Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts 06: Prophecy | Discussion Guide
Debrief Last Week’s Practice (10 mins):
How did last week's practice go?
Did you learn anything new as we tried love gifts?
Does anyone think they have a love gifting?
Discussion (35 mins):
Watch this video together. You can pause the video to guess what the sound is.
There is a big difference between the ability to hear a sound and the ability to recognize the sound. This is the hard work of hearing God for others — the ability to recognize God’s voice.
Read this week’s practice together. What stands out to you?
How does it make you feel to know that God is in your presence and wants to speak to you personally?
In this week’s practice, Dan shared a story about having a random thought that he only knew was prophetic after he shared it. He wrote, “How many times have I written off a prompt of the Holy Spirit as just another random thought? How many times have I missed out on hearing God for others because the supernatural came in super natural packaging?” Can you think of any times God was speaking to you about something but you didn’t do anything with it? Do you think this has ever happened to you?
In the practice we read, “Unless you’re willing to step out and get it wrong you’ll never grow in the prophetic.” What do you think about that? Why do you think it’s necessary to step out and take risks to grow in the prophetic?
In 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 we are told to discern prophetic words. Why do you think it’s necessary to discern prophecy?
Do you think God wants to speak to others through you?
Do the practice together (40 mins):
Activation #1
Make space to hear from God. Set a 5-10 minute timer and sit with God in silence. You may want to play some pads or light music to still the room. Invite the Holy Spirit to come and speak to you about others in the room. Ask who God wants you to speak to and what he wants to say. As you sit in silence, write down anything that comes to mind. Write it down even if it doesn’t make sense or seem prophetic.
Discern the word. Once the timer has gone off. Spend 2 minutes looking over everything you wrote down. Ask yourself these questions:
Is it Affirming? Will this word strengthen, encourage, and build this person up (1 Cor. 14:3)?
Is it Biblical? Is this word Biblical? A prophetic word will never contradict what the Bible teaches.
Is it Christlike? Does this word sound like Jesus? Does it reflect the character, mission, and message of Jesus?
Step out and share it. The only way to grow in the prophetic, to hear God for others, and see people get blessed by prophecy is by stepping out and taking a risk. Share the word. Step out and see what God does! Share the word for those in the room.
Activation #2
Prophecy circle. Set one person in the middle of the circle. Spend a few minutes silently asking God to speak to give you words for that person. After a few minutes, have each person share what they got for that person. Ask the person if what was shared resonates in any way.
Debrief (10 mins):
Come back together and debrief how it went in your group.
As we practiced prophecy did any one sense anything? Did anything come to mind? Did you have any physical sensations?
What was it like to prophesy over others?
What was it like when others were prophesying over you?
Do you feel strengthened, encouraged, or comforted (1 Cor. 14:3).