Summary: Last Sunday at 8:30 a.m., our worship team was gathered for our regular planning and prayer meeting before the services when I looked at them and said, “I think we need to call an audible.” Several recent tragedies, including the unexpected death of our own Brad Stanley, who was an amazing husband and father to nine children, seemed to be casting a heavy shadow over our congregation. Immediately, the team agreed to postpone what we had planned and focus on <a href="http://gfc.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9ccb7027cbbed56bb72e84a0b&id=4a59a0c1e0&e=f8a72029dd" target="_blank">making space for lament</a>. God showed up in a powerful way.<br> This week, we will return to our journey with the Apostle Paul through the last third of the Book of Acts. As we continue to seek confidence and clarity in our calling, we will consider how God’s supernatural gifts worked through Paul to bring life to a world in darkness. We will pray that God would similarly exercise his power through us. And for me, awareness of life’s fragility has only increased my sense of urgency that this week’s gatherings are significant.<br> I hope you can join us as we remember that God’s gifts are given to make a dent in darkness.<br> DOWNLOADS<br> <br> SEE IT // BE IT<br> (WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)<br> DATE: March 12, 2017 // Title: Gifting //<br> Scripture: Acts 19:1-20<br> ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes<br><br> Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.<br> SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes<br> As we make our way toward the end of the book of Acts, we are beginning to shift our eyes from simply reading the incredible stories of the early church to becoming the church that God is calling us to be in our own day and time. So, following the journey of Paul this week and for the next few weeks, we are going to be making our own journey through five places of emphasis: Story, Gifting, Passion, Call, and Goal. This week Jon talked to us about gifting. Through our gifting, God’s extraordinary power is manifested in our ordinary lives. It’s how He uses us to be a grace to the world. And while we often only imagine gifting is for others or only to be used inside the walls of the church, gifting is what helps us become the church that is God’s gift to the world.<br> THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion<br> Use your gift to be a gift to the world.<br> SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes<br><br> Picture (What is the story saying?):What are the three ways to think about spiritual gifts that Jon mentioned in his sermon? [An event (v.6), a talent (v.9) and supernatural power (v.12)] How do we see Paul living with supernatural power in this passage? What gifts does Paul mention in Ephesians 4:11-12 that are given to believers? (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, Teacher) What does each of these gifts look like? How would you describe someone with each of these gifts? [see this week’s handout tool]<br> Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Have you taken the gifting survey from fivefoldsurvey.com? What were your results? How might looking at your results help you step into God’s gifting in your life? How can your results function as a name and not a label for you? What is the one big insight you gained about your gifting this week?<br> Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): How can your gifting help you be a gift to the world? What extraordinary things do you want to see God use you to do where you live, work and play? How does God’s gifting you help you make these extraordinary things happen?<br> BE IT – Practice<br><br> Change UP // Spring Forward Exercise <br> This past week we all participated in Spring Forward. It’s a moment where even though we are still living in winter,
