Life Group Resources: Unwrapping Your Speaking Gifts

Opening Prayer: Begin with a prayer asking God to guide your discussion and help apply the teachings to your lives.

Key Takeaways:
Prophecy in the biblical context is about speaking truth, not predicting the future.
The Spirit's goal is communication and community, not confusion or spectacle.
Spiritual gifts are meant to build up the body of Christ and others, not for personal gain.
Prophetic voices speak truth to power and challenge the status quo with love.
Our words have the power to build up or tear down - we should use them wisely.

Discussion Questions:
What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why?

The pastor mentioned that prophecy is "forth-telling the will of God" rather than foretelling the future. How does this change your understanding of prophecy?

How can we ensure that our spiritual gifts, especially speaking gifts, are used to build up the church rather than create confusion or division?

The sermon mentions Martin Luther King Jr. and Dietrich Bonhoeffer as modern examples of prophetic voices. Can you think of other examples, either historical or contemporary?

How do you see the tension between speaking truth and speaking with love play out in your own life or in current events?

The pastor said, "The clearest sign of the Spirit's voice is when the words bring people together and not push them apart." Do you agree? Why or why not?

In what ways can we be more intentional about using our words to "heal what's been hurt" and "build what's been broken"?

Practical Applications:
This week, pay attention to how you use your words. At the end of each day, reflect on whether your speech built others up or tore them down.

Practice active listening in your conversations this week. Focus on understanding others rather than just waiting for your turn to speak.

Identify an issue in your community or the world where you feel called to speak truth. Pray about how you might address it with both courage and compassion.

Write an encouraging note or message to someone who needs strengthening or comfort.

If you're active on social media, review your recent posts. Do they align with Paul's instruction to use our gifts to build up the body of Christ?

Closing Prayer: Close the session by praying for wisdom and discernment in using your speaking gifts, and for the courage to speak truth with love when called upon.