Jeopardy Review - Strength Finder

Today we had our 3rd Jeopardy Review. The review covered the last 5 lessons making up the the Strength Finder Series. Today's winners were: First Place (Gold): Sybil McGhee; Second Place (Silver): Holly Rollins; Third Place (Bronze) tied: David Coe & Sarah Elizabeth Sanders.

In light of our individual talents/strengths and Spiritual Gifts, this review covered the key issues dealing with how to maintain healthy, Christ-centered relationships with our spouses, family members, co-workers, and friends. When conflicts arise, the cause is always sin. Before we can address any human relationship conflict, we must first confess our sin and restore fellowship with God. Then we can deal with the human relationship conflict. Love is the answer, but the only love that is lasting is the love that God gives us because of our faith in Him.

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6 NIV

 The main focus of the SF Series was to help you learn more about your S.H.A.P.E. God made you for a specific purpose. He shaped you for something only you can do. 

"Before I (God) shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:" Jeremiah 1:4-5 (MSG)

You are wonderfully made but uniquely flawed. The testing we are doing (talents/strengths finder, Spiritual Gifts, Love Languages) is to help us get to know ourselves and our spouses better. The more we know about ourselves and each other, the better we are able to manage our flaws, develop our strengths, and encourage and support those we love most.

Your shape was sovereignly determined by God for His purpose, so you shouldn't resent it or reject it. Instead of trying to reshape yourself to be like someone else, you should celebrate the shape God has given only to you.

Christ has given each of us special abilities -- whatever He wants us to have out of His rich storehouse of gifts" Ephesians 4:7 (LB)

Part of accepting your shape is recognizing your limitations (unique flaws). Nobody is good at everything, and no one is called to be everything. We all have defined roles. Paul understood that his calling was not to accomplish everything or please everyone but to focus only on the particular ministry God had shaped him for. He said:

"We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the world God has given us, which includes our working with you." 2 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

The word "boundaries" refers to to the fact that God assigns each of us a field or sphere of service. your shape determines your specialty. When we try to overextend our ministry reach beyond what God shaped us for, we experience stress. Just as each runner in a race is given a different lane to run in, we must individually "run with patience the particular race that God has set before us" (Hebrews 12:1 LB)

Another key fact we discussed is that God gives every believer 4 major gifts the moment they become followers of Christ: 1) Forgiveness; 2) Eternal Life; 3) The Holy Spirit; 4) Spiritual Gifts.

When you confess your sins--especially the little ones you feel comfortable with--the Holy Spirit is then free to control your life. This will be evident by the FRUIT of the Spirit in your life: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. When the fruit is not evident, you are walking in your will, not God's will. Only when your relationship with God is right will your other relationships be right. Our primary purpose is to love God first, then others.

Our mission is to make disciples. The way we fulfill the Great Commission ("Go therefore and make disciples..." Matthew 28:18-20) is to KNOW, GROW, SHOW, and GO. Knowing your Spiritual Gifts is a first step in helping you find where and how God shaped you to GO.

The Jeopardy Review slides are below. The questions and answers to the review are listed below the slides. Also, be sure to check out the short trailer on our featured couple this week: Bryant and Paige Hardy.

Bryant & Paige Hardy

Introduction

1. Within each of the 5 rings is a word that begins with “S”. Together, these words define the mission statement of the You & Me Class. (What are Surrender, Serve, Seek, Study, and Share?)

2. On the outer ring are 4 words that begin with “P”. Together, these words describe what makes it possible for each of us to accomplish our personal mission for Christ. (What are Purity, Passion, Power, and Purpose?)

3. TALENTS become STRENGTHS when these two things are combined. (What are SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE?)

4. In the parable of the talents, each servant was given different amounts of talents to manage because of this. (What is ability “to each according to his ability”?)

5. Each letter in the acronym S.H.A.P.E. describes one aspect of how God has formed us. (What are SPIRITUAL GIFTS, HEART, ABILITIES, PERSONALITY, EXPERIENCES?)

Gifts & Talents

1. Your “top 5” talents in the correct order. (What are…?)

2. Your spouse’s, soon-to-be spouses, or your mother’s “top 5” talents in the correct order. (What are…?)

3. When a person becomes a Christian, God instantly gives that person these 4 major gifts. (What are FORGIVENESS, ETERNAL LIFE, HOLY SPIRIT, and SPIRITUAL GIFT(S)?)

4. Your #1 Spiritual Gift. (What is…?)

5. Your spouse’s, soon-to-be spouse’s, or your father’s #1 Spiritual Gift. (What is…?)

Heart

1. This is how we restore our hearts to a state of purity. (What is confession of sin?)

2. These are how we test the purity of our heart. (What are the fruit of the Spirit?)

3. These are the 9 fruit of the Spirit. (What are LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL?)

4. Proverbs 4:23 tells us: “Above all else…” do this. (What is “guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”? or, What is “guard your heart…”?)

5. Psalm 37:4 says if we do this, the Lord will give us the desires of our heart. (What is “Take delight in the Lord…”?)

Disciple

1. If the You & Me Class was a business, this would be our PRODUCT. (What is a disciple?)

2. These are the three main ministry areas that we will soon make available in our class. (What are ADMINISTRATION, CARE GROUPS, and RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS?)

3. Making disciples starts here. (What is You & Me? Or What is Me?)

4. These two words complete this verse: (What are FAITH and LOVE?)
“The only thing that counts is _______ expressing itself through _______.” Galatians 5:6 NIV.)

5. The 5 words Jesus spoke that defined the Great Commission to all believers. (What are “Go therefore and make disciples…”?)
“_____  __________  _____  _____  ___________ of all nations…” Matthew 28:18-20

Conflict

1. This is the cause of ALL relationship conflicts. (What is sin?)

2. This MUST be done before a relationship conflict can effectively be resolved. (What is confess your sin and restore fellowship with God?)

3. When conflicts erupt, you must do this until you have confessed all sin and restored your fellowship with God. (What is keep your mouth shut?)

4. Reconciliation begins with these 5 words. (What are “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”?)

5. Reconciliation is completed with these three words. (What are “I love you.” Or, “I forgive you.”?)

NEXT WEEK: The 5 Love Languages Series.