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Current Study: Discover Your SHAPE

 

We are excited to begin our new 6-week study, SHAPE: Discovering Your Unique Design for Ministry. This study will help us explore how God has uniquely created each of us for a purpose.

The foundational truth we'll return to is that only you can be you. God has given you a special combination of Spiritual Gifts, Heart (passions), Abilities, Personality, and Experiences that make you His masterpiece. Together, we'll uncover how your unique SHAPE prepares you to serve God and others in a way that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to you.

 

Session 1: Only You Can Be You

 

In our first session, Pastor Bryce and the group explored the core concept of the SHAPE study: that understanding our divine design is the key to finding our purpose. We are not meant to compare ourselves to others but to embrace the creative best God has placed within us.

 

A Deeper Dive into Our Discussion

 

1. Why Are We Here? Pastor Bryce began by asking what brought us to the study. The responses from the group were honest and insightful, showing a collective desire to grow:

  • Some of us feel that "other people see it in you before you see it in you," and we're here to recognize our own talents.

  • Others feel a need for clarity, noting that Bible studies like this are beneficial for "hearing what he's trying to tell me better".

  • For some, it's about getting back into ministry after being away for a while and wanting to see what God has in store next, recognizing that while our gifts don't change, they are often refined over the years.

2. You Are God's Masterpiece The video teaching reminded us that Ephesians 2:10 says,

"We are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago". This idea brought a wide range of reactions from our group:

  • Some felt

    humbled by the thought.

  • One member shared feeling a bit "embarrassed," reflecting the struggle many of us have with seeing ourselves through God's eyes.

  • Another humorously related to a modern art masterpiece, where it feels like "somebody just threw a bunch of paint on there".

  • One member shared a powerful insight from Ephesians 1:18, reminding us that God considers His holy people to be His

    "rich and glorious inheritance". This shifts our perspective from what we inherit from God to the incredible value He places on us.

3. Are You 'In SHAPE' or 'Out of SHAPE'? We were challenged to assess if we are living in alignment with our God-given design.

Signs of Being "In SHAPE": Focus, Fulfillment, and Fruitfulness.

Symptoms of Being "Out of SHAPE": Frustration, Fatigue, and Fear. 

One member shared a relatable story about teaching her Sunday School class. She described preparing diligently, only to face a class with inconsistent attendance and behavioral challenges. She admitted, "I don't feel fulfilled... when I've had the class like that". This honest reflection perfectly captures the frustration that can come from serving in challenging circumstances, even when our heart is in the right place. The group affirmed that life is a marathon, not a sprint, and we can move in and out of being "in SHAPE" at different seasons of life.

4. The Danger of Comparison A key takeaway was to stop comparing ourselves to others. God didn't use a "cookie cutter" when He made us. We all have a unique mix of gifts, and trying to be like someone else is a disservice to the way God made us. This applies not only to us as individuals but also to our church as a whole. Our focus should be on the unique job God has called us to do right here in Mexico, MO, not on being bigger or better than another church.

 

Pastor's Closing Reflection: The Dash

 

Pastor Bryce closed the session by reading a poem titled "The Dash." It speaks of the dash on a tombstone between the date of birth and the date of death, representing our life on earth. The poem challenges us to consider what truly matters: not what we own, but

"how we live and love and how we spend our dash". Applying our unique SHAPE directly affects how we spend that dash and the legacy we leave for God's glory.

Click Here For The Session 1 Video

 

Engage Throughout the Week

 

The conversation doesn't have to end on Sunday night! Use the space below to reflect on this week's lesson, ask questions, and encourage one another.

 

Discussion Prompts:

 

  1. In our group, members shared feelings of being humbled, embarrassed, or even like a "messy painting" when called God's masterpiece. Which reaction do you relate to the most, and why?

  2. One member shared her experience of feeling unfulfilled and frustrated in her ministry role. Can you relate? Share a time when you felt the symptoms of being "out of SHAPE" (Frustration, Fatigue, Fear).

  3. After hearing "The Dash" poem, what is one thing you'd like to change about how you are "spending your dash"?

 

 

This Week's Assignment

 

As we begin this journey, take some time this week to pray and reflect on the following question:

  • What is the one thing you want God to do in you and through you over the next six weeks of this study?

Write it down in a place where you can see it and review it. This will be your personal focus as we explore your unique SHAPE.

Note: The study books will be arriving soon! We will send out a text and a notification on the church app as soon as they are available for pickup. The videos for each session will also be linked here if you happen to miss a week.