What do Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries have in common?
When I was a kid the answer would have been simple–presents, gifts, and cards filled with money! As a little guy, I remember walking to the mailbox for days anticipating the arrival of special gifts on my special days with a euphoric sense of wonder. The wonder was so tangible that it forced my parents to discipline me. My little mind and body could not contain the reality that my grandparents thought I was special enough to buy something in a store, wrap it, mail it and send it in a mail truck that was driving toward my house–it was more than a 7-year old boy could handle. Sometimes the gift wasn’t that impressive, but the anticipation was always HUGE!
As a mature adult (sort of), I look forward to those special days for a very different reason. Now, I get to be the one who selects a gift, wraps it, and delivers it to those I love as a reminder that they are very special to me. It is infinitely more fun to be on this side of the gift-giving experience. Seeing the spontaneous outbursts of JOY from those we love receiving an especially appropriate gift designed just for them is a very special moment to watch from a parent’s perspective. Some of our best memories are those moments where the gifts were perfectly surprising, generous and even sacrificial.
Jesus is the perfect example of how our Heavenly Father gives good gifts so His children. Jesus was SENT to us as a gift that keeps on giving. He has wrapped something very special to deliver to us. Let’s be ready to receive like a little child awaiting Christmas morning. Let’s share outbursts of spontaneous Joy as we contemplate His perfect goodness to us. When we receive from Him together, we will be SENT by our Father as gifts to our family, friends and community delivering the Kingdom to everyone we meet.
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: January 31, 2016 // Title: Place in Grace: God & Good Gifts
Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12 / John 20:19-23
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
God gives good gifts. He only delivers good gifts. When we enter his Kingdom, He places in us a spiritual gift. He gives them for the purpose of building the body. Ephesians 4:11–12 teaches about the five gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers. God puts different gifts in each of us, but we use those gifts in unity to take ground for the Kingdom. This week we took a closer look at how Jesus was the Ultimate Apostle. He supersedes natural laws, He gives PEACE to fearful people, He gives PURPOSE to his family, and He gives POWER to all who receive.
THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
God gives good gifts to His people.
SEE IT Questions :: 10-15 minutes
Picture: What does God give to his people? Why does God give people gifts? What five gifts does He give his church? What does an apostle do? How can unity and diversity coexist in the body?
Mirror: When was the last time you had a gift that met the desire of your heart? When did a gift come that changed your home and context? Do you see yourself as gift worthy? How do you relate to apostles? What is difficult for you when dealing with an apostle? What do you enjoy that they bring?
Window: How have you invited Jesus to show up in an unexpected way this week? How can you celebrate the apostolic way of Grace? How can you live “sent” this week? Where can you think like a “Kingdom Entrepreneur” this week?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 15 minutes
John 20 and Genesis 2 remind us that when we receive the breath of God, we receive new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Take ten deep breaths in the posture of receiving. Breathing in the Holy Spirit and breathing out his power within you.
Change IN // Living it Out 15 minutes
Take the Fivefold Ministries survey at fivefoldsurvey.com. Share with others your results. As a group, recognize times where you have seen the gift in that person come out. Celebrate God’s work through this person.
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
This week Scott Kindig said that “Jesus was a sent sender.” As a group, begin a process of identifying places in your week that need the peace, purpose and power of the Holy Spirit. Take a white board/poster board and write out Peace, Purpose and Power across the top. Under these, put the areas of your week that fall under each of these categories. As a group, pray over these areas.
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.