Sermon

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

1. What is one thing you found particularly helpful, encouraging, or difficult to understand from this message?
2. What are ways you have seen people “treat the Church like McDonald’s” with a consumer mentality? What are ways you see this in your own life?
3. Aaron mentioned that we wouldn’t want a church run by a bunch of people just like us. What do you think a church would look like if it was run by a bunch of people just like you? What would be the church’s strengths? Weaknesses?
4. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. What do you think is Paul’s key point of this passage? Intuitively we know we need to be in a group with a variety of gifts. What makes it hard to be around people with different gifts?
5. Aaron mentioned that the church suffers when we don’t use our spiritual gifts. Would you agree or disagree? How might the church suffer when you don’t use your gifts?
6. Read Romans 12:1-8. What do you think is the core of Paul’s command to believers in this passage? How does the Gospel play into our use of our spiritual gifts?
7. What do you think are your spiritual gifts? For reference, Aaron’s questions for self-reflection were:
   • What are my skills, talents, and abilities?
   • What do I find easier than other people do?
   • What am I passionate about?
   • What frustrates me?
   • What resources do I have?
   • What availability do I have in light of the assignments God has for me?
8. What do you see as the spiritual gifts of other people in your group? A great way to identify your own is to ask other people.
9. Did you find Aaron’s Venn diagram for serving, looking for the overlap between your Skills & Talents, Passions, and Time & Resources helpful? Where do you think the Lord would want you more involved using your gifts to build up the body of Christ?