Power Words of the Spirit Week 4 – Speaking in Love “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” — 1 Corinthians 12:1 Focus This series, Power Words of the Spirit, builds on our church-wide study of the Gospel of Mark by exploring how we can follow Jesus not only in character, but also in the way He operated in the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus spoke words of wisdom, knowledge, healing, prophecy, and love—always with the aim of revealing the Father and building up others. Study by: Scott Button Sermons related to each study can be viewed on the Hope Valley Church YouTube Channel 1. Look Back Sharing Our Journey | 10–20 minutes Praise, Thanks, and Encouraging Accountability (This can be done as a whole group or subgroups of 2–4. It can also involve a worship song.) Has anyone been given the gift of tongues since we last met? How has it been going using that gift? OR What are you thankful for? Where have you seen God at work? How has God used you? How have you gone living out God’s Word since our last gathering? Where have you struggled to follow the way of Jesus? Has anything happened in the lives of those on your relational map who are far from God? (See the Relational Map Video) Care Share any concerns you have for yourself or others. Pray In prayer, capture the things you have shared above. 2. Look Up Opening God’s Word | 20–30 minutes Setting the Scene It appears that the church at Corinth had got so excited about using Spiritual Gifts that they forgot the why behind them. That is why Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13 in the middle of the two great chapters (12 & 14) about Spiritual Gifts and their use. Paul did this deliberately to remind them, and us today, of the motivation we should have when we use Spiritual Gifts. Read 1 Corinthians 13 (read right through) Discuss Have you ever seen a person using a gift of the Spirit with the wrong motivation? How did it make you or others feel? If we are not motivated by God’s kind of love, how does that change the impact of the gifts of the Spirit? (Think of what could go wrong.) Each person read verses 4–7 to themselves, but replace the words “love is” or “It is” with “I am.” If we are motivated by God’s kind of love, how does that shape us and change how we engage with people? How might it change our readiness to serve others? Read Again Verse 13 Paul lists three great pillars that should undergird us when we serve others by using the gifts of the Spirit: faith, hope and love. How does faith (trusting God) support or enable us in using the gifts of the Spirit? How does hope (our hope in Jesus now but also with eternity in mind) support or guide us in using the gifts of the Spirit? How does God’s love in us enable or guide us in using the gifts of the Spirit? 3. Look Forward Living out God’s Word | 10–20 minutes Get group members to quietly reflect on this personal question: What is one aspect of your: motivation (character of your heart), or your trust in God, or your hope in Jesus now and eternally, that you need to change or develop so you can be more effective in using your Spiritual Gifts to serve others? In Threes If comfortable, share your reflections from the question above with your partners. Then pray for each other: to grow in this area to have the opportunity to live this out through serving others and using the gifts of the Spirit (As you pray for each other, be open to hearing a word from God for the person you are praying for) Contacts If you would like more information or further help please contact: scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au