Reflection Questions 

1. Have you ever found it hard to understand what a friend or family member is experiencing in a time of struggle or difficulty? Then, thank God, they opened up to you and found words to share what was in their heart. How did their use of words, assist you?  

2. Do we automatically and easily know another friend or family member? What is Paul’s view? (1 Cor. 2:11a). 

3. Who easily and fully knows God the Father’s mind? (1 Cor. 2.11b).

4. Who has Paul (and by extension the wider Apostolic ministry team) been given and how does he assist them? (1 Cor 1.1 and 1 Cor. 2.12). 

5. Paul says: the Spirit inspires him to comprehend the word of God. That is: the words about all God has given us. Recap: what are those gifts? (1 Cor. 1.30- 1 Cor 2.2). What is the good news message about God’s gifts in Jesus? 

6. Next week we look more closely at the Spirit’s work to make us good receivers of God’s words. For now we note Paul’s (and other Apostles and Prophets) special role passing on God’s word to the church. How does the Spirit work in him?  (1 Cor. 2.13).

7. So, Paul’s teaching uses human words that are also Spirit inspired words. Paul’s teaching has a dual authorship: human and divine. Human words are used by the Spirit, the Spirit controlling the meaning, so the mind of God is clearly communicated to we human creatures. 

We welcome appropriate use of signs and miracles, feelings, instincts and visions. However, we struggle if the Spirit’s communication was only through our feelings, instincts, visions, signs or miracles (eg. Mark 13.22, Mark 7.20-23). Discuss.

8. Spend some time praying for those requesting prayers for healing (Newsletter).