The Garibaldi Cookie of Christ

Prayer: Invite Jesus into your time together; give Him permission to speak to you and work in your heart, mind, imagination and will.

Read paraphrase of 1 Cor. 12:12-27

“The “Garibaldi Cookie” has many different ingredients, but the many ingredients make up one whole tasty cookie. So it is with the ”cookie of Christ”. Some of us are Swiss, some are German, some are Hungarian, some are Italian, some are Polish, some are American, some are Canadian, some are employees, some are business owners, some are male and some are female, some are teachers and some are students. Some have been given the gift of prophecy, some the gift of helps, some the gift of knowledge, some the gift of compassion, some the gift of teaching, some the gift of healings, some the gift of wisdom, and some the gift of giving. Some butter, some the sugar, some eggs, some vanilla, some molasses, some baking powder, some baking soda, some flour, some oats, some sunflower seeds, some bran – and you know how some of us need our bran. Still some chocolate chips and raisins. But we have all been immersed into the one batch of Spirit infused cookie dough – and we share the same Spirit enriched connection.

Yes, “the Garibaldi Cookie of Christ” has many different ingredients, not just one ingredient.  If the oatmeal says, “I am not a part of the cookie because I am not the chocolate chips,” that does not make it any less a part of the cookie.  And if the salt says, “I am not part of the cookie because I am not the sugar,” would that make it any less a part of the cookie? If the whole cookie were a blob of sugar, how would that sit with your stomach? Or if your whole cookie were dry oats, how would that taste to the world?

But the Garibaldi Cookie has lots of ingredients, and God has added each ingredient just as He sees fit.  How strange the cookie would be if it had only one ingredient! Yes, there are many ingredients, but only one Garibaldi Cookie. The sunflower seeds can never say to the eggs, “I don’t need you.” The flour can’t say to the baking soda, “I don’t need you.”

In fact, some ingredients of the Garibaldi Cookie that seem tasteless and least important, like baking soda, are actually the most necessary. And the ingredients we regard as less honorable like salt or eggs are those we treat with the greatest care. So we carefully guard and value those ingredients that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts like sugar and chocolate chips do not require this special care. So God has put the Garibaldi Cookie together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that may seem tasteless on their own, or seem to lack substance. This is a beautiful example of how all these ingredients need one another and when blended together just right, make something so full of taste. If one ingredient is missed, or has spoiled, the rest of the cookie suffers with it. And if one part is honoured and seen as important, all parts become what they are intended to be, complimented and made rich by one another. All of you together are Christ’s ‘Garibaldi Cookie', and each of you is a very special ingredient of it!

1. What were your take-aways from this last Sunday?

2. Fun question. Looking at the ingredients of the Garibaldi Cookie, which two ingredients would you like to be? Then share why you chose those. I would choose chocolate chips and oats. Why? I love chocolate and also like to think I am "somewhat" healthy. Perfect blend of fun and healthy!

3. The River Church Garibaldi Cookie has a unique SHAPE here in Squamish. Try to imagine SHAPE as one aspect of the character and likeness of Christ. God wants to use each of us to "edify" or help build up the River to be more and more like Jesus. You help make it the SHAPE it is. 

I would like each of you to talk about your unique SHAPE, and how you contribute to, or would like to contribute to the over-all SHAPE of the River.

• Spiritual Gifts 
  • Apostles
  • Prophets
  • Evangelists
  • Teachers
  • Those who do miracles
  • Healing Gift
  • Helpers or Service
  • Encouragement
  • Giving or generosity financially
  • Kindness
  • Leadership
  • Unknown languages (tongues)

Which spiritual gifts has the Holy Spirit given you? Which ones do you desire God give you? Have you ever thought that maybe God has given them to you but they currently lie dormant in you. Hiding way back in the cupboard perhaps.

• Heart or Passion

 What are you passionate about? What gets you up in the morning? Music? Teaching kids the arts? Outdoors? Sports? If so, what sport? Baking? Farming? What are you passionate about? If it brings you joy, what do you think it evolkes in your heavenly Father? How might God want to use this passion He gave to you - for His glory?

• Abilities

 What natural abilities has God given you? These are different then your spiritual gifts. Organizational abilities? Construction? A Trade of some kind? Languages/linguistics or mathmatics? Public speaking? Leadership? Politics? Parenting. Counseling or Coaching others. God wants to use your natural abilities as well as your spiritual gifts. 

• Personality

 What personality type are you? If you have ever done Myers Briggs, what are your letters. I am an ENFP. Look it up and see if it fits. Or maybe you better identify with this.

Listed below are the characteristics of each temperament. Read them through and bat around which you think are your top two. If someone is stuck, maybe give them some insight on how you experience them. Remember, who you are is to be celebrated. But with every strength there is a weakness or shadow side. 

Lion (Choleric/Dominance)

Strengths– Visionary, practical, productive, strong-willed, independent, decisive, leader

Weaknesses– Cold, domineering, unemotional self-sufficient, unforgiving, sarcastic, cruel

Otter (Sanguine/Influence)

Strengths– Outgoing, responsive, warm, friendly, talkative, enthusiastic, compassionate

Weaknesses– Undisciplined, unproductive, exaggerates, egocentric, unstable

Golden Retriever (Phlegmatic/Steadiness)

Strengths– Calm, easy-going, dependable, quiet, objective, diplomatic, humorous

Weaknesses– Selfish, stingy, procrastinator, unmotivated, indecisive, fearful, worrier

Beaver (Melancholy/Compliance)

Strengths– Analytical, self-disciplined, industrious, organized, aesthetic, sacrificing

Weaknesses– Moody, self-centered, touchy, negative, unsociable, critical, revengeful

• Experience

 What is your life experience which God desires to use for His Kingdom purposes? Remember, God wastes nothing. He can and will redeem it all for His purpose, if we let Him. My life experience is growing up in an alcoholic broken home/divorced parents/a number of significant losses/church life/positive mentors etc. What does this look like for you?

Talk about your SHAPE and how contributes to The River's SHAPE and how God might want to use us in Squamish.

Talk & Pray.