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Closing the Gap – Week 40 Study Guide

By October 7, 2018October 11th, 2018Small Group Study Guide

1 Pet. 4:10-11, Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Commentary on 1 Pet. 4:10-11

4:10. Believers should be diligent in using their spiritual gifts. Each gift (charisma) is to be used to serve or “minister to” others. The phrase faithfully administering could also be translated “as good stewards.” A “steward” was one who served as a house manager; he had no wealth of his own, but distributed his master’s wealth according to his master’s will and direction. The “gift” (charisma) stems from God’s grace. His grace is manifested to His church as believers exercise their spiritual gifts in service to each other. His grace is evident in its various forms, that is, it is “manifold”, variegated, rich in variety.

4:11. Peter divided Christian service into two general categories: the one who speaks and the one who serves. This division relates to the distinction God’s leaders made between ministry roles (Acts 6:2–4). These two general ministry functions often overlap. Both groups function through dependence on God’s gracious provision. The reason for relying on God’s words (cf. Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2; Heb. 5:12) and strength is that God will receive the praise through Jesus Christ. At the mention of Christ’s name Peter offered an appropriate word of praise as a benediction: To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. The praise and credit for Christian ministry should always be given to Christ.[1]

Study Guide: Acts 1; Peter 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 12

  1. What are values and why are they important? How do values shape us?
  2. Imagine someone asking you to explain the heart attitudes to them. What would you say? Why are they so important to River?
  3. Think about the metaphor of a family, how does this help in explaining heart attitudes?
  4. Aaron stated: As we look at the Heart Attitudes, really, we’re saying, as a family, what are the things we value, what are the things we believe, and how can I, as a mature member of this family contribute to its overall health? What are your thoughts about this statement? Does it help you grasp the Heart Attitudes? If so how?
  5. Participate in the Ministry.
    1. What does 1 Peter 4:10-11 say about the members of the Church?
    2. How is it different from what culture perceives what the Church is all about?
  6. All of us, in Christ, are to be ministers of the Gospel. Think about that statement, what is your response to it? What does 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9 tell us? How is this a picture of participating in the ministry?
  7. Verse 10 says we’re to be a faithful steward of God’s manifold grace. What does this look like for you personally? How does this help the Church… the family?
  8. Read 1 Cor. 12:12-30. What does Paul say the Church is like?
    1. Is there a difference in value of the different parts?
    2. What does this passage say about unity of the Body?
    3. What are our gifts supposed to be used for?
  1. Aaron asked the following question: “if everyone contributed to the ministry at my level of participation, would the ministry be sustainable?”
    1. What would your answer be? What could you do differently?
  1. Will you join in the work of what God is doing in the world around you? You can start by asking God to help you assess where you’re at – either in participating in the ministry of River, or as you serve those around you.

 

[1] Raymer, R. M. (1985). 1 Peter. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 853–854). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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