Week 9 - Order in the Church
- Have someone read 1 Corinthians 14:1–5. What words, ideas, or themes are repeated in these verses? What does that repetition tell us about Paul’s primary concern?
- We’ve spent the last couple of weeks talking about the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. What have you learned personally or what has made you think?
- Paul begins with, “Follow the way of love.” Why do you think Paul begins there before talking about tongues and prophecy? How does chapter 13 change the way we should understand chapter 14?
- We were reminded Sunday that our experiences don’t interpret Scripture; Scripture interprets our experiences. Where are you most tempted to allow your background, preferences, church tradition, or personal experiences to determine what you believe rather than allowing Scripture to shape them?
- Paul says prophecy strengthened, encouraged, and comforted other believers because they could understand what was being said. That’s the point of ALL of the gifts. So, what might it look like for you to intentionally strengthen, encourage, or comfort another believer this week? Who specifically comes to mind?
- Sunday we heard that “Your spiritual gift was never primarily given for you. It was given through you for somebody else.” How can even good things (our gifts, knowledge, leadership, service, generosity, or abilities)slowly become about us instead of the people we are supposed to serve? What warning signs might reveal that this is happening?
- Paul’s discussion isn’t about tongues vs prophecy. He’s using these to illustrate a bigger issue. The issue is about me making something about “me” instead of “we.” We tend to do this on Sunday mornings. How often do you evaluate church by asking, “What did I get out of it?” How would your experience of Sunday worship, your Community Group, or serving change if you arrived asking, “Who can I build up today?”
- In Kevin’s sermon he described two possible “ditches” - assuming that anything emotional, spontaneous, or supernatural must be the Holy Spirit, or becoming suspicious of anything emotional, spontaneous, or difficult to explain. Which ditch are you personally more prone toward? How can Scripture help keep us from either extreme?
- One of Sunday’s challenges was that sometimes evidence of the Spirit isn’t that everybody noticed you, but that you noticed them. Who around you might God be calling you to notice right now? What would loving that person practically look like?
- Think about the people God has already placed around you. Who is one person you can intentionally build up this week? Do they need strengthening, encouragement, comfort, prayer, Scripture, a follow-up conversation, or help taking a next faithful step? What specifically will you do?