Discussion Guide | May 24th, 2026

May 26th, 2026

Spiritual Gifts | Dr. Bill Shuler Discussion Guide

Summary

This Pentecost Sunday sermon focuses on the gifts of the Holy Spirit as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12. Pastor Bill emphasizes that while every believer has the Holy Spirit at salvation, there's a distinction between having the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit having complete access to our lives.

The message explores how believers can be empowered for holy witness and righteous living through the gifts of the Spirit. The sermon categorizes nine spiritual gifts into three groups: revelation gifts (wisdom, knowledge, and discerning of spirits), power gifts (faith, healing, and miracles), and inspirational gifts (prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues). Through biblical examples and personal testimonies, the pastor illustrates how these gifts operate for the common good of the church body, always pointing back to the giver of the gifts rather than the gifts themselves.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather together today to study Your Word and learn about the gifts of Your Spirit, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive what You want to teach us. Holy Spirit, we invite You to be our teacher and guide in this time. Help us to be receptive to Your truth and give us understanding of how You desire to work in and through our lives. May we approach this discussion with humility, knowing that all gifts come from You and are meant to serve others. Prepare our hearts to hear from You today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Ice Breaker

If you could have any superpower for just one day, what would it be and how would you use it to help others?

Main Study

Key Verses

1 Corinthians 12:1
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Acts 19:2
1 Peter 4:10
Acts 16:9-10
John 4:16-18

Questions

How does understanding that 'every believer has the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit doesn't have every believer' change your perspective on your relationship with God?
Pastor Bill mentioned that the gifts of the Spirit are 'for the common good' and 'for others.' How does this challenge our natural tendency to focus on ourselves?
Can you think of a time when you experienced or witnessed what might have been a word of wisdom or knowledge? How did it impact the situation?
What's the difference between human wisdom and the supernatural wisdom that comes through the Holy Spirit? How can we tell the difference?
The sermon emphasized the importance of discerning spirits in our current culture. What are some practical ways we can develop this spiritual insight?
How can we cultivate a daily relationship with the Holy Spirit as our 'senior partner' rather than just knowing about Him?
Pastor Bill shared a personal story about receiving a word of knowledge during a difficult transition. How might God use difficult circumstances to reveal His heart and direction for our lives?
What fears or misconceptions about the gifts of the Spirit might prevent believers from being open to how God wants to use them?

Life Application

This week, begin each day by acknowledging the Holy Spirit as your senior partner. Start your morning with 'Good morning, Holy Spirit' and ask Him to guide you throughout the day. Pay attention to moments when you might sense His wisdom, knowledge, or discernment in your interactions with others. Look for opportunities to serve someone else through whatever gifts or abilities God has given you, remembering that the gifts are always for the benefit of others, not ourselves.

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Closing

Key Takeaways

Every believer has the Holy Spirit at salvation, but we must allow the Holy Spirit to have complete access to our lives
The gifts of the Spirit are categorized into three groups: revelation (wisdom, knowledge, discerning spirits), power (faith, healing, miracles), and inspirational (prophecy, tongues, interpretation)
All spiritual gifts are given for the common good and to serve others, not for personal glory
The Holy Spirit should be our senior partner in daily life, guiding us with supernatural wisdom and knowledge
We must learn to discern what is truly from God versus what appears spiritual but lacks divine origin

Ending Prayer

Father God, thank You for this time of learning about Your gifts and Your heart for us. We pray that You would help us to be faithful stewards of whatever gifts You have given us, always remembering that they are meant to serve others and bring glory to Your name. Holy Spirit, we invite You to have greater access to our lives this week. Help us to walk in humility, wisdom, and love as we seek to be used by You. May we be sensitive to Your leading and bold in our witness for Christ. Transform us more into the image of Jesus, and use us to touch the lives of those around us. We give You all the glory and praise. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

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