The Holy Spirit, Part 6: The Sign Gifts
Spiritual gifts are not secret abilities to be gained or discovered, but they are ministry assignments to be stewarded.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What is one thing you found particularly helpful, encouraging or difficult to understand from this message?
- What is a “spiritual gift”? What are “miraculous/sign gifts”? What are some challenges or difficulties in looking at this topic?
- Read through some of the spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Peter 4:10-11. What observations do you note about the gifts listed?
- Why is it significant that a variety of spiritual gifts are given “for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7)? In what way are they “not so much secret abilities to be discovered, but ministry assignments to be stewarded”?
- What experiences or observations have you had regarding the miraculous or sign gifts of the Holy Spirit?
- How would you summarize the various views regarding the sign gifts? Where would you personally land?
- Do you think followers of Jesus should seek the miraculous?
- Read through Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 14. What stands out as you compare and contrast the texts? How might our preconceived notions color how we interpret these texts, particularly in regards to speaking in tongues and prophecy?
- Why do you think Paul places the well-known “love chapter” of the Bible (1 Cor. 13) between his instruction on spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12 and 14)?
- How might gifts of the Holy Spirit be misused to hurt and divide? How might those same gifts be used for “upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor. 14:3) as God’s people “strive to excel in building up the church” (14:12)?