Week 4: Embrace the Purpose
Opening Questions
What stood out most to you from the daily Scripture readings this week? Did you learn anything new? Did you have questions? Did you gain insight to share with the group?
Take a moment to close your eyes. Beginning with your toes, scan through your body. What do you notice? Do you feel any tension or discomfort? Does anything feel as if it isn’t working as well as it should? Does any part feel especially strong or vibrant?
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Reflection
Be real.
“But if we live for others, we will gradually discover that no one expects us to be ‘as gods.’ We will see that we are human, like everyone else, that we all have weaknesses and deficiencies, and that these limitations of ours play a most important part in all our lives. It is because of them that we need others, and others need us. We are not all weak in the same spots, and so we supplement and complete one another, each one making up in himself for the lack in another.”
Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island
What is one of your weaknesses or limitations?
Who do you see in your community that has a strength in your area of weakness?
Practicing Community: Offer Gifts
A list of some of the spiritual gifts and their descriptions:
Wisdom - Exceptional understanding of spiritual truth and its application to everyday life
Knowledge - Exceptional understanding of Scripture
Discernment - Exceptional intuition that brings spiritual understanding and direction
Teaching - Exceptional ability to reveal scriptural and spiritual truths in a way that promotes deeper understanding
Exhortation - Exceptional ability to encourage and offer hope to other believers
Faith - Exceptional ability to help others to trust in God through difficult circumstances
Evangelism - Exceptional ability to share the Gospel Message with unbelievers
Mercy - Exceptional desire to respond to the needs of others
Leadership - Exceptional ability to unify the church and employ its gifts in order to complete its mission
Administration - Exceptional ability to plan and organize people and resources
Healing - Exceptional ability to bring physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual wholeness to hurting people
Giving - Exceptional ability to give and manage money for Kingdom work
Service - Exceptional desire to meet the needs of other people in order to spread Jesus’ love
Helping- Exceptional ability to be faithful ‘behind the scenes’ workers
Which gifts are present within the group. How could these gifts be used to strengthen the community?
Next Steps
How might God be inviting you toward using your gifts more fully? How do you want to respond?
How can this group support you? End your meeting in prayer for each other.