SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE
May 18, 2025 | Josh Reasoner | 1 Corinthians 13
The More Excellent Way
We’ll be talking about the Holy Spirit and the church from now through June 1.
A word about spiritual gifts: There are differing views about the sign gifts, specifically tongues, miracles, prophecy, miracles, healing, and discerning of spirits. In the sermon, Josh referred to these as “lanes”:
continuation #1
all the gifts of the Spirit are available today
“eager and discerning” position
continuations #2
all the gifts of the Spirit are available today, but the sign gifts are rare
“open but cautious” position
cessationist
many of the gifts of the Spirit are available today, but the sign gifts are not
Your group may include people who embrace one of these views and people who don’t know or haven’t considered it. Galatians 5:20 mentions forming factions as one of the works of the flesh we’re warned against. As a church family – and part of the global church body – we can and should worship together in this knowledge: regardless of your view or your neighbor’s, we can agree that the gifts were and are given for the glory of Jesus, the building up of the body, and for carrying out the mission of the gospel. The points of agreement are of greater importance than the points of disagreement.
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Remember that groups should be a place where it’s safe for everyone to be vulnerable about their faith journey, including you.
Have someone in your group read aloud Ephesians 4:1-6. Then pray together asking the Holy Spirit to remind each of you that you are part of a unified body.
Have someone read 1 Corinthians 13 aloud. What if this section of the letter is a rebuke to the church and not something that just gives warm-fuzzies? How does that change how you read it and how you receive what it’s saying to you about how you love others?
What do you think it looks like to maintain unity in a church family (how can we worship, fellowship, and be on mission together) when there are different views on sign gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Let’s live out unity: Take some time to talk about which of the views about the sign gifts best fits your own viewpoint. (It’s okay if you haven’t thought about or studied this theological difference; that’s a viewpoint too!) If you can, explain how your viewpoint was formed.
The theology about the Holy Spirit that is found in 1 Corinthians 13 can penetrate and change your heart. That process begins in prayer. Read and pray 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 over each other.
