spiritual gifts - studies

8/6/2019 Spiritual Gifts - Studies

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Discovering and Using Our Spiritual Gifts

ServingtheBodyofChristWe all love gifts, whether ones we give or ones we receive. There

is something exciting about opening a parcel to find out what lies

inside! And that is key: the parcel has to be opened and the gift

taken out in order to be used.

Just as each of

us has one

body with many

members, and

these membersdo not all have

the same

function, so in

Christ we who

are many form

one body, and

each member

belongs to all

the others.

Romans 12:4-5

SPIRITUALGIFTS

Februar

2011

Picture courtesy of www.lumaxart.com

Nowa

boutspiritualgifts,

brothers,

Idonot

wantyoutobeignorant.

1Corin

thians12:1

Many Christians are in the

unopened parcel stage when

thinking about and using the

spiritual gifts that God has given

us. We know that God gives gifts

(we have read our Bibles, after

all) but we are unsure - or

unaware of - what our particular

gifts are. The purpose of this

series of studies is to help us all

see the reasons for the gifts God

gives us, why we should use

those gifts, and then to see

where in ICP or elsewhere our

gifts can be used.

As part of the series, there will be

an opportunity to complete a

Gifts Questionnaire which will

help pinpoint your specific gifts.

Our prayer is that the Lord will

use this series to encourage us

all in greater service and to bring

himself glory.


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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the HOLYBIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION and are copyright 1973,

1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission ofHodder and Stoughton Ltd, a member of the Hodder Headline PlcGroup. All rights reserved.


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What can I do for you?

IntroductionWhat do you understand about spiritual gifts?

Are there any specific questions you are hoping this series of studies will

answer?

What do you think are the most important issues when talking about and

using spiritual gifts?

Who has gifts?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11.

Who does Paul tell us has a spiritual gift?

Read 1 Peter 4:10-11

Who does Peter say has a spiritual gift?

What does he say we should do with that gift?


WeekOne

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2011

God would havetaken us to

heavenimmediately atconversion had

He no purpose forus here. Amongother purposes,

We are saved toserve. To equipfor service, God

gives one or more

spiritual gifts toevery child of His.He does not wantdeadwood in His

church.

L. B. Flynn


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What is the purpose of those gifts?

Read 1 Peter 4:10-11

:10 Why does Peter command us to use our gifts?

In the final part of verse 10, what does he compare using gifts to? (see

also Ephesians 4:7)

:11 What is the ultimate purpose of using our gifts?

How does Peter tell us that this is possible?

Read Ephesians 4:11-13

:12 What is the purpose of gifts such as teaching and prophecy?

Why are we all to use the gifts we have?

:13 What two things does Paul say are the purpose of using our gifts?

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2011

Spiritual gifts arefar different from

the gift of the HolySpirit in that

spiritual gifts areabilities or skills,while the gift of

the Holy Spirit is a

Person.C. R. Swindoll


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What happens if individuals in the fellowship are not using their gifts?

Wrapping upA spiritual gift is a skill or an ability that enables each Christian to perform a

function in the body of Christ with ease and effectiveness. Charles Swindoll.

How does this help you understand what a spiritual gift is?

How does it make you feel to realise that God has given you something soimportant to the health of his church?

Start to consider ways in which you can use the gifts you have.

Prayer

In your time of prayer, you might like to ask God for wisdom as you seek to

discover and then use your gifts.

Pray also that through your service, glory will be brought to Gods name.

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2011

God doesn't callthe qualified; he

qualifies thecalled."


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If not for you.

IntroductionTake a minute or two to go over the main points from last weeks study.

What do you think the difference is between a natural ability and a spiritual

gift?

Our attitude

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.

What is Pauls main point here?

Why do you think he makes it three times?

What response does he expect of us?

Read Romans 12:3

What mistakes does Paul suggest we can all make in our assessment of our

spiritual gifts?


WeekTwoSPIRITUALGIFTS

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2011

In fact God hasarranged the partsin the body, everyone of them, just

as he wantedthem to be. If theywere all one part,where would thebody be? As it is,

there are many

parts, but onebody.

Paul, the apostle


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Read Hebrews 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:11

What do these verses tell us about the source of our gifts?

Why is it important to remember this truth?

The gifts

Read the passages below and make a list of the various gifts that you find

there. What does the writer say about them (if anything) and what reaction doyou have?

1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians

4:11; 1 Peter 4:11.

Wrapping up

As we come to the end of this weeks study, ask yourself whether you are in

the habit of looking down on some gifts while looking up to others.

PrayerPray that God will give you insight to your gifts, the desire to use them for his

glory, and the humility to accept them truly as gifts.

During the coming week, complete the gifts questionnaire you will find on the

following pages so you can use it for discussion next week in the seminar.

Being spirituallygifted is not thesame as being

spiritual. We mustnot confuse the

gifts of the Spiritwith the fruit of

the Spirit.

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1) People seem to be willing to follow myleadership without much resistance.

4 Strongly Agree3 Agree Somewhat2 Undecided1 Disagree Somewhat0 Completely Disagree

2) I like to proclaim God's Word to fellowChristians.


3) It is a joy for me to proclaim God's plan ofsalvation to unchurched people.


4) It is enjoyable to have the responsibility ofleading other people in their spiritual life.

4 Strongly Agree3 Agree Somewhat2 Undecided

1 Disagree Somewhat0 Completely Disagree

5) I'm excited by helping people to discoverimportant truths in the scriptures.


6) I find special joy in singing praises to Godeither alone or with other people.


7) It is enjoyable to motivate people to a higherspiritual commitment.


8) People with spiritual problems seem to cometo me for advice and counsel.


9) I received excellent marks at school.

4 Strongly Agree3 Agree Somewhat2 Undecided1 Disagree Somewhat

0 Completely Disagree10) There is great joy in doing little jobs around

the church.


Spiritual Gifts Discovery Tool

There are a total of 110 statements in the gifts discovery tool. Many of you will have done similarthings in the past, but gifts develop over time so completing this may still be of use. For eachquestion indicate ONE response. Once you have answered all the questions, transfer the answersto the profile sheet which you will receive from your study leader. Total your scores for each of the

gifts. Each gift will have a score between ZERO and TWENTY. Order the gifts in descending orderof score. Higher scores indicate your more dominant gifts.


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11) I look for opportunities to assist people intheir work.


0 Completely Disagree

12) There is great joy in leading people toaccomplish group goals.


13) I like to organise people for more effectiveministry.


14) There is great satisfaction in giving largeamounts of money for the Lord's work.



15) I feel great compassion for the problems ofothers.


16) It seems easy to perceive whether a person

is honest or dishonest.


17) I am ready to try the impossible because Ihave a great trust in God.

4 Strongly Agree3 Agree Somewhat

2 Undecided1 Disagree Somewhat0 Completely Disagree

18) There is great joy in having people in myhome.



19) I find that the repair and maintenance ofthings in my environment come easily to me.


20) I seem to recognise prayer needs beforeothers.


21) I enjoy the opportunity to pray with and for aperson who is physically ill that they may bemade well.



22) I adapt easily in a culture different from mine.


23) I feel a sense of authority in my relationship

to the group.


24) I like to proclaim the Word of God to comfortothers.




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25) I seem able to determine when the Spirit hasprepared a person to receive Jesus Christ



26) It is exciting to provide spiritual leadership fora congregation.


27) Teaching a Bible Class is one of the mostenjoyable things I do (or could do) in the

Church.


28) God has given me the ability to play amusical instrument and I enjoy it.



29) It is a joy to give encouragement to peoplewho are discouraged.


30) I enjoy providing solutions to difficultproblems in life.


31) It seems easy to learn difficult truths.



32) I enjoy doing routine tasks for the glory ofGod.



33) I enjoy helping with the emergency tasksaround the Church.


34) People seem to enjoy following me in doingan important task.


35) There is joy in making important decisions.



36) I find real joy in giving a generous portion ofmy money to the Lord.


37) Visiting people in retirement homes gives mea great satisfaction.


38) I seem to know very quickly whethersomething is right or wrong.




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39) When things seem impossible, I'm ready tomove forward.



40) I do not feel uncomfortable when people dropin unexpectedly.


41) I have enjoyed creating various kinds of artsand/or crafts.


42) Prayer is one of my favourite spiritualexercises.



43) I have prayed for an emotionally ill personand seen the person get better.


44) It is easy for me to move into a new

community and make friends.


45) I have little fear in leading people where Godwants them to go.



46) I enjoy relating and sharing God's Word tothe issues of the day.



47) I feel a burden to share the Gospel withpeople.


48) I like to assist people with their spiritualproblems.


49) It seems that people learn when I teach them.



50) I have enjoyed being involved with Church orother musical productions.


51) I like encouraging inactive church membersto become involved Christians again.


52) It seems that people generally follow myadvice.




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66) I am able to relate well to Christians ofdifferent locations or cultures.



67) I appreciate the opportunity to proclaim God'sword to others.


68) It is important for me to speak God's Word ofwarning and judgment in the world today.


69) It is a joy to share what Jesus means to mewith an unchurched neighbour.



70) People like to bring their troubles & concernsto me, because they feel I care.


71) One of the joys of my ministry is training

people to be more effective Christians.


72) I feel secure in the fact that my musical abilitywill be of benefit to other people with whom Icome in contact.



73) People who are feeling perplexed often cometo me for encouragement and comfort.


74) I feel that I have a special insight in selecting

the best alternative in a difficult situation.


75) I have a clear understanding of Biblicaldoctrines (teachings).



76) I find more satisfaction in doing a job thanfinding someone else to do it.


77) I appreciate a ministry of helping other peopleto bear their burdens.



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78) It is a thrill to inspire others to greaterinvolvement in church work.



79) The development of effective plans for churchministry gives me great satisfaction.


80) It is a joy to see how much money I can giveto the Lord.


81) I enjoy ministering to a person who is sick inthe hospital.



82) I can judge well between the truth and errorof a given theological statement.


83) People seem to view me as one who believes

everything is possible.


84) When missionaries visit our church I (would)like to invite them to my home.



85) I see that the results of my working withvarious objects in God's creation help toimprove and beautify what other people havenot seen nor developed.



86) I faithfully pray for others recognising thattheir effectiveness and total well-beingdepends on God's answer to prayers.


0 Completely Disagree87) I like to participate in ministry to the physically

or emotionally ill and pray for their recovery.


88) The thought of beginning a new church in anew community is exciting to me.


89) I enjoy training workers in the congregation.


0 Completely Disagree90) In a Bible class it seems essential to share

God's Word even if it irritates others.



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91) I feel a deep concern for the unreachedpeople in my community.



92) I enjoy a close relationship with people in aone to one situation.


93) It is easy to organise materials for teaching aBible class.


94) Leading others in singing songs of praise toGod or for pure enjoyment is personallysatisfying.



95) I would rather call on a troublesome family inmy Church than an unchurched family.


96) I have a strong sense of confidence in mysolutions to problems.


97) It is an exciting challenge to read and study adifficult book of the Bible.



98) I like to do things without attracting muchattention.


99) If a family is facing a serious crisis, I enjoythe opportunity to help them.


100)There is great satisfaction in having othersfollow me in performing a task.



101)I would rather make decisions for the groupthan persuade them to reach the samedecision.


102)I can give sacrificially because I know thatGod will meet my needs.



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103)It is a special satisfaction to visit peoplewho are confined to their homes.



104)I often seek the motives of a person andlook beneath the words.


105)When people are discouraged I enjoy givingthem a positive vision.


106)People seem to enjoy coming to my house.



107)There is pleasure in drawing, designingand/or painting various objects.



108)I find myself praying when I possibly shouldbe doing other things.


109)I feel strongly that my prayers for a sickperson help bring wholeness to that person.


110) More than most, I have a strong desire tosee all people of other communities andcountries won to the Lord.



The Parable of the Spilled Coffee

A Bible study group met in a home to study how various ministries should work in the bodyof Christ. One member commented, I dont understand how different gifts can worktogether.

At that moment a woman accidentally dropped her cup, which broke and spilled coffee all over thefloor. Each group member responded differently to the mishap, according to their spiritual gift.The teachergave some advice. Next time, if you put your cup on the coffee table, that wonthappen.The administratorresponded by organising a clean-up committee. Bill, please find a mop. Sally,could you help him with a towel?Bill, who had the gift ofservice, hurried to get the mop.Sally, who had the gift ofhelps, followed Bill and said, Ill help you!The person with the gift ofexhortation said, We all make mistakes, so dont let it get you down.The person with the gift ofmercy put her arm around the woman, patted her hand and said, I feelso sorry for you.The person with the gift ofgiving exclaimed, Ill buy a new set of coffee mugs to replace thebroken one!They all used their various gifts together to resolve the situation.


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Its all good

IntroductionHaving received the Discovery Tool Profile Sheet, transfer the scores from

the questionnaire and write your gifts in descending order in the table on page

3

Spend a few minutes discussing the result.

Is this what you expected?

How, if at all, have you been surprised by the result?

As you discuss with other people that you know, are their results what you

would have expected (try to be encouraging in this!).

Putting it together

Take each of your three major gifts and list how you are using them at the

moment.

Gift 1:

Gift 2:


Seminar

Envy comes frompeople's

ignorance of, orlack of belief in,their own gifts.

Jean Vanier

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Gift 3:

What do I need to change or do in order to develop and use my gifts moreeffectively?

As part of the body of Christ, how can I use my gifts more effectively in the

following circumstances?

1 in the home

2 in the local community

2 at work

3 within the church family, e.g. Sunday morning, small groups etc.

4 through the church family, e.g. compassion ministries, outreach etc.

And God chose

the small things,things that peopledespise. Yes, hechose even the

things which seemto be nothing. Hedid this to destroy

the big things.He did this so thatpeople would not

be proud beforeGod.1 Corinthians

1:28-29(WEV)

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2011


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5 elsewhere

Who will I speak to about this?

Prayer

Pray that the Lord will open up areas of service where you can use your gifts.

Fan into flamethe gift of God,which is in you

through the layingon of my hands.For God did notgive us a spirit of

timidity, but a spiritof power, of love

and of self-

discipline.2 Timothy 1:6-7

To ponder

Natural AbilityPresent from natural birth

Operates through common grace

and in society

Communicates any subject

Often yields just understanding of

topic

Spiritual GiftPresent from spiritual birth

Operates through special grace and

the church

Communicates biblical truth

Prepares for involvement and

obedience

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Love minus zero

Introduction

Discuss in what ways - if any - this study has helped you understand your

spiritual gift and how you might use it.

Read Romans 12:9-21

Look at all the things Paul says we should and should not do.

Which do you find the easiest to obey?

Which do you find the most difficult?

Why do you think this is?

What is it that enables us to live in the way Paul commands?

To love a personmeans to see himas God intended

him to be.F. Dostoevsky


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Sincere Love

Paul starts this section by saying that love should be sincere. Other ways of

translating this word are genuine or without hypocrisy.

How would you characterise sincere love?

Why does Paul put this section about love immediately following teaching on

gifts?

Read Romans 12:10

What are the two commands that Paul gives the Christians in Rome?

What do they mean in everyday Christian living, and why are they important in

the context of the gifts God has given us?

How would we show devotion and honour in practical ways as we exercise

our spiritual gifts?

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Note how this passage immediately follows Pauls teaching on gifts.

:8-12 What does Paul tell us about spiritual gifts?

So then, each ofus will give an

account of himselfto God.

Romans 14:12

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What should this encourage us to be and do?

Wrapping upTake a few minutes to consider how this study has (or has not) helped you in

discovering your spiritual gift.

PrayerPray that you may be given grace by God to thankfully receive the gifts he has

given you and to use them to his glory.

God gives us giftsto empower us toaccomplish his

calling. They arenot chosen and

you can'texchange them.God's purpose

and plan for us is

unique, and so arethe gifts he givesus.

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FurtherNotes

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February

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International Church of PragueBox 91, IBTS, Nad Habrovkou 3

Jenerlka, 164 00 Praha 6

(420) 296 392 [email protected]

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