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Week 1: Experience And Abilities - SHAPE Series

  • Jul 26
  • 4 min read

Nehemiah

Week 1: Experience And Abilities


We would like to thank Johnny Sharpe and the team from Narara Valley Baptist Church for helping put together this resource.


If you would like to explore how you are SHAPED further at the end of this course. Please get in touch with Pastor Grant grant@mayfieldbaptist.com



Week 1: Experience and Abilities: What have you done & what can you do?


Welcome to the SHAPE course. Over three weeks, this course will help you to discover how God has uniquely shaped you to serve Him.


God has given you Spiritual gifts, the passions of your Heart, Abilities & skills, Personality, and Experience, all of which He can use for His Kingdom purposes in you.

This course includes questions for discussion as a group, as well as personal reflection tasks to do by yourself during and between the weeks' meetings. Everything you need is included in this workbook.


Read Ephesians 2:10.


Discuss together:

  • What does it mean to you that you have been made uniquely by God?

  • What does it mean that He has prepared works in advance for you to do?

  • How much have you thought about these things in the past?


Spend some time by yourself considering the following statements.

  • How true is each one for you?


no

somewhat

yes

My spiritual gifts are being expressed.

1

2

3

My passions are being utilised for God.

1

2

3

My natural abilities are being used to serve others.

1

2

3

My personality is helping me serve others.

1

2

3

My life is completely surrendered to God.

1

2

3

My purpose capitalizes on many of my experiences.

1

2

3

My accountability to others is consistent.

1

2

3

My attitude and actions reflect a servant heart.

1

2

3

My plan to fulfill my purpose from God is set.

1

2

3

My schedule shows how I'm investing in others.

1

2

3

Discuss together:

  • Do you have any thoughts or reflections about your answers above?

  • Is there one statement in particular that you hope the SHAPE course might equip you in?


This week we begin with the first two aspects of our SHAPE:

Experience & Abilities.

What have you done & What can you do?


Read 1 Samuel 17:32-37.

Discuss together:

What does this moment in the story of David and Goliath reveal to us about the value of experiences & abilities, and about the ways God provides through these things?


Spend some time reflecting on your own childhood. You might like to consider things like:

  • How did you grow up?

  • What did your parents or other adults teach you?

  • What did they model to you?

  • Are there any experiences from your childhood that have enabled you to do things as an adult?

  • Share a reflection about your childhood with the person next to you.

  • How has this experience borne fruit in your life?

  • Pray together that God would continue to shape you and use your experiences and abilities for His purposes.


What we spend our time doing can become a transferable skill or ability. First, consider one or two things you've spent a lot of time doing. Consider things like:

  • Tasks or roles you've filled professionally

  • Tasks or roles you've filled at church or in other organisations

  • Things you've studied or trained for formally

  • Things you've found yourself often needing to do for friends or family

  • Hobbies you've spent time doing


Then, choose one thing to share with your group, and brainstorm together to see if you can think of any ways to transfer these skills into something new that you could use to serve God.


Sometimes other people can identify what you're good at even when you don't see it or value it in yourself. Consider:

  • What sorts of favours do others ask you to do for them?

  • What do you sometimes find yourself teaching or demonstrating to others so that they can learn?

  • What sorts of things do people ask you advice about?

  • What seemingly easy/simple tasks do you notice others thank you for or are impressed by?


As a group:


  • See if you can help each other add to this list

  • See if you can identify skills and abilities you've noticed in one another.

  • Pray together that God would continue to shape you and use your experiences and abilities for His purposes.


Week 1 Homework -Self Reflection:

Personality & Heart: What makes you you & What are your passions?   


Animal Personality Test:

Go to https://www.smalleyinstitute.com/the-smalley-animal-personality-assessment (use the test at the top of the page only) and answer the personality quiz (takes about 10 minutes). This will help you to begin thinking about what your personality is. Each animal represents different personality traits that will be looked at in next week's study.


Do you think it is an accurate or helpful description of who you are? Why/why not?


Note down your results in each category to bring with you to the group next week.

Note: ‘high’ and ‘low’ are neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’ results - they’re not ratings, they’re descriptions. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your personality type with your group in your next meeting.


  • Lion __________

  • Otter __________

  • Golden Retriever ____________

  • Beaver _________


Heart self-reflection: What sorts of projects, ministries, causes or ideas make you feel...

  • excited or energised to be part of?   

  • Who do you most care about (what groups, ages, context, needs, etc)?   


Circle the causes below that you feel most passionate about:   

  • Abortion   

  • Abuse/Violence   

  • Alcoholism   

  • At-risk Children   

  • Disabilities/support   

  • Divorce   

  • Drug Abuse   

  • Education   

  • Environment   

  • Ethics   

  • Financial stewardship   

  • Health/fitness   

  • Homelessness   

  • Law/justice   

  • Marriage   

  • Parenting   

  • Politics   

  • Poverty/hunger   

  • Spiritual apathy   


 
 
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