Your Spiritual Gifts: to serve in love

CONTENTS

Introduction

1  Your Spiritual Gifts

They are gifts

They are spiritual

Body Ministry – in One Body

2  The manifold grace of God

Speaking Gifts

Serving Gifts

3  Motivational gifts from God our Father

Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Encouraging, Leading, Giving, Showing Mercy

4  Ministry gifts from Christ Jesus

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers

5  Manifestation gifts from the Holy Spirit

The power to know: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning spirits

The power to act: faith, healings, miracles

The power to speak: prophecy, tongues, interpretation

Order of gifts: Administration

6  Make love your aim

The priority of love

The picture of love

The permanence of love

Unity in Community

7  Spiritual Gifts Questionnaire

Summary of Gifts Gifts, Check List

Conclusion: Jesus’ Example and Command

EXCERPTS

Introduction Scripture speaks of the Church as a body, a living organism that is to manifest the life of Christ from within.  To accomplish that God has so designed the body with many individual members who are equipped with unique gifts which have specific functions.  A proper understanding and use of spiritual gifts by each member of the body is essential if the body (the church) is to grow to maturity. ‘There is one body and one Spirit … But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gifts. And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ.’    (Paul)

Body ministry grows as we use our spiritual gifts. So it is important to know how our spiritual gifts apply to our lives and ministry.  This book can help you learn how to discover and to exercise your spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts can be studied in many different ways.  This study is a brief summary of the various gifts of the Spirit, not as boxes or categories, but as currents in the wind of the Spirit and currents in the river of God.

The studies cover: The manifold grace of God – speaking and serving gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11). Motivational gifts from God our Father (Romans 12:4-8). Ministry gifts from Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:11). Manifestations of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Body Ministry – in One Body Each passage on the gifts of the Spirit stresses that we are one body in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13; Romans 12:4‑5; Ephesians 4:4). The whole context of Paul’s teaching on the gifts of the Spirit is one of unity with diversity; unity in community; one body with many parts functioning in harmony. Paul repeats many themes in the three key passages in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4:

• One body: The church is the one body of Christ on earth (1 Corinthians 12:12‑27; Romans 12:4‑5; Ephesians 4:4‑6).
• Gracious gifts: They are given, not earned and not achieved (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4, 6, 8‑11; Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:7‑8, 11).
• All Christians have gifts: There are no exceptions; and each gift is important (l Corinthians 12:7; Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:7).
• Gifts differ: Value our differences; we need each other (1 Corinthians 12:4‑7; Romans 12:4‑6; Ephesians 4:7 8).
• Unity: They function in unity and promote unity (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13, 25; Romans 12:4‑5; Ephesians 4:3, 13, 16).
• Maturity: Spiritual gifts build up the body in maturity (1 Corinthians 12:7; Romans 12:9‑21; Ephesians 4:12‑15).
• Love: Love is the top priority; gifts must be used in love (1 Corinthians 13; Romans 12:9‑10; Ephesians 4:4, 15‑16).

The book Body Ministry explores this in detail with many current examples. * Jesus’ Example and Command The cover photo and design portray Jesus’ example and command: Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. … So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:3-5, 12-17)

* A valuable book for personal study and for use in small groups.