This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - 12:30pm Sunday Service | Live from Rossview” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Small Group Discussion Guide
"Good Gifts: Understanding the Gifts of the Holy Spirit"
Week 3 of the Holy Spirit Series
A Note to Facilitators: Welcome! This guide is designed to help you lead a meaningful conversation regardless of your experience level. You don't need to be a theological expert — your job is to create a safe space for honest conversation and guide the group through these questions. Feel free to skip questions that don't fit your group, and always prioritize genuine conversation over covering every question. Estimated total time: 75–90 minutes.
OVERVIEW
In this third week of the Holy Spirit series, the sermon explored how God is a generous giver who expresses his love through spiritual gifts to his church. Three categories of gifts were examined — leadership gifts (Ephesians 4), ministry gifts (Romans 12), and expressive gifts (1 Corinthians 12) — with the central challenge that every believer has been gifted by the Spirit and is called to discover, develop, and deploy those gifts for the good of others. The sermon closed with a crucial reminder: love for God and people must always be greater than love for the gifts themselves.
ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Open with this question — keep it light and fun!
"Tell us about the best gift you've ever received — and if you're feeling brave, share the worst one too. What made the difference?"
Allow everyone who wants to share a brief answer. This sets up the sermon's theme of good gifts vs. bad gifts in a fun, accessible way.
SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Before diving into discussion, have someone read the following passages aloud. Consider asking two or three different group members to each read one passage.
Ephesians 4:11–16 (Leadership Gifts)
"And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is the head — Christ."
Romans 12:4–8 (Ministry Gifts)
"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (Expressive Gifts)
"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (The Priority of Love)
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through these questions as a group. You don't need to cover all of them — choose the ones that resonate most with your group. Questions are organized from lighter to deeper.
SECTION 1: Opening Observations
(5–8 minutes)
1. What was one thing from Sunday's message that stood out to you, surprised you, or stuck with you this week? Why did it land that way?
[Leader Tip]: This is a great opener because there are no wrong answers. It also helps you gauge what themes resonated most with your group so you can lean into those during the discussion.
2. The pastor described God as a giver throughout all of Scripture — from creation, to the law, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit. Looking back at your own life, what's one way you can see that God has been generous toward you personally?
If the group needs a prompt, ask: "Think about a moment, a relationship, an opportunity, or even a difficulty that turned into something good."
SECTION 2: Leadership Gifts — God Gives Good Leaders
(8–10 minutes)
3. Ephesians 4:11–12 says God gives leadership gifts to the church — apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers — specifically "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry." How does it change your perspective to think of your church leaders as a gift from God rather than just employees or volunteers doing a job?
[Leader Tip]: This question can open up healthy reflection about how people view church leadership. If your group has experienced hurt from church leaders in the past, acknowledge that reality with grace. The goal isn't to create blind loyalty, but to cultivate a posture of prayer and trust toward godly leadership.
Follow-up if discussion stalls: "What would it look like practically to treat your church leaders as gifts to be prayed for and supported rather than evaluated and critiqued?"
4. The passage says these leadership gifts exist so that we are no longer "children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine." What are some of the "winds of doctrine" or spiritual distractions that you see pulling people away from solid biblical faith today? How does being rooted in a local church community help guard against that?
SECTION 3: Ministry Gifts — Everyone Has a Role
(10–12 minutes)
5. Romans 12:4–8 compares the church to a body with many different parts, all with different functions. The pastor made the point that one of the most selfish things a Christian can do is come to church only to receive and never give their gifts back. How do you personally respond to that challenge? Where do you see yourself on the spectrum between "mostly receiving" and "actively giving"?
[Leader Tip]: This question may feel convicting for some people — and that's okay. Create a grace-filled space where people can be honest without feeling shamed. Remind the group that the goal isn't guilt, but growth. You might share your own honest answer first to model vulnerability.
6. The seven ministry gifts listed in Romans 12 are: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, contributing (giving), leading, and showing mercy. Looking at that list, which one or two do you feel most naturally drawn to — even if you've never thought of it as a "spiritual gift" before? What makes you say that?
Help the group understand these in everyday terms:
- Prophecy — speaking truth that encourages, challenges, or builds others up
- Serving — showing up and meeting practical needs without being asked
- Teaching — explaining and helping others understand truth
- Exhorting — motivating and encouraging others toward action or faith
- Contributing/Giving — being generous with resources, time, or money
- Leading — organizing, casting vision, and guiding others
- Showing mercy — caring for those who are hurting, marginalized, or overlooked
SECTION 4: Expressive Gifts — The Spirit Moves
(8–10 minutes)
7. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says the gifts of the Spirit are given "to each one for the profit of all." The pastor emphasized that spiritual gifts aren't meant to build our platforms or make us look impressive — they're for the good of others. Why do you think it's so easy to start making spiritual gifts about ourselves rather than about serving others? What helps keep that in check?
[Leader Tip]: This is a great opportunity to discuss the difference between using gifts for God's glory vs. our own. Keep the conversation focused on self-reflection rather than pointing fingers at others.
8. The pastor described three Greek words for gifts in the New Testament:
- Didomi — a bestowed gift that tends to stay with a person (like a teaching or leadership gift)
- Charisma — a grace gift, a divine empowerment that God gives and withdraws as he chooses
- Pneumatikos — gifts pertaining specifically to the Holy Spirit
How does understanding that spiritual gifts are ultimately God's to give and to use — not ours to own or control — change how you think about your own gifts or gifts you wish you had?
SECTION 5: Putting It All Together
(5–8 minutes)
9. The sermon closed with four action steps: Desire the gifts, Develop the gifts, Deploy the gifts, and Love the Giver and the receiver more than the gift itself. Which of these four steps feels most relevant or challenging to you right now — and why?
10. 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 makes a striking statement: all the gifts in the world mean nothing without love. What does it look like in real, everyday life to use your gifts from a foundation of love rather than obligation, pride, or habit?
PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are for more personal reflection. Invite people to share as they feel comfortable — some may prefer to keep their answers private or journal about them later.
1. If you're honest with yourself, do you have a clearer sense of your gifts — or do you feel like your gifts are still mostly undiscovered? What's one small step you could take this week to begin exploring or developing your gifts?
Some options to consider:
- Sign up for your church's Growth Track class
- Join a dream team or volunteer in one area for one month
- Ask a trusted friend what gifts they see in you
- Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal how he's gifted you
2. The pastor said: "I think one of the most selfish things Christians continuously do is come to a church to receive the gifts of others and never give their gift back." Without judgment toward yourself or others, what honest shift might God be inviting you to make in how you engage with your church community?
3. Think about your workplace, your neighborhood, your family, or your friendships outside of church. Where do you sense God might want to use you — in a gift of encouragement, service, generosity, prayer, or something else — beyond the walls of the church building?
4. The sermon reminded us that David said, "I will not offer to God something that costs me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24). As you think about your time, your talents, and your financial giving, where might God be inviting you to give something that actually costs you something?
THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
(Take one of these into your week)
Choose the option that feels like the right next step for you:
🔵 Explore: Take a spiritual gifts assessment this week (your church may have one, or search "spiritual gifts assessment" online). Share what you discover with a trusted friend or your small group next week.
🟢 Engage: Take one concrete step toward serving — sign up for a dream team, volunteer in one area, or reach out to your church about Growth Track.
🟡 Extend: Identify one person outside of church — a coworker, neighbor, or family member — and intentionally use one of your gifts to serve them this week. It might be encouragement, practical help, generosity, or simply listening well.
🔴 Go Deeper: Read all of 1 Corinthians 12–14 this week and notice how Paul weaves love between the chapters on gifts. Journal about what stands out to you.
PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. You can pray as a group, in pairs, or have one person lead. Use these suggested focuses:
Suggested Prayer Topics:
Gratitude — Thank God for the gift of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the specific gifts he's placed in each person in your group.
Discovery — Ask God to help each person in the group discover and understand the gifts he's placed in them.
Courage — Pray for the courage to step out and use gifts even imperfectly — to try, grow, and try again.
Church Leaders — Pray specifically for your pastors, elders, staff, and volunteers by name if possible. Ask God to keep them godly, healthy, and full of the Spirit.
Outward Focus — Pray that God would use each person in your group as a gift to someone outside the church this week — at work, at home, and in the community.
Optional: Before you close in prayer, invite anyone who wants to share a specific prayer request related to discovering or using their gifts. Pray over those requests together.
OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
For groups wanting to go further
Deep Dive 1: Read 1 Corinthians 12:12–27 in full. Paul uses the body as an extended metaphor for the church. Which part of the body do you most identify with right now — and why? Are you functioning in your role, or have you been "opting out"? What does the passage say happens to the whole body when one part is missing or not functioning?
Deep Dive 2: The pastor mentioned three different types of tongues in the New Testament:
- A supernatural gift of a known human language for evangelism (Acts 2)
- A public gift requiring interpretation in a church setting (1 Corinthians 14:27–28)
- A personal prayer language between the believer and God (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14–15)
Read 1 Corinthians 14:1–5 and 14:26–33 together. What principles does Paul give for how gifts — especially expressive ones — should function in a church setting? What do these guidelines tell us about God's character and his desire for order and love within the church?
Deep Dive 3: The pastor referenced David's statement in 2 Samuel 24:18–24 — "I will not offer to God something that costs me nothing." Read that short passage together. What was the context? What does David's response reveal about his heart toward God? How might that posture challenge the way we think about giving our time, money, and gifts to the church?
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER STUDY
| Passage | Topic |
|---|---|
| Romans 12:1–8 | Living sacrifices and ministry gifts |
| 1 Corinthians 12:1–31 | Spiritual gifts and the body of Christ |
| 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 | The supremacy of love |
| 1 Corinthians 14:1–5 | Pursuing love and spiritual gifts |
| Ephesians 4:1–16 | Unity and leadership gifts |
| 1 Peter 4:10–11 | Using gifts to serve others |
| James 1:17 | Every good gift comes from God |
| 2 Samuel 24:18–24 | David's offering that costs something |
QUICK REFERENCE: SPIRITUAL GIFTS OVERVIEW
For leaders who want a simple reference during discussion:
| Category | Gifts Listed | Key Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership Gifts | Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers | Ephesians 4:11 |
| Ministry Gifts | Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Exhorting, Giving, Leading, Mercy | Romans 12:6–8 |
| Expressive Gifts | Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, Tongues, Interpretation | 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 |
FACILITATOR REMINDERS
✅ You don't need all the answers — your job is to guide conversation, not lecture.
✅ Silence is okay — give people a moment to think before jumping in to fill the quiet.
✅ Protect the quiet voices — gently invite those who haven't shared: "We haven't heard from everyone — does anyone else want to add something?"
✅ Redirect rabbit trails — if conversation drifts, a gentle "That's a great point — let's bring it back to..." keeps things on track.
✅ Honor vulnerability — if someone shares something personal or difficult, thank them before moving on.
✅ End on time — people trust you more when you respect their schedule. It's better to leave people wanting more than to overstay your welcome.
This guide was prepared for small group use based on the sermon "Good Gifts: Understanding the Gifts of the Holy Spirit," Week 3 of the Holy Spirit Series. Permission granted for local church use.