ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

GOD'S GRACE SHARED

For home groups that would like them, here are some questions based on Sunday's teaching material. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.

1. "The more we feast on God's grace, the 'thinner' we shall become. The more we come to terms with how much God loves us and realise how much he has done for us, the more we will able to pass that grace onto others." How has your thinking about this developed over the last week?

2. This week we move on to think about exactly how it is that God equips us to share his grace with others. Read 1 Peter 4:7-11. Why do you think this section begins with the statement that 'The end of all things is near'? What difference does this make?

3. What are the two sorts of gift that Peter focuses on here? What differences are there between them? And what similiarities?

4. What other spiritual gifts are you aware of that are mentioned in the New Testament? (The other main passages are Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.)

5. What specific instructions does Peter give about how the gifts he writes about here are to be exercised? Why does he says what he does?

6. What gift or gifts do you think you have received? How do you know?

7. What are you passionate about in the life of the church? What do you long to see being done - or being done better?

8. What opportunities does the church offer for you to exercise your gifts? Is there more we could do? What would help?

9. Pray about the life of our church in the light of this study. Pray too for the start of the Alpha Course next week, especially if you are not otherwise going to be able to participate in Thursday's Prayer Day.

David Stone
14 September 2008