We’ve missed a few weeks, but now that you’ve had a chance to breathe, you can dive back in to the Word of God.  Give these questions some thought:

1.  Read Ephesians 4:14-16 (we didn’t cover this section on Sunday).  These three verses speak about our spiritual growth. Discuss how our lives will change as we live in God’s design for us.  What will be different?  How will we change?  Do you agree that involvement in service is essential to spiritual growth? (Ephesians 4:12) Why or why not?

2.  Last weekend we talked a lot about spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:11).  Take a look at these other important Scriptures that address spiritual gifts–1 Corinthians 12:8-11, 28; Romans 12:6-8; and 1 Peter 4:10.  How many total gifts did you find in all these passages? Do these passages include all the spiritual gifts?  If not, what are some others?  What spiritual gift(s) do you have?  How did you identify your gift(s)?  How are you using your gift(s) in the body of Christ?  How is the body of Christ and the world affected if you don’t know and/or don’t use your spiritual gift(s)?

3.  Ephesians 4:11 mentions the gifts of “pastors and teachers.”  How do they work to build up the body of Christ? Do you know anyone in our church who has a pastoral or teaching ministry who is not an ordained minister or church staff member?  What effect do they have upon the body of Christ?  What do small group leaders, Sunday School teachers and Adult Bible Fellowship leaders do to build the body of Christ?

4.  Ephesians 4:11-12 says that pastors and teachers were given by God “for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ . . .” Why is it vital for pastors and teachers to focus on the “training or equipping” of the saints rather than on serving as “paid chaplains” to the flock?  What actions might this training or equipping involve?