Music: Take My Life
Scripture Passage
This passage can be divided into three parts — 1) Cultivating attitude of humility, gentleness and love; 2) Using our spiritual gifts to build up the Body; 3) Speaking the truth in love.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Homework Discussion:
- What are the attitudes and behaviors listed in verse 2 and 3?
- What are the reasons that Paul gives us for trying to live in unity and peace?
- Why does God give us spiritual gifts, and what spiritual gifts are listed in:
- Romans 1:11-12
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Romans 12:6-8
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
- 1 Peter 4:10-11
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. - Ephesians 4:11-16
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
- Romans 1:11-12
Notes from the NETWORK Study Guide:
You should not confuse natural talents, given at physical birth with spiritual gifts given at our spiritual birth. Natural talents may be transformed by the Holy Spirit and empowered as spiritual gifts, but they are not the same.
Don’t confuse spiritual gifts with the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Fruit of the Spirit are qualities of being or attitudes that people develop as by-products of an abiding and obedient relationship with Jesus Christ. Spiritual gifts are qualities of doing that are manifested in actions, not attitudes.
Don’t confuse spiritual gifts with spiritual disciplines, those practice that strengthen our faith and develop devotion to God, such as prayer, Bible study, journaling, solitude, fasting, simplicity of lifestyle, and sacrificial giving. Spiritual gifts are capacities for doing things in response to
faith in and devotion to God.
- Who is someone you admire the most and would want to be like. What gifts do they seem to have?
- What problems, needs, or people repeatedly catch your attention and cause you to want to change something?
Further Discussion:
- Have you ever taken a spiritual gifts assessment? What spiritual gifts have you been able to use and/or which have you not been able to find a way to use yet?
- What spiritual gifts are utilized through our existing church ministries?
- Can you think of a ministry that we do not currently have which would use an un-tapped spiritual gift potential?
- What spiritual gifts do you see others using to glorify God?
- How has the pandemic changed how you use this gift, or how has the pandemic been an opportunity to use a spiritual gift you weren’t using before?
Closing Music: Less Like Me
Closing Prayer
You are the body of Christ.
May you have the heart of Christ, tender for mercy.
May you have the eyes of Christ to see a world in need.
May you have the feet of Christ to bring good news
Go in peace, and God go with you!
Other Resources:
Discover Your Spiritual Gifts the Network Way by Bruce Bugbee
What You Do Best in the Body of Christ by Bruce Bugbee
Study Guide for: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts the Network Way