3-Day Bible Reading Plan - “The Spirit Drowns Doubt”
“One of the main hurdles to increasing the amount of people who serve in a church is doubt. This doubt can be directed at ourselves or others. This doubt can be either rooted in feelings of inferiority or superiority. We can say to ourselves that we are not good enough to serve in the church, so we decide to remain on the sidelines. Or, we can discourage others from serving because we present ourselves as superior to them, which leads us to under-appreciate their contribution and discourages them from volunteering. Doubting ourselves and others destroys the serving culture of a church. Paul addressed how doubt in the Corinthian church was hurting how its members participated in serving. Studying how Paul addressed this issue will help us see how we can increase the engagement of all our members in serving.” - Pastor Paul Crandell, 8/11/24
Day 1
Featured Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 - “The Body is One and Has Many Members”
Cross References:
Romans 12:4-5 - “The Members Do Not All Have the Same Function”
How might you know your Spiritual giftings from God? How can you use your gifts for His glory?
Ephesians 4:4 - “There is One Body and One Spirit”
How does the Holy Spirit bring many members into one Body of Christ?
John 17:11 - “That They May Be One, Even as We Are One”
How could the idea that many believers make up one Body in Christ help us better understand the mystery of one God in three Persons?
“Let us go in to get of God all that God will give us: let us set our heart upon this, that we mean to have by God’s help all that the infinite goodness of God is ready to bestow. Let us not be satisfied with the sip that saves, but let us go on to the baptism which buries the flesh and raises us in the likeness of the risen Lord: even that baptism into the Holy Ghost and into fire which makes us spiritual and sets us all on flame with zeal for the glory of God and eagerness for usefulness by which that glory may be increased among the sons of men.” - Charles Spurgeon
Day 2
Featured Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 - “The Parts of the Body That Seem to Be Weaker Are Indispensable”
Cross References:
1 Corinthians 12:23 - “Parts of the Body We Think Less Honorable We Bestow the Greater Honor”
We know God has chosen the weak and foolish of the world (1 Corinthians 1:27). Keeping that in mind, why would the less honorable parts of the Body receive the greater honor?
1 Corinthians 12:9-10 - “My Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness”
What is it about being a weak vessel that makes one strong in the power of God?
Isaiah 40:29 - “He Gives Power to the Faint”
What are some weaker parts of the Body that might need the power of God to sustain them? Why would God favor these faint vessels?
“Our Lord has many weak children in his family, many dull pupils in his school, many raw soldiers in his army, many lame sheep in his flock. Yet he bears with them all, and casts none away. Happy is that Christian who has learned to do likewise with his brethren.” - J.C. Ryle
“Brethren, we must not allow this sense of littleness to hamper us; for God can bless our littleness, and use it for His glory.” - Charles Spurgeon
Day 3
Featured Verse: Ephesians 1:22-23 - “He is Head Over All Things to the Church, Which is His Body”
Cross References:
Colossians 1:18 - “He is the Head of the Body, the Church”
Christ modeled for us a life of servanthood. He said a servant is not greater than his Master (John 13:16). Where the head goes, the body follows. How might you be more intentional to make your life about serving Christ and others?
1 Corinthians 12:28-30 - “Are All Apostles? Are All Prophets?”
This verse isn’t an exhaustive list of all the giftings in the Church. Paul’s point was diversity within the Body, which God gives on purpose. What prayers could you pray to discover your work within the Body?
Jeremiah 3:15 - “I Will Give You Shepherds After My Own Heart”
If there is a need within the Body, God promises to fill it with “shepherds after His own heart.” The key to acceptable work before God is a passion for the work and a love for His people. How have you asked God to light your own heart on fire for Him?
“God always finds workmen for his work, and by His Spirit fits them for it.” - Charles Spurgeon
“David would not have been a man after God’s own heart if he had not been a man of prayer.” - Charles Spurgeon