3.11.2001 | SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Intro….College, landscaping, Pepsi….finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life at 29...what a relief. That happens to be my spiritual gift too. That’s what we’re talking about today, discovering your spiritual gift and using it.

• Once you discover your SG, it can be just as exciting and as much of a relief as it was for me. “Oh, so this is how I can best serve the church!”
• Ideally, we only want you to serve our church in an area where you are gifted. We don’t need “warm bodies” plugged in wherever.
• i.e. Kids, love ‘em or yuck, Jr. Highers/students, same

Why do we need to know what our spiritual gifts are?

• To fill out/complete the body of Christ so the church can function to its fullest.
  1 Cor. 12:26, 1 Tim. 4:14-15, 2 Tim. 1:6-7

Until you discover and use your SG, our church will always be:
One fry short of a happy meal, An elevator that doesn’t go all the way to the top, One wheel in the sand, One oar in the water, Not playing with a full deck….

Some reasons God gives us spiritual gifts:
(Eph. 4:12-16, 1 Peter 4:10-11)

• To prepare God's people for works of service,
• So that the body of Christ may be built up
• Until we all reach unity in the faith
• Knowledge of the Son of God
• Become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
  Christ.
  

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, Faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

What is a spiritual gift?

An “official” definition: A divine, supernatural ability given by God to enable a Christian to serve and minister with effectiveness and power.

Sounds heavy, huh? IT IS! Don’t take the SG lightly. Its almost like you have become a “Super Christian."

A SG is not some natural talent we are born with. What are the natural talents we are born with?

When do we get our spiritual gifts?

When you become a Christian.

Who came up with the idea of spiritual gifts?

(A group of French monks at the turn of the century…hmm, how can we get people to serve the church better...) Actually, it was Paul who first wrote about them, through guidance from God. 1 Cor. 12:4-11 & 28, Rom. 12:6-8, Eph. 4:11

How do we go about discovering our SG?

• Pray about it. James 1:5 We usually have 2-6 gifts Ask yourself which gifts:
  • Are the most attractive to me
  • Make me feel the most comfortable
  • Do I understand the best
  • Have I already used
  • Relate particularly to the things I like to do
  • Have been affirmed in my life by Christians that I respect.
• Take the Spiritual Gift inventory
• Exercise those gifts and see how God blesses.

Review “Christian wheel”

Get on the wheel, fill out the spokes, Help us roll “true”. How are you doing in each area? (Prayer, church attendance, tithing, home fellowships, bible reading etc.)
Your answers will be the foundation and future of our church.

Conclusion: Truing a wheel

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