“F ITLY F RAMED ” Session #5 Diversity of Gifts This series was written by the General Home Missions Director, Rev. Carlton L. Coon, Sr.

B IBLE P ERSPECTIVE “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; {20} And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; {21} In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: {22} In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19 ‑ 22

R EVIEW OF P AST L ESSONS  Fitly Framed’s goal: to help you be fruitful and fulfilled in a meaningful place of service.  Fitly Framed’s process of discovery, consultation, and service  Why we are to serve: to glorify God and edify others.  How we are to serve: according to our passion, motivational gifts, and temperament  We have talked about finding your passion and finding a place for it to be utilized.

R EVIEW OF P AST L ESSONS Motivational gifts answer the “what” question. What do we do with our motivational gifts: 1. Use them to benefit others. 2. We are not to neglect our gift. 3. Our gift colors all that we see. 4. Each gift is of equal value. What we are is God’s gift to us. What we make of our lives is our gift to God.

U NIQUENESS OF THE B ELIEVER God has carefully selected each of our passions, motivational gifts, and place of service within the body. Who we are is not of our making or choosing; those things are by God’s design. I Corinthians shows our uniqueness in several places (I Cor. 12:7, 11, 18) We have each been given a unique role to play.

D IVERSITY OF B ELIEVERS When we accept that each of us has a unique design, then you can understand that when we gather together as the church: 1. There is great diversity in the body. 2. Our differences are by God’s design. Romans 12:6-8: We do our part to the best of our ability in concert with others. Synergy—One shall put a thousand to flight…

I NTERDEPENDENCE (Rom 12:5 KJV) “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (I Cor 12:27 KJV) “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” What factors hinder us from serving as His body, serving interdependently?

I N H UDDLE G ROUPS OF 4, D ISCUSS : 1. Share with your group what keeps you, personally, from being more interdependent. 2. Identify one step you could take to become more interdependent. 3. Write your answers in the space provided.

D IVERSITY I S N OT D IVISION (I Cor 12:20 ‑ 26 KJV) “But now are they many members, yet but one body. {21} And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.... {25} That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. {26} And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” We are all diverse, but we’re called to serve without division (I Cor. 12:4-6).

U NITY IS N OT C ONFORMITY (I Cor 12:17 ‑ 20 KJV) “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? {18} But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. {19} And if they were all one member, where were the body? {20} But now are they many members, yet but one body.” God did not design us to all be the same: Unity is not achieved by being alike. Unity is achieved by having the same purpose: to glorify God and edify others.

U NITY IS N OT C ONFORMITY People who are mature have identified their uniqueness and difference with others. But they do not remain independent of others; rather they understand that their own effectiveness and fulfillment can only be achieved as they offer to others their uniqueness and receive from others their differences. They understand interdependent relationships reflect God’s design for the church.

B ALANCE If we try to enter into interdependent relationships without understanding our own uniqueness or what we bring to the relationship, we are remaining dependent on others to constantly give to us. If we know our uniqueness and think that we can independently accomplish more by ourselves, we fail to see as God sees. We will also fail to glorify Him and edify others.

Y OU CAN ’ T DO THIS ALONE ! Can the lung makes its contribution on its own? Can the hand feed the poor by itself? Separated from the body, can the tongue communicate the gospel? We need each other!! And others need me!!

C ONCLUSION One’s Christian maturity is seen in his or her willingness in two areas: 1. The willingness to use his or her gift for the glory of God and the building up of others. 2. The recognition that one cannot do it all by oneself.