1 Corinthians 12:31-13:5
- What does it mean to desire the greater gifts? What are they? How does this fit with the idea that the gifts are sovereignly bestowed by God according to 12:7-10, 18, 24b, and 28?
- Why do the gifts we have and the sacrifices we make sometimes get in the way of us actually honoring God? Have you ever seen this in your own life? Talk about it.
- Which verb mentioned in vs. 4-5 presents the greatest challenge for you to apply in your relationships of love with others? Why is this so? What would it look like for you to practically employ this verb in your relationships? (or maybe think in terms of a specific relationship)
- In his book Showing the Spirit, D. A. Carson writes, “It is well said that you can spot a gentleman not by the way he addresses his king but by the way he addresses his servants.” What does he mean? What do you think of his quote? Do you think you apply the lesson his quote tries to communicate well or not? Why or why not?
- When you are wronged, how should you respond? What do you see modeled biblically by Jesus? Read 2 Corinthians 2:5-11. How does Paul want people in the body to respond to sin against them by others in the church?
- Formulate your own question from this text to share with the group.
- Spend some time in prayer over each other regarding the verb that emerged as a challenge in question 3. Pray for each person to be the kind of person that doesn’t keep a record of evil done against them.
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