:::ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS:::

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1 :::ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS::: T here are good Bible believing, God-fearing, Christ-followers who disagree on how spiritual gifts should be categorized. Why not just list them the way the Bible does? That is a good idea, but sometimes gifts are mentioned specifically and some are mentioned and others are grouped with other gifts (like leadership & administration). I don t think this difference is worth splitting hairs over if the idea of discerning a spiritual gift is so the gifts can be put to use. The primary locations for gift listing is Rom. 12:6-8, I Cor. 12:8-10 (& v28), and Eph. 4:11. A spiritual gift is an expression of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers which empowers them to serve the body of Christ, the church. Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor.12:8-10, 28-30; Eph. 4:11; and 1 Peter 4:9-11 contain representative lists of gifts and roles God has given to the church- we have referred to these as motivational gifts (think of the words motivate and motive ). May your gift be leveraged for the glory of God! What is a spiritual gift? I. What it is not A. A talent (something you just happen to be good at) B. An ability (a developed skill) C. A personality trait (whether environmental or genetic) II. What it is A. You get it when you become a Christian (Eph. 4:7, I Cor. 12:7) 1) There are no believers without gifts 2) There are no unbelievers with gifts B. It is a supernatural ability that works through God's Holy Spirit (I Peter 4:11) 1) The reason you have it is to do God's work 2) You supply the availability and God will supply the ability C. Your gift is not for you -- it is for the youth group and the Church (Eph. 4:12) D. God gave us all different ones so that we could all work together (Rom. 12:4-6) By the way, Bro. Steve preached an entire series covering each one of these gifts called You Are Gifted. You can find all of these messages online at 1

2 Leadership aides the body by leading and directing members to accomplish the goals and purposes of the church. Leadership motivates people to work together in unity toward common goals (I Cor. 12:28, Rom. 12:8). Leadership in the Greek is actually he who provides leadership in giving aid. These go first and lead by example, so that others are motivated to follow (1 Cor. 11:1). Those with the gift of leadership are quick to identify problems and show by doing how to minister to those in need ( 1 Tim. 3:1-7). A. Sense what needs to be done and how to do it B. Accept challenges and organize people/resources to solve them C. Motivate people to become a part of your vision for God's work in the youth group and Church A. Think your ideas are better than everyone else's B. Be upset when you can't be the leader and you have to follow someone else C. Treat people insensitively by trying to make them do something they don't want to III. Ministry possibilities A. Organize teams of people in the youth group to perform a specific function B. Plan and lead a Backyard Bible Club made up of several youth group members C. Take charge of problems and help solve them Pastor, elder, deacon, worship service leader, department leader, long-term planning, administration. A constant danger to all leaders is spiritual isolation. Many leaders don t have anyone who can see them as they really are and hold them accountable. Teaching has to do with instructing members in the truths and doctrines of God s Word for the purposes of building up, unifying, and maturing the body (1 Cor. 12:28; Rom. 12:6-7, James 3:1) The result of this gift is the equipping and maturing of others in the Body of Christ so that they will grow in grace and be more effective disciples. A. Strong desire to see individuals and groups learning God's Word B. Sensitive to people caught in sin -- you want to help them get back on track gently C. Can communicate easily and well to others A. Become angry at people who don't have the same love of God's Word as you B. Despair and discouragement when people don't respond to your care C. Concentrate more on your speaking/writing/helping than the people you are trying to help A. Lead small group Bible studies, be an Assistant Sunday School Teacher B. Counsel Christian friends on what to do in tough times C. Unify the youth group and Church Small group ministry, seminars, training courses, Bible studies, new members/baptism class, church growth training, mass communicating ideas in new technologies (like web or video). Some teachers can communicate certain truths extremely well, but don t practice what they teach. 2

3 Prophecy is the gifting to proclaim the Word of God boldly. This builds up the body and leads to conviction of sin. Prophecy manifests itself in preaching and teaching (1 Cor. 12:10; Rom. 12:6). Speaking what God wants said with clarity, creativity, and power. It is also called the gift of Preaching. The primary ministry in this gift is not prediction, but in confronting people with the truth about God and humankind with conviction and repentance as the result. A. Not afraid to tell individuals and groups that they are right/wrong in God's eyes B. Apply God's Word to specific situations to determine right/wrong C. Sense the need for revival in the youth group or Church A. See everything as black or white (no gray areas) B. Hurt people's feelings by loveless criticism (hate the sinner as well as the sin) C. Tend to be depressed too often about the bad stuff going on in the youth group and Church A. Help individuals see that they need to turn back to God B. Bring about revival in the youth group and Church Pastor, missions (local, domestic, or international), evangelistic events, long-term planning, outreach to the underprivileged, worship team, prayer team, small groups, counseling, prayer chains. Anyone exercising this gift must acquire a solid biblical foundation in order to better distinguish between divine inspiration and one s own favorite ideas. Exhortation is the gift of being able to encourage others by well-timed and wise counsel. Possessors of this gift encourage members to be involved in and enthusiastic about the work of the Lord. Members with this gift are good counselors and motivate others to service. Exhortation exhibits itself in preaching, teaching, and ministry (Rom. 12:6-8). A. Sense when someone is down B. Help others see the bright, spiritual side of things C. Spend time and energy cheering others up spiritually A. Become down when others don't appreciate your encouraging efforts B. Have a lot of good intentions to encourage people, but never follow through C. Become hard to cheer up yourself A. Use humor as a ministry B. Deliver or send cards/letters/gifts to people who are down C. Spend time one-on-one in person or on phone with people who are down Integrating new Christians, hospital ministry, counseling team, gift consulting, prayer team, challenging passive Christians, substance abuse counseling, family counseling, seniors ministry, online or telephone counseling, prison ministry, hospice ministry. 3

4 Ministry is a gifting that is essential to the church. Those supernaturally gifted with ministry recognize practical needs in the body and joyfully give assistance to meeting those needs. Christians with this gift do not mind working behind the scenes (1 Cor. 12:6-7, 1 Cor. 12:28; Rom. 12:7). A. See things that need to be done and do them B. Accomplish tasks very well C. Work behind the scenes to take care of things others don't think about A. Become upset when people don't notice your work B. Try and do everything yourself C. Criticize the way others do things A. Help set-up and teardown for youth activities B. Form a team to Adopta-Highway and pick up trash in the community C. Ask youth workers/leaders how you can help Supporting leaders, secretarial help, helping families move into new homes, custodial service, putting feet on physical needs within the church or community. There is a danger that people with the gift of helps may express their concern for others to such an extent that those in need actually become co-dependent. Mercy Cheerful acts of compassion characterize those with the gift of mercy. Persons with this gift aid the body by empathizing with hurting members. They keep the body healthy and unified by keeping others aware of the needs within the church (Rom. 12:8). This kind of merciful compassion transcends both natural human sympathy and normal Christian concern, enabling one to sense in others a wide range of emotions and then provide a supportive ministry of caring and intercessory prayer. A. Have deep compassion for people who are in pain (emotional/physical/mental/etc.) B. Can comfort others with ease C. Very considerate of other people's feelings A. Become angry with those who do not show mercy toward others B. Expect people to comfort you the same way you comfort them C. Lash out at those who are not considerate of you A. Reach out to the handicapped in our group/church/community B. Defend and stand by those who get made fun of C. Instill confidence and comfort in the underdogs around you Counseling sessions, intercessory prayer, ministry to the underprivileged, prison ministry, foreign missions, ministry to single mothers/fathers, ministry to the handicapped, hospital/sick calls, ministry to the chemically dependent. Some Christians with this gift are so sensitive to injustice that they tend to have an overly negative view of the world. There is also a temptation to minimize personal responsibility / repentance of hurting people in the name of mercy. 4

5 Giving empowers one in a sensitive way to detect material or financial needs and meet those needs with Spirit-inspired generosity. Recipients of help from Christians with this gift have a clear sense that God has provided, not man. Members with the gift of giving give freely and joyfully to the work and mission of the body. Cheerfulness and liberality are characteristics of individuals with this gift (Rom. 12:8, I Cor. 12:8). A. Sense a financial need/burden in others B. Give your own money to help others C. Organize people to give money to help others A. Brag about your giving B. Keep track of how much you have given and expect others or God to repay you C. Become angry at those who don't give as much as you III. Ministry possibilities A. Donate money to help someone else go to camp B. Organize youth to give money to help someone in the group/church that has a need C. Find and meet financial needs of lost people in your school/community Finance committee member, supporting missionaries, treasurer, full-time financial adviser, tithe coordinator, assisting in crises, supporting special projects, connecting dollars with needs. Some Christians with this gift believe that giving money toward certain projects is all that they need to do. 5