Treasuring the Gift Within You Welcome to THE LEADERSHIP CONNECTION! We’re so glad you are here! I want to thank you for taking time to learn more about yourself as a leader. Your personal self-awareness and self-knowledge can be one of your greatest assets as you seek to serve God and the Church!

WELCOME!! Objectives: Before we get started, let’s take a look at what we’re going to accomplish in the next few moments.

WELCOME!! Objectives: Recognize the power of the Holy Spirit for all who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We’re focusing on the gifts of the Holy Spirit today. These are the means by which God equips His church, and every Christian has a gift or gifts. We hope you are here because you want to be a more effective leader and you want to use your gifts to the very best of your abilities.

WELCOME!! Objectives: Recognize the power of the Holy Spirit for all who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Review biblical passages revealing God’s intention for Spiritual gifts. To understand God’s gifts to each believer, we’re going to review the biblical passages that explain them.

Objectives: Recognize the power of the Holy Spirit for all who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Review biblical passages revealing God’s intention for Spiritual gifts. Learn how to identify and treasure the unique gifts you have received from God. We’re then going to take a look at how you can know which gifts you have—if you don’t already know that—and we’ll encourage one another to treasure the gifts we’ve each been given.

Objectives: Recognize the power of the Holy Spirit for all who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Review biblical passages revealing God’s intention for Spiritual gifts. Learn how to identify and treasure the unique gifts you have received from God. Learn from women leaders who significantly impacted the Apostle Paul's ministry. We’re then going to be inspired by some fantastic women in the early church—women who worked alongside the Apostle Paul in developing the first churches ever. We’ll see that these women weren’t all that different from us!

Explore practical uses for your gifts. Objectives: Recognize the power of the Holy Spirit for all who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Review biblical passages revealing God’s intention for Spiritual gifts. Learn how to identify and treasure the unique gifts you have received from God. Learn from women leaders who significantly impacted the Apostle Paul's ministry. Explore practical uses for your gifts. Then we’re going to be inspired by some fantastic women in the early church—women who worked alongside the Apostle Paul in developing the first churches ever. We’ll see that these women weren’t all that different from us!

WELCOME!! Objectives: Recognize the power of the Holy Spirit for all who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Review biblical passages revealing God’s intention for Spiritual gifts. Learn how to identify and treasure the unique gifts you have received from God. Learn from women leaders who significantly impacted the Apostle Paul's ministry. Explore practical uses for your gifts. And of course, we’ll see just how each of us can use our gifts in the most practical ways. So, let’s dive in and look to God’s Word!

Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. --II Corinthians 3:17 As we begin our time discovering the blessing of spiritual gifts let’s remember that it’s all about receiving the free gift of the Holy Spirit—about walking freely in what God is calling and enabling us to do. Let’s take a moment and pray for our time together. [Pray, asking God to help each of us to feel comfortable in each other’s presence, to be open to what we can learn today, and asking God to speak to each of us.]

FREEDOM, LIFE AND PEACE Freedom Life Peace These are signs that we are controlled by the Holy Spirit. As leaders, we want to trust the Holy Spirit and rely on His leading in everything we do. When we do this, our lives will be characterized by Freedom, Life and Peace.

FREEDOM, LIFE AND PEACE Freedom Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. --II Corinthians 3:17 Freedom. When we’re walking in the Spirit, we feel a sense of freedom. We can act and lead without fear or anxiety because the Holy Spirit is in charge.

FREEDOM, LIFE AND PEACE Life The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. --Romans 8:6 Life. When we are being led by the Holy Spirit, we have a sense that we are fully alive—we have life! We sense strongly that we are fulfilling what God has made us to do, even if we are stretching a little out of our comfort zone. We are not pulled down by our sinful tendencies or distracted by darkness or evil, but we are fully alive as we serve Him.

FREEDOM, LIFE AND PEACE Peace Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. --Psalm 46:10 NASB Peace. When the Holy Spirit is in charge, we are at peace. We feel confidence in God’s presence and His call on our lives, and we keep going forward as He leads. We may feel jitters or nerves—those are normal human emotions—but as we continue to affirm the Holy Spirit’s presence and leading, we are confident and empowered.

PRAYER AND PERSONAL TIME REFLECT…. When you consider your life in recent weeks, would you say you have been living in the Holy Spirit’s power? What do you feel when you are in the Spirit’s power? Have there been moments when you’ve been running on your own power? What do you feel when you are leading from your own power? Now, we are going to take a few moments for a time of personal reflection and prayer. You may want to jot down some thoughts about what you feel God is saying to you as you progress through this exercise. Take a couple of minutes and ask God to reveal specific ways you have been living in the Holy Spirit’s power and specific ways you have been trying to live in your own power. What does it feel like when you are walking in the Holy Spirit’s power? What does it feel like when you are leading from your own power?

PERSONAL TIME AND PRAYER RENEW Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. --Ephesians 3:22-23 Consider what God is revealing to you, and take a moment to talk to Him. If need be, ask God for forgiveness for trying to live in your own strength. Then ask for Jesus’ healing and grace, asking God to show you how to walk in His power. Ask for a fresh anointing from the Holy Spirit as you renew your commitment to be a leader who is led by the Holy Spirit.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” --Acts 2:38 When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit and the gifts that He gives. This is God’s promise, and we can trust it! Everyone has natural abilities and many of the spiritual gifts noted have a natural counterpart. This we can trust, that those who have accepted Christ have spiritual gifts!

The Holy Spirit is the Gift “When members of a church begin considering spiritual gifts, they sometimes run into difficulty by thinking that God gives them some thing – like an ingredient called administration. No, He doesn’t give some thing; He gives Himself. The Gift is a Person… Sometimes it’s easy to be a little confused about the gifts of the Spirit. This quotation from Henry Blackaby helps us understand the supernatural abilities God gives us. Let’s read this together. [Read quotation out loud together.]

“The Holy Spirit equips you with His administrative ability… “The Holy Spirit equips you with His administrative ability…. What you observe when you see a spiritual gift exercised is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit – you see the Holy Spirit equipping and enabling an individual with His abilities and capabilities to accomplish God’s work.” Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, by Henry Blackaby Thanks for reading that so well. Dr. Blackaby reminds us that when it comes to gifts, we’re not striving to have or be something special. Rather, we are simply living in to all that God has planned for us. When we exercise our gifts, we are letting the Holy Spirit be revealed in our lives!

SPIRITUAL GIFTS There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. Many of us are probably familiar with these key passages of Scripture that tell us about the gifts of the Spirit. I need a volunteer to read the words on this and the next few screens. [Call on someone if no one volunteers.]

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. SPIRITUAL GIFTS A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. Hold on for just a moment. I just want to be sure we all catch this—Why does God give us spiritual gifts? Right! So we can help each other! Your spiritual gift is meant to build up the church. That’s the reason you have it!

SPIRITUAL GIFTS To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. Okay, let’s keep reading!

SPIRITUAL GIFTS He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Okay, let’s keep reading!

SPIRITUAL GIFTS Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. Okay, let’s keep reading!

SPIRITUAL GIFTS It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. --1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Keep reading! [Let the reader finish] Good job! We encourage you to read these verses again in your Bible and to think about how and when you see these gifts being exercised.

DISCOVERY TIME S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool from Saddleback Church in California. Now it’s time to get personal! Yes, we’re going to ask each person here to think about herself for just a moment. There are many excellent tools for assessing your spiritual gifts. The tool that we are utilizing during this session is from Saddleback Church in California and it’s called SHAPE.

Your S.H.A.P.E. refers to the unique way God made you! DISCOVERY TIME!! Your S.H.A.P.E. refers to the unique way God made you! Each of us is “wired up” in a unique and individual way. One way is not better than another, and no gift is better than another. God equips each of us just as He desires.

DISCOVERY TIME!! Your S.H.A.P.E. refers to your unique Spiritual Gifts Today, we’re using a tool we’ve borrowed from Saddleback Church. For those who use the SHAPE tool, it zeroes in on all the things that go into making you who you are, including: Your Spiritual Gifts

DISCOVERY TIME!! Your S.H.A.P.E. refers to your unique Spiritual Gifts Heart Your Heart

DISCOVERY TIME!! Your S.H.A.P.E. refers to your unique Spiritual Gifts Heart Abilities Your Abilities,

DISCOVERY TIME!! Your S.H.A.P.E. refers to your unique Spiritual Gifts Heart Abilities Personality Your Personality,

DISCOVERY TIME!! Your S.H.A.P.E. refers to your unique Spiritual Gifts Heart Abilities Personality Experience And your Experience. That’s your SHAPE! We want to encourage you to learn more about your unique SHAPE by checking out the free resources from Saddleback Community Church. The website address can be found on your handout pages. For today’s purposes, we’re focusing on the “S” of SHAPE—Spiritual Gifts.

A Few Truths About Spiritual Gifts 1. Only believers have spiritual gifts. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. --1 Corinthians 2:14 Used with permission from p. 4 of the S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool, Saddleback Church California Here are some good things to know about spiritual gifts: 1. God gives spiritual gifts to people who have His Holy Spirit. Non-Christians don’t have spiritual gifts because they don’t have the Holy Spirit.

A Few Truths About Spiritual Gifts 2. You can’t earn or work for a spiritual gift. He has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. --Ephesians 4:7 Used with permission from p. 4 of the S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool, Saddleback Church California 2. Nothing you do—striving or trying to earn it—can bring a spiritual gift into your life. It is the love and generosity of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit that equips us with spiritual gifts.

A Few Truths About Spiritual Gifts 3. The Holy Spirit decides what gifts I get. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. --1 Corinthians 12:11 Used with permission from p. 4 of the S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool, Saddleback Church California Because He knows us best, the Holy Spirit is the one who decides which gift or gifts you have. It’s okay to pray or desire certain gifts, but in the end, it’s up to God to equip you to serve the Church in your unique way.

A Few Truths About Spiritual Gifts 4. I am to develop the gifts God gives me. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. --Romans 11:29 Used with permission from p. 4 of the S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool, Saddleback Church California Your gift is not a static thing—you are to develop it with enthusiasm and joy, seeking to use it to build up His Church!

A Few Truths About Spiritual Gifts 5. It’s a sin to waste the gifts God gave me. A person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. --1 Corinthians 4:2 Used with permission from p. 4 of the S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool, Saddleback Church California As with everything God gives you—any and all of your resources—you must not waste this precious gift!

A Few Truths About Spiritual Gifts 5. It’s a sin to waste the gifts God gave me. Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! --Matt 25:21 Read Matthew 25:14-30 Used with permission from p. 4 of the S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool, Saddleback Church California Like the steward who was faithful in a few things and was rewarded for his faithfulness, we want to make the very most of the gifts God gives.

A Few Truths About Spiritual Gifts 6. Using my gifts honors God and expands me. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. --John 15:8 Used with permission from p. 4 of the S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool, Saddleback Church California When we use our gifts to serve God, God is magnified and honored and we are stretched, enabling us to grow. This is good for the Church and good for us!

Unwrapping My Gifts As we begin to unwrap our gifts there are some important things to remember! Turn to the “Spiritual Gifts” handout—the one that says “Spiritual Gifts, ‘S’ as in Shape” at the top of the page. The gifts in the assessment are listed in alphabetical order - there is not a hierarchy of gifts. Every gift is an important contribution to the kingdom of God. Please check the gifts you believe you do have—not the gifts you think you should have or you would like to have!

Unwrapping My Gifts There is no hierarchy of gifts. Each one makes a vital contribution to the Kingdom of God. Remember that you are unique and God made you just as He needs you, so you can serve in your special and unique place in His Kingdom.

Unwrapping My Gifts Our gifts can change over time and we can be given specific gifts in order to answer God’s call for a specific time. Be flexible. It’s exciting to see God equip us for a specific moment in time, a specific task, responsibility, project of position! His call is often specific; His equipping and empowering are specific too. Take time now to pray briefly and complete the assessment. Your first impression is usually your best response.

Unwrapping My Gifts Remember, you can have more than one gift, but everyone has at least one. Instructions: As you read through this list, prayerfully consider if the biblical definition for each of the gifts describes you. Complete the assessment now.

Things to Consider The Holy Spirit decides what gift or gifts we receive. Every gift is important! There is no need to compare yourself with others. Just develop the unique gift or gifts God has blessed you with.

Things to Consider 1 Cor. 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Our gifts are not for our personal use but are meant to bless the church and others we minister to.

Unwrapping My Gifts Now that you have completed your spiritual gifts assessment we will move to a group exercise that we hope will Help you understand how a mix of gifts can be used in a real life setting to help further the kingdom of God. Give you insights into the women mentioned in Paul’s writings and affirm the importance of the contribution of each unique individual. Read slide

Group Exercise – Learning from unique women with different gifts who had significant kingdom impact Your facilitators will give you the verses that refer to the women in the Bible. In your groups discuss the woman you most identify with and discuss how you can apply what you have learned from her ministry in your own life. Handout the sheets entitled Treas. Gift Women Handout

Group Exercise – Learning from unique women with different gifts who had significant kingdom impact Group yourselves according to your predominant gifts as they coincide with the gifts listed for each of the women in the next slide. In essence, learn from and discuss the woman you most identify with. Read Slide - Women should group based on the gifts listed on the next slide that coincide with the gifts they just identified for themselves

Lydia - leadership, administration,  prophecy, prayer, hospitality Priscilla - teaching, hospitality, discernment Lois and Eunice (a legacy of faith) - teaching to children, encouragement, faith, mercy Phoebe - service, wisdom, giving

Group Sharing Have each group share briefly: what they learned about the woman in the Bible they explored. how they will apply what they learned. some practical ways they plan to use their unique gifts for the common good such as for church ministries, in connecting with those who do not know Christ, or in other ways?

Just the Beginning In addition to the “S” referring to SPIRITUAL GIFTS other aspects of the S.H.A.P.E. discovery tool add depth to how we uniquely use our gifts. We suggest that you print out the rest of the assessment online so you can assess other areas at home. Check out - www.sadleback.com/ministry/imag es/discoverytool.pdf ****PREPARATION NOTE***** Facilitator – please prepare a handout from the last slide of this presentation that includes this resource and others or print out the Treas Gift Additional Resources Handout

S SPIRITUAL GIFTS H HEART or PASSION A ABILITIES P PERSONALITY Just the Beginning S SPIRITUAL GIFTS H HEART or PASSION A ABILITIES P PERSONALITY E EXPERIENCES

Closing Discussion

www.saddleback.com/ministry/images/disc overytool.pdf Personality Tests: DiSC Myers Briggs Enneagram Online Resources:  S.H.A.P.E. Discovery Tool – www.saddleback.com/ministry/images/disc overytool.pdf Spiritual Gift Assessments – www.churchgrowth.org/analysis/intro.php, www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift Other Resources