Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• As we prepare for a new section of 1 Corinthians, Pastor Bret encouraged us to read through chapters 12-14 daily to familiarize ourselves with the entirety of Paul’s response to the Corinthians designated by the phrase “now concerning” found in 12:1. Then specifically re-read verses 4-7 to focus on the text for the upcoming Lord’s day. 
• Paul lines up three main compare and contrasts statements in verses 4-6, variety and sameness. From what we already understand from this letter what is Paul trying to point here? Why would he use each one of three parts of the Godhead for these statements?  
• Paul expands the last statement by adding “who empowers them all in everyone”. What is each of the following words referring to in this statement: who? them? all? everyone? What clarification would Paul gain by adding this statement above?
• In verse 7, what is the manifestation of the Spirit? The phrase “to each” is intended to identify who? What is the reason Paul gives for this gift and who is the giver of the gift (gift meaning something is given)?  
• The Sermon Study equipping class notes are available online for anyone wanting to dig deeper. Please review this week's notes to help study this passage. Click here for the notes.

Prayerfully Meditate

• Who do you see as the source of your gifts, service, and activities? Is it yourself and how you have been uniquely blessed? How can you differentiate between yourself and God’s empowerment in your life? 
• What is the purpose of your gifts, service, and activities? Do you pursue your own “common good” or the “common good” of others? Are those others in this local church body or do you pursue the “common good" of those outside the church? What should be the priority of self, church, and others?
• What is the manifestation of the Spirit and how would you know if this has been given or not? What does it matter that it was given?