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1 Peter 4:7-11 - Gifts of Service
May I recommend that you look at the Word first up this week so that it can inform your witness, worship and ministry time:
Word
1 Peter 4:7-11 - Gifts of Service
7 The end of all things is near. Prepare yourselves mentally, therefore, and attend to prayers.
8 Above all, remain constant in your love for one another, for love covers many sins.
9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
10 Whatever spiritual gift each [of you] has received, use it in ministry to each other as good manager’s of God’s diversified grace.
11 Whoever does the speaking, [do it] as one bringing words from God. Whoever serves, [do it] out of strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and the might, forever and ever. Amen.
On Sunday, we looked together at 1 Peter 4:7-11 and the subject of gifts of service.
Q. Ask people to provide their own heading for this passage of scripture.*
Q. How can ministering our gifts glorify God? (v10,11)
[*Here's a brief synopsis of the message:
1 Peter - backdrop of suffering - at the hands of the state, in our families, in our workplaces
Response = to face that and rise above that - together be church where mutual love expresses itself in mutual hospitality and ministry
In this context - opportunities for service, in particular use of gifts God gives all of us
With this as a backdrop or rationale, we looked in groups on Sunday at the 'Father's gifts' in Romans 12, which are motivational gifts given to human beings by their Creator].
Take the opportunity in cell this week to look at opportunities to serve, employing the 'Spirit gifts' described in 1 Corinthians 12:
1Cor. 12:1 ¶ Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
1Cor. 12:2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
1Cor. 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
1Cor. 12:4 ¶ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Cor. 12:5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
1Cor. 12:6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
1Cor. 12:7 ¶ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1Cor. 12:8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
1Cor. 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
1Cor. 12:10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
1Cor. 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (NIV)
Q. Is their anything you don't understand about the gifts as described in 1 Corinthians 12?
Q. How's your motivation for serving others in church? (How can this increase?)
Q. Describe how you have used any of these gifts to date - what were the results?
Q. Which gift/s would you like to use more?
Provide space for ministry so that the cell members can step out in the gifts they have wanted to grow in.
Witness
Pray together for opportunities to minister these gifts in your world this week...
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Robin Plummer, 16/03/2008 |
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