POWER WORDS OF THE SPIRIT Week 6 - Words of Wisdom & Words of Knowledge “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 in subgroups of 2, 3, or 4.) Invite people to share from their experiences over the last week or two or three from the list below: How have you grown in using the gifts of the Holy Spirit? What gifts of the Holy Spirit have you exercised and how did it go? OR What are you thankful for? Where have you seen God at work? How has God used you? How have you been 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. 2. Look Up Opening God’s Word | 20–30 minutes Setting the Scene As we examine the gifts of the Word of Wisdom and Word of Knowledge, we first need to remember that they flow from who God is. When the gifts of the Spirit are used properly, they reveal to people the heart and nature of God. God is all-wise, and Jesus is the wisdom of God in human flesh. “… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” — 1 Corinthians 1:24 God is all-knowing — the theological phrase is omniscient. God does not grow in knowledge over time like us, nor are there unknown things He can’t know; He has always known all things. We see this explained beautifully in Psalm 139. When the Holy Spirit empowers a Christian to share a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge, it is a revelation of God’s wisdom and what God already knows. Readings and Discussion Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1 & 4–8 Read these verses with this question in mind: “What do we learn about the heart of God in these verses?” Share around the group, finishing the sentence: “God’s heart is ……” (e.g. God’s heart is full of kindness.) Discuss: What does this suggest about our motivation in sharing a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge? Understanding the Gifts Read the following paragraphs to the group: Firstly, anyone, even non-Christians, can grow in wisdom and knowledge through life, even if just by experience. For Christians, we are called to intentionally grow in wisdom and knowledge as we follow Jesus. These two growth paths are cumulative learnings we add over time. Then there are the gifts of a Word of Wisdom and a Word of Knowledge. These are not just things we have learnt along the way, though they may be informed by our accumulated learning. These are words direct from God. WORDS OF WISDOM 🎥 Watch: David Bernard - Word of Wisdom (10 mins, start at 0:50) Discuss: What did you learn about the gift of the Word of Wisdom? What is its purpose — how does it help the recipient? Have you ever shared or received a word of wisdom? What happened? WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE 🎥 Watch: Katia Adams - Word of Knowledge (1 min) Joyce Meyer - Word of Knowledge (3 min) Discuss: What did you learn from these videos? What is the impact of a word of knowledge being shared? Have you ever shared or received one? What happened? Leader’s Note If this doesn’t come up in discussion, share this distinction: A Word of Wisdom directs and builds faith to act. A Word of Knowledge informs the speaker and recipient that God knows and sees them. It reveals God’s love and concern, builds faith, and opens hearts to receive from Him. Let’s Practice Give each group member a pen and note paper. Invite the group to get comfortable and quiet. Explain: “We are going to practice listening for a word of wisdom or knowledge. This is a safe place to practice and hear from God.” “While these may not be your primary gifts, this is an opportunity to grow in hearing God’s voice.” Ask everyone to pray quietly: “Lord, would you give me a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge for someone in the group?” Then, listen and write down what you receive. It doesn’t need to be long. If you sense a person’s name, write it down — but it’s OK if not. It’s also OK if you receive nothing. After 3 minutes, gather again. Rules for Sharing: Avoid saying “God said…” — instead say: “This is what came to mind…” or “This is the picture I had…” Speak encouragingly and gently. If a word seems for someone but you’re unsure, ask: “Does that sit with anyone?” It may resonate with more than one person — or no one, and that’s OK. If it doesn’t connect, and the person had a name in mind, they may say, “I had [Name]’s name.” Then check gently if it makes sense. Remember: We don’t have to prove the word or feel bad if it doesn’t connect. This is about creating a safe environment to practice and grow. 3. Look Forward Living out God’s Word | 10 minutes Discuss in pairs: What would it look like for you to be open in your daily life to using the spiritual gifts as you interact with everyday people? Pray in pairs: Pray for one another to be given opportunities to use their spiritual gifts to love and bless others. Pray for anyone on your heart who is far from God — that you may have the opportunity to witness, serve, pray for, or invite them. Contacts If you would like more information or further help, please contact: 📧 scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au