Sermon Based Small Group Lessons

Geared Up: The Right Preparation

2008 June 8

Dr. Les Hughes

Opening Question

(New groups: Share your name and the answer to the following question.)

If you know what your spiritual gift is, share that with the group and how you’ve used it for God.

Focus Passage: Ephesians 4:11-16 (update)

And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of service for the building up of the body of Christ until we all reach unity in faith and maturity in Christ. Eph 4:11-16

Digging for Truth

1. Les showed a movie clip from Facing the Giants in which a team needed a field goal with 2 seconds left to win the game. The coach called on a second string kicker to get the job done. The kicker said that he’d never kicked one that long. In what ways is this like the church when we’re called upon to do things outside of our ability?

2. Last week we learned that a win is seeing someone coming to Christ and becoming a growing disciple. Being a growing disciple involves denying ourselves and following Christ. Are there any ways this past week that you have sacrificed yourself for God’s kingdom.

3. Spiritual gifts are divine enablements to be used for His glory and His purposes. Think about that definition “divine enablement”. What does that bring to your mind?

4. 1 Peter 4:10 says that each one should use the gift he has received to serve others. Where do you see gifts being used at Westwood?

5. Here are some cold, hard facts about service.

1. Most Christ-followers believe that God expects us to serve one another.

2. Most growing believers want to serve God somewhere.

3. When more people serve others, more people are helped.

4. Christians are healthier when they are connected to the body of Christ.

5. Most followers don’t serve Christ in the church or in the community. Usually 20% of the people do 80% of the work.

If it is true that most people want to serve, why do you think most people don’t? What do we gain when we do serve?

Life-Changing Lessons

1. God created me as a unique person to do unique works of service.

Every single disciple of Christ has been given a divine enablement to allow you to excel in something.

Example: People listen (teaching), stuff organized (administration), you love to give (giving), feel sorrow (mercy), telling others about Christ (evangelism), serving behind the scenes (service)

Look at the lists in 1 Cor 12, Romans 12. If you could choose a gift what would it be?

Which one do you think God has given you? (if you didn’t share at the beginning)

2. God wants me to discover my calling and consider my labor as a task given by Him.

If we accept the fact that God gives us one gift, as the Scripture says, why does He do this?

For prosperity, power, praise? No, for His plan.

3. God’s purpose for me is bigger than filling positions in an organization.

4. God holds me accountable as to whether I focus on myself or others.

5. I will give my time, effort, and money to that which I value.

If our position in light of this truth is “Not me, not now” how is this a dangerous position?

Closing Thought