Grace South Bay

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1.     In what ways might you see GSB as a meal in a restaurant and in what ways might you see it as a meal in a family home?

2.     In terms of identifying or developing your spiritual gift-role(s), which do you need to do more: know yourself; listen to God; talk to leadership?

3.     Have you ever been burned out by serving at a church? How did that happen?

4.     God supplies to you whatever he asks from you. Do you believe that? How does that impact your participation in ministry and overall spiritual life?

5.     Do you believe that at GSB you are free to fail? Is that important?

6.     Do you find it difficult to be motivated and empowered by God’s glory? If so, what else is motivating and empowering you? 

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

1.     The “charismatic” spiritual gifts (vv. 8-10) are controversial in various Christian circles. How do you view them and/or have you had experiences with churches that embrace them?

2.     In what ways can someone make a spiritual gift about themselves rather than about Jesus?

3.     How might asking, “what does my church need?” impact your opinion of how you should use your gift?

4.     We named a number of spiritual gifts and needs at the church. Among those (and others you can think of) do you have an idea what your gift(s) might be?

5.     Do you ever consider yourself a lesser Christian because you don’t have a particular role or ability? What are those?

6.     Jesus told his disciples, “freely you’ve been given, freely give.” Does that impact your view of how you can participate in ministry? How so?

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit…

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Romans 12

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1.     In what venues or parts of your life do you think status matters to you? Are there any skills, talents, or roles that seem to form too much of your identity?

2.     Do you get tired of competing for or anxious about losing status or identity?

3.     Jesus, the Head, gives his life for the members of his Body. How does this interrupt our ideas of status? If everything good in our lives is graced to us by God, even what we work on and for, how does that impact our identity and the ways we compare ourselves?

4.     Jesus gives his honor to the dishonorable. Do we? How can we do that in church?

5.     In the Body of Christ, everyone has value, everyone has an important role to play. Do you see that as true for you? What is your spiritual gift (role, function, appointment) for now in your church?

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
     and he gave gifts to men.” 

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1.     Do you agree it can be easy to approach church with a consumer mindset? How often is your primary question, “is this serving my needs?” 

2.     Have you heard something like, “my church is to go on a walk in the redwoods”? How is that possibly like church and also not like church?

3.     Does the local church’s call to be the physical presence of Jesus excite you? Why or why not?

4.     We talked about unity, rescue and experience as ways the church can reflect Jesus. How do you think GSB is doing along those lines, or others, reflecting Jesus? 

5.     Paul paints a picture that believers in the local church are connected to each other and need each other to grow collectively and individually. Do you agree with this? How does this conflict with our individualism?

6.     Do you believe you are needed at your local church and have been given a role and function to play? What might that ‘serving grace’ be?

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
     you discern my thoughts from afar.
 3 You search out my path and my lying down
     and are acquainted with all my ways.
 4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
     behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
 5 You hem me in, behind and before,
     and lay your hand upon me.
 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
     it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
     Or where shall I flee from your presence?
 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
     If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
 9 If I take the wings of the morning
     and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 10 even there your hand shall lead me,
     and your right hand shall hold me.
 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
     and the light about me be night,”
 12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
     the night is bright as the day,
     for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
     you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
 Wonderful are your works;
     my soul knows it very well.
 15 My frame was not hidden from you,
 when I was being made in secret,
     intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
 in your book were written, every one of them,
     the days that were formed for me,
     when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
     How vast is the sum of them!
 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
     I awake, and I am still with you 

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
     O men of blood, depart from me!
 20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
     your enemies take your name in vain.
 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
     And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
 22 I hate them with complete hatred;
     I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
     Try me and know my thoughts!
 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
     and lead me in the way everlasting!

1.     Are you consciously aware of God’s observing presence of every moment of your life? Is that a comforting or stressful thought?

2.     Do you think of God’s presence as more loving, neutral or hostile? Why?

3.     Is it reasonable to believe that God doesn’t leave you because he loves you? Why or why not?

4.     Do you feel God’s presence and love? When, or how? 

5.     Is there a time in your life when you surrendered to God and you saw him work?<

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
 2     the Lord loves the gates of Zion
     more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
 3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
     O city of God. 

 4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
     behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—
     “This one was born there,” they say.
 5 And of Zion it shall be said,
     “This one and that one were born in her”;
     for the Most High himself will establish her.
 6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,
     “This one was born there.” 

 7 Singers and dancers alike say,
     “All my springs are in you.”

1.     Which bothers you more, exclusivity or inclusivity?

2.     God was exclusive in order to be inclusive. Does this make sense to you? Can you put that in your own words?

3.     Who are your Philistines or Gazans? Who do you not want to be your neighbor?

4.     How should new life in Jesus impact the way you treat and welcome others?

5.     How can always re-focusing on Jesus reduce the barriers to entry in our community?

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
     whose sin is covered.
 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
     and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
     through my groaning all day long.
 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
     my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. 

5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
     and I did not cover my iniquity;
 I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
     and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. 

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
     offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
 surely in the rush of great waters,
     they shall not reach him.
 7 You are a hiding place for me;
     you preserve me from trouble;
     you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
     I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
     which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
     or it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
     but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
     and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

1.     What’s your experience of the silent treatment (both giving and receiving it)?

2.     Have you ever gone silent with God about something? What have been the results of that? 

3.     Do you take it as love that God won’t let you live in silence and deception? Does that comfort you at all?

4.     Do you agree that forgiveness is the key to the blessed life? Why might that be hard to accept?

5.     God’s forgiveness is immediate, repetitive, and completely paid for by him. What’s hard to believe about that for you?

6.     Do you want to let God instruct you, teach you and counsel you? How can you do that? What might have to change?

1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

9     Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.

12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!

14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

Truly God is good to Israel,
     to those who are pure in heart.
 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
     my steps had nearly slipped.
 3 For I was envious of the arrogant
     when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they have no pangs until death;
     their bodies are fat and sleek.
 5 They are not in trouble as others are;
     they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
 6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
     violence covers them as a garment.
 7 Their eyes swell out through fatness;
     their hearts overflow with follies.
 8 They scoff and speak with malice;
     loftily they threaten oppression.
 9 They set their mouths against the heavens,
     and their tongue struts through the earth.
 10 Therefore his people turn back to them,
     and find no fault in them.
 11 And they say, “How can God know?
     Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
 12 Behold, these are the wicked;
     always at ease, they increase in riches.
 13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean
     and washed my hands in innocence.
 14 For all the day long I have been stricken
     and rebuked every morning.
 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
     I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16 But when I thought how to understand this,
     it seemed to me a wearisome task,
 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;
     then I discerned their end.

18 Truly you set them in slippery places;
     you make them fall to ruin.
 19 How they are destroyed in a moment,
     swept away utterly by terrors!
 20 Like a dream when one awakes,
     O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
 21 When my soul was embittered,
     when I was pricked in heart,
 22 I was brutish and ignorant;
     I was like a beast toward you.

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
     you hold my right hand.
 24 You guide me with your counsel,
     and afterward you will receive me to glory.
 25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
     And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
     but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
     you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
 28 But for me it is good to be near God;
     I have made the Lord God my refuge,
     that I may tell of all your works.

1.     Do you think of yourself as an envious person? Or are you a complainer? What does that say about your belief in God? 

2.     Have you ever felt like G