Small Group Leadership Training

1
Small Group Leadership Training
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Understanding and Releasing Spiritual Gifts
• Saturday February 21, 2009
• 9 am 12 noon

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Seminar Outline
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Introduction
• Definition of a Team
• Purpose of Small Groups
• Why the Gifts are Important
• Three Categories of Gifts
• Gifts of the Father (Motivational Gifts)
• Gifts of the Spirit (Spiritual Gifts)
• Gifts of Jesus (Leadership Gifts)
• Issues of government and authority
• How different types of gifts can work together
• Recognizing and Cultivating the gifts

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Definition of a Team
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• A team comprises a group of people or animals
  linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially
  appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in
  complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.
• A group in itself does not necessarily constitute
  a team. Teams normally have members with
  complementary skills and generate synergy through
  a coordinated effort which allows each member to
  maximize his or her strengths and minimize his or
  her weaknesses.
• From Wikipedia

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Purpose of Small Groups (Purpose of the Church)
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Make Disciples
• Advance the Kingdom of God
• Glorify Jesus
• Matthew 2818-20
• Then Jesus came to them and said, "All
  authority in heaven and on earth has been given
  to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all
  nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
  and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
  teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
  you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
  end of the age."

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Why the gifts are important
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Many believe we are in the last generation before
  the Lord returns. Jesus is returning for a
  glorious bride. We want to be a church that is
  mature and that reflects the nature of the
  Trinity.
• When the Body is functioning in unity and we are
  all operating in our gifts, we are a much better
  reflection of the nature of God (Father, Son and
  Holy Spirit)
• When the Body is functioning in unity and we are
  all operating in our gifts, we form an effective
  team (synergy) and our Christian life is much
  more satisfying.

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Three Categories of Gifts 1 Cor 124-6
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• 4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same
  Spirit
• This verse clearly refers to gifts that are given
  by the Holy Spirit
• These nine gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians
  127-11
• Its clear throughout this list that these gifts
  are given by the Holy Spirit
• 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the
  same Lord
• In the NT, the title Lord, unless otherwise
  stated, usually refers to Jesus
• This verse seems to refer to gifts that are given
  by Jesus
• The term ministries (Greek diakonia) is used in
  Ephesians 412 to refer to the purpose of the
  five gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist,
  pastor and teacher.
• This verse likely refers to the Ephesians 4
  ministry gifts of Jesus to his church

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Three Categories of Gifts 1 Cor 124-6
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• 6There are varieties of effects, but the same God
  who works all things in all persons .
• This verse seems to refer to workings of God in
  all people, not just believers
• In the NT, the title God, unless otherwise
  stated, always refers to the Father
• This verse seems to correspond to the Romans 12
  gifts which are presented as being gifts of God
• These are often thought of as motivational or
  natural gifts simply the way we are made,
  the way we are wired

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Gifts of the Father 7 Motivational Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Romans 123-8 NASB - adapted
• 3For through the grace given to me I say to
  everyone among you not to think more highly of
  himself than he ought to think but to think so
  as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to
  each a measure of faith.
• 4For just as we have many members in one body and
  all the members do not have the same function,
• 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and
  individually members one of another.
• 6Since we have gifts that differ according to the
  grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them
  accordingly if prophecy, according to the
  proportion of his faith
• 7if service, in her serving or he who teaches,
  in his teaching
• 8or she who exhorts, in her exhortation he who
  gives, with liberality he who leads, with
  diligence she who shows mercy, with
  cheerfulness.

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Gifts of the Father 7 Motivational Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Key points
• Natural tendencies the way we are made all
  people have them
• Usually one of these predominates in your makeup
  (one person, one gift)
• Although you can cultivate others, one will be
  most natural for you
• Your best fit in ministry, in terms of your
  natural talents and abilities, will usually fall
  under one of these.
• Not gender based although there may be a
  statistical correlation between gender and some
  of these gifts
• These are a form of Gods grace to us, to be
  exercised in accordance with the faith God has
  given us
• Be who God made you to be not who he made
  someone else to be
• Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin
  (Romans 1423)
• All these gifts are needed for the proper
  functioning of the Body all are of value

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Gifts of the Father 7 Motivational Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Prophecy
• prophetic orientation to life sees issues of
  truth and falsehood, right and wrong
• Service
• finds satisfaction in practical service
• Teaching
• loves to line up truth, good at explaining
  complex issues
• Exhortation
• an encourager, one who builds up with words
• Giving
• one who loves to give, to do things for others
• Leadership
• natural leader, takes charge, others follow
• Showing mercy
• compassionate, motivated by mercy

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Recognizing and Cultivating the 7 Motivational
Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• These are natural to our personality and makeup
• Inventories of gifts can be useful several free
  ones available online
• Take time to study these gifts in your small
  group
• Talk about personalities, aptitudes and how we
  function best together
• Cultivate attitude of servanthood as expressed
  in the verses that bracket the Romans 12 gift
  list.
• Romans 121 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in
  view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as
  living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Godthis
  is your spiritual act of worship.
• Romans 129-10Love must be sincere. Hate what is
  evil cling to what is good. Be devoted to one
  another in brotherly love. Honor one another
  above yourselves.

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Gifts of the Father 7 Motivational
GiftsDiscussion Points
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Of the seven motivational gifts
• Prophecy
• Service
• Teaching
• Exhortation
• Giving
• Leadership
• Showing mercy
• is there one that predominates in your makeup?
• Which of these gifts do you see at work in the
  members of your small group? If youre not in a
  small group, think of your family, close friends,
  classmates, or colleagues at work.
• Romans 123 NASB For through the grace given to
  me I say to everyone among you not to think more
  highly of himself than he ought to think but to
  think so as to have sound judgment, as God has
  allotted to each a measure of faith.
• What does this verse tell us about the source of
  these gifts?
• What does this verse imply about the attitude we
  ought to have toward those whose motivational
  gift is different from ours?

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Gifts of the Spirit 9 Spiritual Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• 1 Corinthians 127-11 NKJV
• 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to
  each one for the profit of all
• 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through
  the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge
  through the same Spirit,
• 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another
  gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
• 10 to another the working of miracles, to another
  prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to
  another different kinds of tongues, to another
  the interpretation of tongues.
• 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these
  things, distributing to each one individually as
  He wills.

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Gifts of the Spirit 9 Spiritual Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Key points
• As with motivational gifts spiritual gifts are
  needed for proper functioning of the Body
• Unlike the motivational gifts, these are not part
  of your natural makeup
• These gifts are available to all believers
• They are not personality attributes, talents or
  human abilities
• These gifts are supernatural and cannot be
  understood by the natural mind
• The man without the Spirit does not accept the
  things that come from the Spirit of God, for they
  are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand
  them, because they are spiritually discerned (1
  Corinthians 214 NIV)
• They are distributed by the Holy Spirit as He
  determines
• They are manifestations of the activity of the
  Holy Spirit in us
• Holy Spirits purpose is to glorify Jesus and
  advance His Kingdom by setting captives free
  (Luke 418-19) and revealing Jesus. This is why
  these gifts are given.
• To cultivate these gifts we need to cultivate
  intimacy with the Holy Spirit
• These gifts ebb and flow depending on our
  sensitivity to Holy Spirit
• He is easily grieved by wrong attitudes
  (Ephesians 429-32)
• Lack of faith quenches His activity (1
  Thessalonians 519-22)
• He responds to an atmosphere of faith, spiritual
  hunger, humility and yieldedness
• It is the Fathers pleasure to give the Holy
  Spirit to those who ask Him we need to ask
  (Luke 1113)

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Gifts of the Spirit 3 Discernment Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Word of Wisdom
• Ability to speak supernatural wisdom that can
  affect course of events
• This is not just good advice but wisdom from
  heaven
• Word of Knowledge
• Ability to speak supernatural knowledge
• Knowledge that could only be revealed by the Holy
  Spirit
• John Wimber example in Power Evangelism (adultery
  revealed, led to conversion)
• Discerning of spirits
• Recognizing the spiritual powers or influences at
  work in a situation
• Very valuable for small group leadership
• How Marion and I have seen this at work in
  deliverance ministry

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Gifts of the Spirit 3 Power Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Faith
• This is not saving faith, but faith for specific
  purposes
• Acts 1429 Paul saw that he had faith to be
  healed
• Faith for healing, for miracles, for finances,
  for any challenge
• Example from our personal experience Marion
• Healings
• Ability to do the works of healing that Jesus
  commissioned his followers to do
• Mark 1618 They will lay their hands on the sick
  and they will recover
• Healings (plural) may imply more than one type of
  healing (body and soul)
• Times when I have experienced this at work
• Miracles
• Works of supernatural power that go beyond
  healing of diseases
• Seeing a leg lengthened, seeing a cripple able to
  walk
• Calming a storm, cursing a fig tree, seeing food
  multiplied

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Gifts of the Spirit 3 Power Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Testimony from Cambodia earlier this week
  Gola Tiruneh
• On Sunday morning, I got a chance to share in an
  orphanage. It is led by a young man named Sela
  who took over just a few years ago. There are
  about 150 orphans living there. I shared a simple
  message titled Jesus is for the people from John
  316-17. The place was electrified with faith for
  healing. Later we counted about 15 people that
  experienced healing in their bodies. One
  particular lady was healed of pain she had had
  for years. As she testified to the people, she
  started to jump and bow to the floor and shout in
  Khmer language. It was hard trying to keep the
  microphone on her. She was shaking like a leaf
  from the presence of the Lord on her and many
  listened with tears flowing down their faces. It
  was such a wonderful Jesus experience for
  everyone. Another lady came up at the end and
  told us she has been experiencing pain in her
  body due to her HIV medication. But then she felt
  the pain leave her body and she said there is a
  change in her body. Hallelujah.
• Comment from Peter Miraculous healings are
  often one of the main ways that the Kingdom
  advances as in the New Testament ! So we need
  to ask God for an atmosphere of faith that allows
  the gifts of miracles and healings to flow
  freely. The Holy Spirit responds to faith and
  desire.

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Gifts of the Spirit 3 Speaking Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Tongues
• Speaking in unknown human or angelic languages
• 1 Corinthians 131 If I speak in tongues of men
  or of angels
• Can be used for prayer (Romans 826, Jude 20, 1
  Corinthians 1415) or proclamation
• Marions experience with this gift
• Interpretation of tongues
• Interpreting an otherwise unknown language
• Tongues should only be used for proclamation if
  there is interpretation
• 1 Corinthians 1428 NIV If there is no
  interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the
  church and speak to himself and God.
• Prophecy
• This is called a higher gift because it has
  such potential to build up the Body of Christ
• The spiritual gift of prophecy has the ability to
  reveal hidden motivations of the heart, to
  encourage, strengthen and comfort
• 1 Corinthians 1424-25 NIVBut if an unbeliever
  or someone who does not understand comes in while
  everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by
  all that he is a sinner and will be judged by
  all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid
  bare. So he will fall down and worship God,
  exclaiming, "God is really among you

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Recognizing and Cultivating the 9 Holy Spirit
Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Be eager for spiritual gifts! Paul says to
  earnestly desire them (1 Corinthians 141 )
  because of their potential to build up the Body
  and see the Kingdom advance
• Teach on these gifts and practice them in your
  group e.g. practise prophesying over each other
  or praying for healing ask for the outpouring
  of the Holy Spirit
• How I first learned to hear from God and
  recognize the gift of discerning of spirits
• Cultivating intimacy with Holy Spirit
• Cultivate a servant heart. Knowledge puffs up,
  love builds up (1 Corinthians 81)
• Remember that these gifts are given for the
  profit of all (1 Corinthians 127)
• Pride grieves the Holy Spirit. Practise the
  more excellent way of love (1 Corinthians
  1231).
• Cultivate worship and prayer as a way of life
  in your home, on the way to work, in your small
  group - that is how these gifts are released
• Ephesians 518-20 NIV Do not get drunk on wine,
  which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled
  with the Spirit. Speak to one another with
  psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make
  music in your heart to the Lord, always giving
  thanks to God the Father for everything, in the
  name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• It is your Fathers good pleasure to give the
  Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 1113). Ask
  Him for a fresh outpouring! He likes to be asked
  

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Gifts of the Spirit 9 Spiritual GiftsFor
Discussion
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• What questions do you have regarding these 9
  gifts?
• Which of these gifts have you experienced at work
  in your own life or in the lives of others?
• In your opinion, why do we not see more activity
  of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the church in
  Canada today?
• If we want to see the gifts of the Holy Spirit in
  operation more consistently at City Church, what
  should we do?
• What do you personally need to do to cultivate a
  more consistent flow of the Holy Spirit in your
  life?

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Gifts of Jesus 5 Leadership/Ministry Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Ephesians 47,11-12 NKJV
• 7 But to each one of us grace was given
  according to the measure of Christs gift.
• 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some
  prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and
  teachers
• 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work
  of ministry, for the edifying of the body of
  Christ

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Gifts of Jesus 5 Leadership/Ministry Gifts
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Key points
• As with motivational gifts and spiritual gifts,
  these leadership gifts are essential for proper
  functioning of the Body
• Unlike the motivational gifts, these are not part
  of your natural makeup
• Unlike the Holy Spirit gifts, not all believers
  are intended to function in these five gifts
• Distributed by Jesus for the purpose of
  leadership in His church
• Purpose of these gifts is to build up the Body of
  Christ
• They are intended for equipping, training,
  releasing
• It is possible to function in more than one of
  these over time
• Paul began as prophet and teacher (Acts 13)
  later became an apostle
• These gifts are being rediscovered in our
  generation
• for the sake of helping the church to mature in
  preparation for the Lords return
• Acts 131 NIV In the church at Antioch there were
  prophets and teachers
• It is desireable and possible to have a team of
  several such gifted leaders in a local church

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Issues of government and authority
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Church leaders and five-fold ministers have a
  responsibility before God to see that the church
  is built up and protected
• As small group leaders we carry delegated
  authority from church leadership to steward the
  mysteries of God and to build up the Body of
  Christ
• On the one hand we ought to encourage people to
  function in their gifts
• On the other hand we need to exercise appropriate
  oversight
• We also need to be under authority in our own
  exercise of gifts
• New Covenant allows the freedom to make mistakes
  (you can all prophesy) but also requires and
  provides oversight
• Value of mentoring Elisha sought out Elijah
  working in teams
• Why small groups are a great place to learn these
  principles
• Example of how this can work with prophecy
• Different levels of maturity, different levels of
  authority and authorization
• Knowing your boundaries and respecting the field
  you are in
• Differences between public setting and home group
  setting

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How the gifts can work together
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Learning to think as a team
• This is crucial for seeing gifts released.
• You need to have a vision and a sense of calling
  before cultivating gifts makes any sense
• Motivational or natural gifts (Romans 12)
• They operate on the natural level
• Individuals are happier and more fulfilled
  knowing what their main motivational gift is (and
  isnt)
• This in turn helps the church operate more
  effectively on the natural level which is
  important
• Personal example what God has shown me in the
  past 5 years in this area
• Holy Spirit gifts (1 Corinthians 12)
• Operate on the supernatural level
• Crucial for seeing the supernatural advance of
  the Kingdom
• Need to be co-ordinated to be exercised in love
  and submission

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How the gifts can work together
smallgroups.citychurch.net

• Leadership gifts of Jesus (Ephesians 4)
• They are given to the church to equip the rest of
  us in our gifts
• They are given to the church so that the Body may
  function in unity to keep the wineskin in good
  shape so the new wine of the Spirit doesnt just
  spill out and get lost
• We must work with and support leaders so that the
  whole Body is blessed and built up
• Summary from the Apostle Paul 1 Corinthians
  1227-31 (NIV)Now you are the body of Christ,
  and each one of you is a part of it. And in the
  church God has appointed first of all apostles,
  second prophets, third teachers, then workers of
  miracles, also those having gifts of healing,
  those able to help others, those with gifts of
  administration, and those speaking in different
  kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all
  prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
  Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in
  tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the
  greater gifts.And now I will show you the most
  excellent way.
• He includes a sampling of each category of gift
  in this summary
• This list includes leadership gifts, supernatural
  Holy Spirit gifts and natural or motivational
  gifts
• The message they are all valuable, they are all
  necessary, love is what matters most