CONNECT: How could you demonstrate Christ’s love on your frontlines this week?

WARM-UP

1. Have you ever had the experience of being in a church service in which you couldn’t understand much of what was happening? What was it like? How did you feel?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

1. What are the two gifts of speech that Paul describes in this chapter? Can you define them?
2. According to these verses, what is the intended purpose of our gifts? What does edification mean?
3. Can you think of practical examples of what it looks like to build up God’s Church?
4. What are the three images that Paul uses? Why is helping to ensure ‘understanding’ so essential if our purpose is to build up God’s church? How do you see this as evident at St Bart’s?
5. Is Paul saying that the gift of tongues is unhelpful? Why does the context matter?
6. When we gather together on a Sunday, how often do you consider your role in helping to build up other brothers and sisters in Christ? How could we prepare more intentionally to do this?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

1. How does Paul describe the way that he would pray and speak? What does this mean?
2. What does using our gifts with our whole selves actually look like in practice?
3. Why is it a mistake to create a false dichotomy between ‘spirit’ and ‘mind’?
4. Do we ever rank particular gifts as more ‘spiritual’ than others? How so? Why is this so unhelpful?
5. How can we help ensure that people are able to fully participate together on a Sunday?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:20-25

1. Who is the gift of ‘tongues’ a sign for? What does Paul actually mean by this? How does the quote from Isaiah 28 help us understand this?
2. How does prophecy help those who do not yet believe? What does that look like in our context?
3. In what ways do you think our Sunday gatherings are mindful of those who do not yet believe? How could we even be more active in thinking about those who do not yet believe?

APPLY:  What are the key ways in which you could use your gifts more for the building up of God’s church?

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On Your Frontline This Week: How is God using your gifts on your frontline? Maybe ask a colleague or friend if you’re not sure.

Listen, Watch, and Read:          

• AUDIO: “Prophecy then and Now” by Dick Lucas
  Part 1 // Part 2
• AUDIO (Podcast): “Ask N T Wright Anything” on the gifts of the Spirit
• AUDIO: “Gifted and Godly” by Hugh Palmer
• AUDIO: “Tongues and Worship” by Tim Keller:

Series Resources:

Some helpful resources for our Series:

• Series Overview Published by St Bart’s
• Website: “First Corinthians” by the Bible Project
• Course: “1 Corinthians” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course)