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8 - A Deeper Look at Spiritual Gifts |
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LESSON EIGHT - “A Deeper Look at Spiritual Gifts”
INTRODUCTION:
Each of us has been given a gift. Will we unwrap it and use it?
* Imagine this gift being a pair of shoes that fit you perfectly. Will you continue to wear shoes that may be a misfit without opening the box to find a better fit?
* Imagine God’s spiritual gifts of service to us. Will we continue to serve in an area that may not fit us without opening the box to find our gift?
See page 1 of handout, “I want you to imagine a church where…”
* What do we have to lose? If we don’t open it: productivity, passion, fulfillment, connection to God.
DIGGING DEEPER:
* The Biblical Concept of “Spiritual Gift.”
1. We who are Christians have a gift(s).
2. The concept of charisma (“gift of grace”)
a. Our spiritual gifts are gifts of grace from God, in the same way salvation is a gift. Romans 12:6
b. Spiritual gifts are gifts of grace to other people as well: “faithfully administering God’s gifts their various forms.” I Peter 4:10
* Spiritual gifts vs. Natural Talents.
1. Is there a difference? What is the relationship of gifts and natural talents?
a. They share similarities, but they are different.
b. Of course the key difference is the Holy Spirit of God, empowering the believer—but does a spiritual gift look any different (physically)?
2. The Spirit transforms natural abilities into spiritual gifts. What does this transformation look like?
a. Lies in the purpose of spiritual gift: I Corinthians 12:7, Ephesians 4:12—edification of the Body.
b. The Christian’s orientation of using his/her abilities is transformed and shifted from the self to others.
c. “For a new Christian God has the power to give and individual a new gift or He could enhance or enrich and existing talent into a ‘special gift of service.’”
* The Gift Lists.
1. There is no exhaustive list of all the gifts of the Spirit anywhere in the New Testament. What is the significance of these gifts varying from passage to passage?
a. Spiritual gifts are specific to situations.
i. E.g., sign gifts.
ii. There are gifts in our modern setting that were not applicable to the first century because of our culture differences. (e.g., computer skills used for the Building up of the Body)
1. Tim Sitler.
2. If gifts are specific to situations, what are gift areas of deficit that are needed at Pleasant Valley?
* “Unwrapping” your gift.
1. Which of the gifts on the gift lists are descriptive of you?
2. Where is your passion?
a. What kinds of service do you care the most about?
b. Romans 12:11. Passion is fueled by service, and service by passion.
i. Passion is the spiritual energy, power, or breath of God.
3. “It is not enough to have been given a spiritual gift from God. We must develop a passion for using that gift in service in the Kingdom.”
CONCLUSION:
* Ephesians 2:10. God prepared our good works in advance. Will we step up to the challenge and unwrap our gifts?
* “Imagine your life of service if you fully and completely used your gifts to the glory of God!”
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