Discuss each of the four sentences in verse 9; get under the surface of them and talk through what it means to put each into practice;
What does it mean to honour someone? What does it look like in practice?
How does not being lazy fit in with loving one another?
Look at each element in verse 12 and talk about what happens if we fail in them? How can we help each other in ‘failing to fail’?
Hospitality is often seen as something we can opt in and out of; Paul makes it clear that that’s not the case. Why is practicing hospitality important and how can we encourage one another in it?
When we think about ourselves or others what is the normal way we make judgements? How should we make a proper evaluation of ourselves?
Does everyone have ‘gifts’? Why is it important that we use the gifts we have?
Discuss the kinds of things we might think of as gifts within the church.
If you don’t have a certain listed gift, does that mean you don’t have to do that thing? For example, giving or encouragement or kindness. Discuss this as a group and decide why.
As well as using our gifts to build each other up, in the sermon we discussed the need to be there for one another; be accountable to one another; look out for one another. Talk each of these through and discuss where as church we might need to ‘up our game’…
The way that traditional values have been slowly eroded over past decades and are now increasingly and aggressively derided and forced out of our society cannot have escaped any Christian, and so it is more and more important that in following Christ’s reminder in Matthew 5:13-16 to be ‘Salt & Light’, that we ensure we’re equipped.
As a Church New Connexions does everything we can to help you with that equipping: in our preaching, teaching, studying together, prayer, fellowship and care for one another we seek The Lord’s leading and to be obedient to Him. We also ensure that current issues which require our attention are posted on our Twitter Page, but we are also thankful to the Lord for the many people and organisations who are involved in ministries sharing and caring for Christians in this land. In particular this post is indebted to Roger Kiska and the team at Christian Concern for providing the short video below. Please do watch it and also share it as widely as you possibly can.
This is one of many, many areas where our society is under attack (for others see our Twitter Page), please keep informed, keep lobbying and keep sharing. Also please keep praying, stay strong in the battle, and praise God for His goodness!
