App Store

How did people in the Bible obtain additional gifts and skills? This session focuses on how we can use God's App Store to acquire and grow more abilities to further His work in our own world.

1 Corinthians 12: 1-11: Gifts of the Spirit

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit ... All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

• Are gifts of the Spirit like other gifts we receive - that is, chosen by the giver, and the recipient has no control over which gifts he/she receives?

• Gifts of the Spirit are to work together as parts of the body - as explained in detail in 12:12 to the end. Does this make it essential for believers to group together in fellowship? Can a "lone wolf" Christian be complete? Effective?

• Do the questions in 12:27-30 address our concerns or frustrations that we do not have certain gifts?

• How can this passage be helpful to those in the church who claim they have no skills and "cannot do anything"? How may they be encouraged to participate in the body?

• 12:31: How may we receive gifts we desire?

• Should we to try to "collect them all" - or concentrate on being strong on some?

Galatians 5:22: Fruits of the Spirit

Be sure to read this passage in context - the fruits of the Spirit are listed in contrast to the acts of the sinful nature, which precede this passage, in 5:19.

• Are fruits of the spirit like any agricultural product - that we can select, grow, and nurture them by our own choice? - or does fruit of the spirit mean byproduct of the spirit - once you have the Spirit, you naturally produce these fruits?

Ephesians 4:1-14: Putting them all together

• 4:1-6: How many gifts and fruits are mentioned?

• 4:7: While people receive a selection of gifts and fruits - everyone receives grace.

• 4:11-13: Consider the list of roles. Are these fruits? gifts? a combination?

• 4:14: The goal of nurturing fruits and gifts.