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

WARM-UP

1. Have you ever experienced a moment or an event of extreme chaos? Why is it important that when we gather together, there isn’t chaos?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

1. Who has God gifted in the church and with what type of gifts? What would be the result of everyone using all their gifts all at the same time?
2. What is the lens that we should see our gifts through? What question should we be asking as we come to us our gifts especially in the context of the gathered church?
3. Why does Paul go into such granular detail here? Why would the people who wished to speak required to speak one at a time?
4. If there was no interpretation of the tongues, what would they have to do? Why?
5. In what circumstances might we have to show restraint or not use our gifts? What should be the guiding principal?
6. When the church gathers, what should there be? Why? What regulations did Paul set out for those who wished to share their prophesy?
7. Why is the ‘weighing’ of any teaching important? How might we do this today?
8. In what ways to we see God bringing order out chaos? How might our usage of gifts reflect this?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:34-40

1. In light of 1 Corinthians 11:2-15, does this passage forbid women from speaking at all in gatherings? How can we reconcile the two?
2. What was happening in their gatherings? What may have been ‘disgraceful’ about the interactions between husbands and wives?
3. How can we ensure that we maintain peace and order amongst all of our relationships in the gathered church?
4. What role should the word of God have in our lives? How does it tell of the peace and order of God?

APPLY:  How can you use your gifts in peaceful and ordered ways to build up the church?

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On Your Frontline This Week: How can you remain fruitful over the long-term? If you’d like to explore this with others, join us at our Work + Faith meeting, 7-8AM Wednesday 1 September.

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 (with Q&A): “Confusion or Peace” by Charlie Skrine
• AUDIO: “God Loves Order Not Chaos” by Ray Galea
• AUDIO: “All Things from God” by Adam Lowe
  

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)