Network Spiritual Gifts: Session 4

THE POWER OF LOVE AND THE VALUE OF PERSONALITY.

1 Corinthians 12:31 NASB95

But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

Psalm 139:16 NASB95

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

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OVERVIEW

Serving with love

Servanthood and Servility

Servant Profile: Personal Style Assessment

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OPENING QUESTION / REVIEW

What are some things you have discovered over the last three sessions? Could be Biblical truth, personal discovery, or ministry insight?

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PRAYER - ASK SOMEONE TO OPEN IN PRAYER.

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SERVING THE CHURCH IN LOVE

Over the last couple weeks we have been looking at Spiritual Gifts.

What they are

How they work

Which ones you might have

How they glorify God and edify others.

Our Primary Text Has Been (1 Cor 12)

It concludes in verse 31

1 Corinthians 12:31 NIV

Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

CHAPTER 12 GIVES US A THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION IN HOW THE CHURCH SERVES ONE ANOTHER.

Through the Holy Spirit

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

To build one another up

To glorify God

CHAPTER 13 IS ABOUT THE MOTIVATION BEHIND GOLDY SERVICE.

CONTEXT - chapter 13 is still in the context of spiritual gifts and the church serving and building one another up.

This is not a chapter about marriage but about the spiritual motivation behind the church’s services to one another and the world.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NASB95

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Mystical gifts without love mean nothing

Gifts to the Church without love accomplish nothing.

Sacrificial gifts without love have no profit.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS EXPRESSED WITHOUT LOVE

Do not reflect who God is

Do not have a Kingdom impact.

YOU MAY HAVE THE MOST POWERFUL SPIRITUAL GIFTS KNOWN TO HUMANITY SENSE JESUS BUT, WITHOUT LOVE, THEY ARE ONLY SELF SERVING.

WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE THEN IN THE CONTEXT OF SERVING ONE ANOTHER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST?

1 Corinthians 13:4–13 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

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WHAT KIND OF LOVE MOTIVATES OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

Patience / kindness / does not envy / not boastful / not proud / does not dishonor / not self-seeking / not easily angered / does not keep record of others wrongs / does not delight in evil / delights in truth / love protects / love trusts / love hopes / love perseveres

NOTICE HOW PAUL COMMENTS ON NOT BEING CHILDREN BUT PUTTING AWAY CHILDISH THINGS.

Agape love is a sign of maturity

While self focus is a sign of childishness.

WE MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER OUR MINDSET AS WE SERVE.

Servanthood - to serve with love

Servility - serving without love

SERVANTHOOD - SERVING WITH LOVE

Serves out of obedience. I want to serve God

Motivated by what God sees. Serves an audience of one - Jesus.

Has an attitude of, whatever it takes. Goes beyond expectations.

Results are God glorifying. Directs attention to God, Humbly reflects Christ.

SERVILITY - SERVING WITHOUT LOVE

Serves out of obligation. I have to serve God.

motivated by what others see, serves to please others.

Has an attitude of, it’s not my job, does the minimum

Results are self-seeking, draws attention to self, Pridefully promotes self.

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WE ARE NOT TO BE SECRET SERVANTS.

Matthew 5:16 NASB95

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

John 13:35 NASB95

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

A visible act of service done in love, makes a Kingdom Impact!

We will not be known by our gifts but by our love.

Arrogance and Insecurity are often different sides to the same coin - Pride.

This is not about us being seen or not seen, this is about serving God by serving people. Our goal is for Him to be seen.

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DVD Illustration -

How did each character show servility and servanthood?

What happened to Nick? What caused him to change in attitude?

How did Nick’s attitude change Ashley?

Kayla wanted her ideas to be heard but could she have gone about it in a way that helped Nick not feel like his ideas were bad or wrong?

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GROUP TIME

Form groups of 2 or 3 no more.

Each person discuss one aspect of servanthood - service with love that you would like to concentrate on. (In what ways have you failed and would like to change).

Identify one practical step you can take toward this goal.

12 minutes -

Have a couple people share.

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PERSONAL STYLE

Now lets look at our personal style.

Servant Profile - Gifts - Personal Style - Passion

Personal style is God given -

No right or wrong style

Personal style answer the HOW.

How can I best serve with my Spiritual gifts.

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Personal Style Assessment

8-12 minutes - on your own.

Ok let’s share our personal styles.

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SUMMARY

Spiritual Gifts expressed without love do not reflect who God is and do not have a kingdom impact.

We are not to be “secret servants” but to serve openly in love.

We are energized and organized through our Personal Style.

The second element in our Servant Profile, Personal Style, tells us how we can best serve.

Q AND A

PRAYER