WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS? God-given gifts talents, skills, abilities, etc. to serve others and build up the body of Christ.

WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS? God-given gifts talents, skills, abilities, etc. to serve others and build up the body of Christ.

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Ephesians 4:7-13 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.

Romans 12: 1-8 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

From the Catechism in The Book of Common Prayer: Q. Who are the ministers of the Church? A. The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons. Q. What is the ministry of the laity? A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship and governance of the Church.

WE ARE TO PUT THEM TO USE SERVING OTHERS IN LOVE Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (1 Pet. 4:10) If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13)

WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (Romans 12:4-6a)

ALL GIFTS ARE PRECIOUS All are from God All are valuable All are equal All are necessary parts of the Body of Christ Is that a radical statement?

WHAT DOES OUR CULTURE VALUE AS GIFTS?

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR GIFTS? Helps you to serve others - right fit Enjoy the fruits of the spirit the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5: 22-23) Builds your relationship with yourself and with God

CAN MANIFEST IN MANY WAYS AND FORMS Special skills Life experiences Joys, passions Personality/personal style Feedback (in community) They evolve and change over time Not just about serving in the church!

The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep needs meet. - Fredrick Buechner

DOES IT MEAN I HAVE TO DO MORE STUFF? Something new? Let go of something? How might we do what we are already doing differently?

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE YOUR GIFTS? Discernment process Prayer Service try things out Community Gifts assessments

HOW TO USE THIS SURVEY? It is just a beginning Just a tool Not necessarily complete, not the final word Be honest