Your Spiritual gifts Heart’s desire Abilities Personality Experience for God’s Service Six meetings in a small informal group, enabling people to discern their gifts for God’s service.

Introducing Ourselves Your name. Two or three of the main things you do with your time. Your favourite way of relaxing.

Core Topics – S.H.A.P.E. The sessions involve looking at your : Spiritual Gifts (God’s unique gifts to you) Heart’s Desire (what motivates and excites you; what you love to do) Abilities (your talents, knowledge and skills) Personality (Your character, personal qualities and strengths) Experience for God’s service ( your life experiences and what you’ve gained from them)

An Explanation No need to take notes as a handout will be provided at the end of the evening Session 1 Introduces the aims and outlines of the Your Shape for God’s Service; Establishes an atmosphere of openness and trust Explores Biblical material on gifts, vocation, every member ministry and our role in building God’s church and Kingdom on earth

Sessions Take each of the aspects of our SHAPE. This starts with Experience, and works backwards to Spiritual gifts. Session 6 Concludes by looking at each person’s profile and its implications, encouraging and praying for each other’s ministries

Session 1: Aims for this session To relax and share with each other. To help us begin to clarify what we believe about ourselves, about our calling to serve God and about the gifts God has given us. To look at the purpose of our ministry/service for God, which is to share in building God’s Church and Kingdom on earth.

Am I a Particular Shape? A quiet relfection/meditation What sort of shape do you see yourself as being? What sort of person has your upbringing, your life experiences, your genes, your gifts and abilities made you? What has your life been like?

Am I a particular shape? How has God been involved? When you look at your life do you see God as having been involved in shaping you? Do you ever pray, asking God to shape you? Do you see the SHAPE that you are, as being God’s gift to you? How do you think God sees you? What shape are you in his eyes?

What Am I For? Does God really have a purpose and plans for your life? Your SHAPE points to your PURPOSE What do you believe about serving God?

What does the Bible say about service and ministry? That all Christians are called to service and ministry (no exceptions) Ministry grows out of using whatever God has given you to serve God and other people As you focus a few particular forms of ministry, which God is calling you to be and do, will come into focus. An area of ministry will develop aroung the particular gifts you have.

What does the Bible say about service and ministry? Handout 1B: Am I called to ministry and to God’s service?

Help, I’m Useless! Those Bible verses are all very well, but I don’t seem to have any particular gifts... A person’s gifts are often obvious to others but not ot us How would you feel if you gave someone a present and they ignored it or refused to open it? A gift is free – you haven’t ‘earned’ it – you don’t ‘deserve’ it – there’s nothing to be proud about. Just accept it gratefully and use it.

What are my Gifts? In pairs, without the other person seeing, write down: 1. One gift/ability/thing you do which people say are you good at? 2. Something about your qualities or character which people seem to appreciate Write about the other person.. 1. One gift/ability/thing she or he does, which you think he or she is good at 2. Something about his or her qualities or character which you appreciate Share

What’s it all for? God does not give us gifts just to make us feel good. God has gifted, shaped and equipped us for a purpose, which goes beyound ourselves. So what is our purpose?

Jesus gave his followers.... A great commandment (Matthew 22 : ) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind” (WORSHIP) “Love your neighbour as yourself” (MINISTRY) A great commission (Matthew 28 : ) “ Go and make disciples…” (MISSION) “Teach them... all things” (LEARNING to be Jesus’ disciples)

Over the next few weeks think and pray about this... Do I believe God loves and values me enough to give me his gifts and use me in his service? Do I seek to ‘Love God with all my heart, soul and mind? ’ Am I willing to keep trying to ‘love my neighbour as myself?’ Ask God to fill you more and more with His gift of love

Pray Psalm 139: 1-3 & 13-18

Personal Reflection on Your Experience Give Handout 1A: An explanation Give Handout 1PR: Personal Reflection on your Experience Give out Members Notes: Session One Give out Folder, Cover Page and Resources and Reading

Questions?