Abide - Part 16: "Roles in the church"

This week we finished our overview of the Spiritual gifts, and we discussed the roles that God uses to build up the body of Christ through His gifts. As members of the body, we can get comfortable with a gift or role that we feel like we have been designed for, but are you willing and open to ask God what He has for you? The Holy Spirit has so much more for us than we can every imagine, but we have to be willing to let go of our own skepticism and trust that His plans are greater than our own. Key verses: 1 Cor. 12:8-10, Ephesians 4:11-12, Romans 12:6-8 1. Do you have any lingering questions about the gifts that we have discussed in previous weeks (prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, administration, mercy, faith, and healing.) 2. What does the word miracles bring to your mind? Jake said that miracles are God energizing a prayer or attribute in our lives to do something we could not do on our own. After Sunday, can you think of some times that God has performed miracles in your life? Do you believe in miracles? Why or why not? 3. Distinguishing between or discerning spirits sounds like just identifying evil spirits, but what do you know now that it can mean? How does this spiritual gift benefit our everyday lives? Why do you think this gift comes with a warning? Have you ever become skeptical of what God is saying to you because you think you are too discerning? 4. What were the different types of tongues? Have you ever experienced someone speaking in tongues? Does this idea make you nervous? Why or why not? Do you think that the skepticism that comes from discernment could be holding you back from experiencing this gift? Why do you think the interpretation of the tongues is also a gift? Why is it important? 5. Have you been one of the 5 roles (apostles, evangelists, shepherds, prophets, and teachers)? Is there one role that you identify with more than another? Which role makes you uncomfortable? Why? How can you open yourself to being whichever role that God calls you to, even if it’s just for a season?