Spiritual Gifts Lesson 15: What Every Christian Needs to Know About Spiritual Gifts

I.Introduction A. The New Year is Coming. B. Men are always seeking something new: 19 So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some surprising things to our ears, so we want to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling or listening to something new.) (Acts 17:19-21)

C.Humanly speaking, there is nothing truly new. What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth (Ecclesiastes 1:9). D.Only God can do something new (and improved), and He has done it! Spiritual gifts are a significant part of God’s “new” work. E.This lesson will focus on some significant guiding principles for the discovery, development, and deployment of spiritual gifts.

II.Principles pertaining to spiritual gifts A.Spiritual gifts are God’s supernatural enablement to empower Christians for service 1.Gifts are not the enhancement of our strengths -- human strengths on steroids 2.Instead, spiritual strengths are required because of our weakness a.Salvation – John 3:8; 1 Corinthians 2:3-5; Titus 3:5 b.Sanctification – Romans 6-8 c.Grasping God’s Word – 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

d.Prayer – Romans 8:26-27 e.Service 1)1 Corinthians 1:27 2)1 Corinthians 2:1-5 3)1 Corinthians 4:10 4)2 Corinthians 11:30 5)2 Corinthians 12: But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

3.When God uses those who are weak and foolish it brings glory to Himself. 26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29 so that no one can boast in his presence. 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

4.If we are to act out of our weakness, then we must act in faith (Romans 12:3, 6). B.Since spiritual gifts are not a manifestation of our own human strength or wisdom (the flesh), and produce spiritual change in others, then our message and our methods must not appeal to the flesh ( 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 312; 4:1-2).

C.Spiritual gifts must be developed. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress (1 Timothy 4:14-15). 6 Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands (2 Timothy 1:6 ).

D.Spiritual gifting and ministry are more diversified than we tend to think 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). 1. Books and seminars by successful folks (see 2 Corinthians 10:12)? 2. Can we truly measure spiritual success (1 Corinthians 4:1-5)?

E.While spiritual gifts and ministry are unique for every believer, our gifts and ministries are not to be autonomous Our gifts and ministries give us a part in the choir, not a solo spot on center stage. 1.Gifts are for the edification of others (1 Corinthians 14:26) 2.Others should be involved in their discovery, development, and deployment. Elders (1 Timothy 4:14) Fellow believers (Hebrews 10:23-25)

F.The ministries for which we are gifted are not that mystical or elusive (hard to discover) 1.It is simply about obeying our Lord’s commands (see Romans 12:9-16; 13:8-10). 2.You find your spiritual gifts by ministering to the needs of the moment, in the place God has put you (Eph. 4:29). Joseph (with Potiphar, king’s servants, (Pharaoh) David (with Goliath) Daniel (with the kings he served)

G.Spiritual gifts are both “new” and “improved” according to the Scriptures What God is doing is new: 1.Salvation – a new birth, a new creation (John 3; 2 Corinthians 5:17) 2.The church – “one new man” (Ephesians 2:25; 3:1-13) 3.The New Covenant – New Covenant ministry (2 Corinthians 3-4) 4.The new heavens and earth (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1)

5.A “new covenant ministry” (2 Corinthians 3-4) 6.John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11) 7.Jesus and His disciples (John 14:12) III.Conclusion Copyright © 2007 by Community Bible Chapel, 418 E. Main Street, Richardson, TX This is the edited PowerPoint Presentation in the Spiritual Gifts series prepared by Bob Deffinbaugh for December 30, Anyone is at liberty to use this presentation for educational purposes only, with or without credit. The Chapel believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Community Bible Chapel