SESSION THREE: Discover Your Gifts in Community

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Philippians 2: 3-4

We’ve each been given spiritual gifts—not for our own benefit, but the benefit of others. God intends that we use our gifts in community to build up the church.

When we read about gifts, we often find the word grace nearby in the text. Grace is a gift, and gifts are a way of extending and showing God’s grace to others. Both are things we receive through no effort of our own, but because of God’s love. And our gifts can be a wonderful way to extend God’s grace to others.

In this session we’re going to think and talk about what it means to serve others as part of God’s family and to use our gifts in community.

YOUR STORY share

Begin your time together by using the following questions to get the conversation started.

• Which of last week’s Daily Devotions was particularly meaningful or encouraging to you? Explain.

• Tell about a time you felt welcomed into a group or community. What did people do to make you feel connected and welcomed?

THE VIDEO watch

Use the Notes space provided below to record your thoughts and questions as well as the things you want to remember or follow up on. After watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions in the Hear God’s Story section and start the conversation.

GOD'S STORY hear

Read Philippians 2:3-8

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"

• In this passage, what words or phrases describe the steps Jesus took to move toward us and serve us? Underline them.

• What does this passage say our mindset should be?

• What does it mean to be “in very nature God?” What does it mean to take on “the very nature of a servant?”

A NEW STORY create

In this section, talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve learned from the teaching. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned.

• In the text we read, it tells us to act like Jesus “in your relationships with one another.” In which particular relationships do you find it challenging to act like Jesus?

• What is one way you could “value others above yourself” in your workplace or home in the coming week?

• What step of obedience do you sense God is currently inviting you to take?

• How can your group, as a life community, serve the larger community? What is a project your group could do together?

Give each person an opportunity to share prayer requests. If you’d like, you can write these on the Prayer and Praise report on page 82.

Close your meeting with prayer.

DEVOTIONS daily

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Reflect: What does this verse tell us about how we can serve others with our words? Who needs your encouragement this week?

James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

Reflect: What does this verse tell us about developing our gifts and growing in community and spiritual depth?

James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Reflect: According to this verse, what will result if we serve the body by praying for one another?

Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Reflect: How would choosing your words carefully serve others? How would it impact community?

Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

Reflect: In what ways, specifically, would “falsehood” injure the body of Christ? How would truthfulness strengthen community?

Colossians 3:16 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."

Reflect: What do you think it means to let Christ’s message dwell among you? What practical ways does this verse suggest we could build community?