed in this passage. What is the lesson Paul is trying to teach in this passage? What does he mean when he says to “eagerly desire the greater gifts?” How does the end of verse 31 lead into the main topic of the next chapter? How would focusing on love as the main goal influence Christians’ application of their spiritual gifts?

4) Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-13; Colossians 1:8
How does reading these passages add to your understanding of spiritual gifts? Why is it so important to remember who the head of our “body” is? Why is it so important to remember the purpose of spiritual gifts?