Monday, August 25, 2014

Sunday Sermon Notes:7 Day Spiritual Gifts Challenge

This past sunday our pastor challenged us to examine our lives by keeping a journal for the next 7 days to see if we are running the race God has called us to and to see if we are using the gifts God has given us for His glory.
A few questions to consider during this challenge:
-Do you have a spiritual father?  Someone who you can be accountable to.
-Are you a spiritual father?
-Are you making spiritual children?
-Are you making disciples?
-Are you sharing the Gospel?

In order to be fully effective in running the race God has called us to and sharing the good news of the Gospel,  we need to figure out what spiritual gifts God has given us and focus on strengthening and using those gifts. 

1.The Heidelberg Catechism addresses  the use of gifts in Q&A 55 
Q. What do you understand by "the communion of saints"? 
A. First, that believers one and all, as members of this community, share in Christ and in all his treasures and gifts.
Second, that each member should consider it a duty to use these gifts readily and joyfully for the service and enrichment of the other members.

Romans 12:4-8 ESV
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Philippians 2:4-8 ESV
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

2.Paul tells us specifically that God Himself has arranged all the members of the body of Christ, putting us in specific positions and giving us particular gifts for the good of the whole (1 Cor. 12:18). Just as each organ and member of the human body has its own role and function, each Christian has a calling that is indispensable to the health of the church. Not all of us are teachers and administrators. These public leaders are important to the body, but they are not more important than those who may work behind the scenes caring for babies in the nursery, cleaning the sanctuary, making meals for new mothers and sick families, or performing any of the other tasks that might seem lackluster (vv. 14–17, 27–30). Our gifts and talents are all necessary for a well-functioning church.

So how can we figure out what gifts God has given us?
One way is to take some time out and honestly answer questions on this Spiritual Gifts Assesment Test. After completing the test, it will show you where your strengths and weaknesses are. You can than take time to ask God how to use your strengths in being Intentional about sharing the Gospel and making disciples. 

Then for the next 7 days keep a journal of how you are being Intentional about using your gifts for Gods glory.

To recap:
These are the 3 points Pastor Scott wants us to focus on:

1.Discover
Discover the gifts God has given you.
2.Define
Define how God wants you to use those gifts.
3.Do It!
Go out and use your gifts for Gods glory

1 Corinthians 12:1-31 ESV
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For 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 ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13:1-4, 6-7 ESV
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

For defintions of gifts after taking test http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/spiritual-gifts

To listen to full sermon by my pastor Scott Collins click HERE

 From Ligonier Ministries, the teaching fellowship of R.C. Sproul. All rights reserved. Website: www.ligonier.org | Phone: 1-800-435-4343

1 comment:

  1. What a challenge! I think it essential to spend time in prayer to know what God is calling you to do. Or rather, what He is doing that you could be part of. I also know that when God wants to act through me He will give me the gift to accomplish it even if it isn't my go to gift. In the mean time I use my gifts, skills to serve as best I can in ways that best bring Him glory.

    Thank you so much for sharing this with Salt & Light

    Marissa
    http://raysofgraceandjoy.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete