Embracing Humility in Our Spiritual Gifts

 

Summary

In Romans 12:3-5, Paul addresses the concept of spiritual gifts, emphasizing the importance of humility and grace. As we delve into the understanding of spiritual gifts, it is crucial to approach them with a heart of humility, recognizing that any gift we possess is a result of God's grace. Paul warns against pride, which can easily arise when discussing our gifts, and instead encourages us to think of ourselves with sober judgment. This humility is not only a personal virtue but a necessary attitude for the unity and functioning of the church as the body of Christ.

Paul's own life exemplifies this humility. Despite his significant contributions to the early church and his profound understanding of theology, he begins by acknowledging the grace he has received. His conversion story is a testament to the transformative power of grace, reminding us that our gifts and roles within the church are not a result of our merit but of God's unmerited favor. This perspective shifts our focus from self-exaltation to gratitude and service.

The metaphor of the church as a body highlights the diversity of gifts and functions within the Christian community. Just as a body has many parts, each with its unique role, so does the church. This diversity is not a cause for division but a call for unity, as each member contributes to the well-being of the whole. Paul emphasizes that all gifts, whether public or private, are vital for the church's mission and should be exercised in a spirit of interdependence and mutual support.

In a world that often values self-promotion and individual achievement, the Christian call to humility and service stands in stark contrast. By recognizing that our gifts are given by grace, we are reminded of our dependence on God and each other. This understanding fosters a community where each member is valued and where the focus remains on serving Christ and His church.

Key Takeaways:

- Humility is essential when considering our spiritual gifts. Pride can easily creep in, but recognizing that our gifts are a result of God's grace helps us maintain a humble perspective. [03:37]

- Paul's life is a powerful example of grace. Despite his past as a persecutor of the church, he was transformed by grace, reminding us that our gifts and roles are not earned but given. [11:41]

- The church is likened to a body, emphasizing the diversity of gifts and the necessity of each member. This diversity should lead to unity, as each part contributes to the whole. [23:38]

- The concept of grace shapes how we view ourselves and our gifts. It reminds us that our worth is not in our achievements but in our identity as recipients of grace. [20:06]

- True stewardship involves using our gifts for the benefit of the church, recognizing that all we have is by grace. This perspective fosters a spirit of service and interdependence. [32:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - Reading and Prayer
- [01:37] - Indicative to Imperative
- [02:36] - Spiritual Gifts Overview
- [03:37] - The Danger of Pride
- [04:32] - Beethoven's Piano Story
- [06:46] - Humility in Greek Philosophy
- [07:46] - Grace as the Foundation
- [10:45] - Paul's Conversion and Grace
- [14:30] - Paul's Achievements and Grace
- [17:38] - Measure of Faith
- [20:06] - Unity in Diversity
- [23:38] - The Church as a Body
- [26:33] - Importance of Humility
- [32:04] - Stewardship and Gifts
- [34:50] - Hudson Taylor's Humility
- [36:54] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:3-5

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul warn against when discussing spiritual gifts, and why is this warning significant? [03:37]
2. How does Paul describe the church in Romans 12:3-5, and what metaphor does he use to illustrate this description? [23:38]
3. What is the role of grace in Paul's understanding of spiritual gifts, as highlighted in the sermon? [08:52]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's personal story of conversion and grace influence his teaching on spiritual gifts? [11:41]
2. In what ways does the metaphor of the church as a body help us understand the diversity and unity within the Christian community? [23:38]
3. How does the concept of humility, as discussed in the sermon, challenge the cultural values of self-promotion and individual achievement? [07:46]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when pride may have influenced how you viewed your spiritual gifts. How can you cultivate a more humble perspective moving forward? [03:37]
2. Consider the diversity of gifts within your own church community. How can you contribute to fostering unity and mutual support among members? [23:38]
3. How does recognizing that your gifts are given by grace change the way you approach serving in the church? [08:52]
4. Identify a specific way you can practice humility in your daily interactions, especially when discussing your talents or achievements. [07:46]
5. Think about a person in your church who has a different gift than you. How can you encourage and support them in using their gift for the benefit of the church? [31:08]
6. In what ways can you remind yourself daily of the grace you have received, and how might this impact your relationships with others in the church? [17:38]
7. How can you ensure that your focus remains on serving Christ and His church, rather than seeking personal recognition or advancement? [32:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Humility as a Foundation for Spiritual Gifts
Approaching spiritual gifts with humility is essential for maintaining a healthy perspective. Recognizing that our gifts are a result of God's grace helps us avoid the trap of pride. Paul emphasizes the importance of thinking of ourselves with sober judgment, which fosters unity and effective functioning within the church. This humility is not just a personal virtue but a necessary attitude for the body of Christ to thrive. By acknowledging that our gifts are not earned but given, we shift our focus from self-exaltation to gratitude and service. [03:37]

Romans 12:10-11 (ESV): "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility today, especially in areas where you feel particularly gifted or accomplished?


Day 2: Grace Transforms and Equips
Paul's life is a powerful testament to the transformative power of grace. Despite his past as a persecutor of the church, he was transformed by grace, reminding us that our gifts and roles are not earned but given. This perspective encourages us to view our spiritual gifts as a result of God's unmerited favor rather than personal merit. By focusing on grace, we are reminded of our dependence on God and the importance of gratitude and service in our lives. [11:41]

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (ESV): "For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's grace in a transformative way. How can you use that experience to serve others today?


Day 3: Unity in Diversity
The metaphor of the church as a body highlights the diversity of gifts and functions within the Christian community. Just as a body has many parts, each with its unique role, so does the church. This diversity is not a cause for division but a call for unity, as each member contributes to the well-being of the whole. Paul emphasizes that all gifts, whether public or private, are vital for the church's mission and should be exercised in a spirit of interdependence and mutual support. [23:38]

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Identify a gift or talent in someone else that you can encourage today. How can you support them in using their gift for the benefit of the church?


Day 4: Identity Rooted in Grace
The concept of grace shapes how we view ourselves and our gifts. It reminds us that our worth is not in our achievements but in our identity as recipients of grace. This understanding fosters a community where each member is valued and where the focus remains on serving Christ and His church. By recognizing that our gifts are given by grace, we are reminded of our dependence on God and each other. [20:06]

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: How does understanding your identity as a recipient of grace change the way you view your accomplishments and failures?


Day 5: Stewardship and Service
True stewardship involves using our gifts for the benefit of the church, recognizing that all we have is by grace. This perspective fosters a spirit of service and interdependence. In a world that often values self-promotion and individual achievement, the Christian call to humility and service stands in stark contrast. By recognizing that our gifts are given by grace, we are reminded of our dependence on God and each other. [32:04]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can use your gifts to serve your church community this week? How can you encourage others to do the same?

Quotes

"For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 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." [00:36:44]

"We need to address the issue of humility whenever we're thinking about our giftedness. And there are certain Christians who like to talk about their giftedness and to tell you what their particular gift is. And the tendency in such circumstances is always pride and boasting and it draws attention. It almost inevitably draws attention to yourself, and how you are different from the person to whom you are speaking, your self-achievement, how useful you are, how talented you are, how the church needs you, how blessed the church is to have you." [00:36:44]

"Paul is a man, above everything else, who has tasted the power of the grace of God. Now, he has dealt with this majestically, of course, in this epistle to the Romans; the doctrine of justification by faith alone, by grace alone, apart from the works of the law. You remember what he said? 'Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.' 'Naught have I gotten but what I have received; grace has bestowed it and I have believed; boasting excluded, pride I abase; I'm only a sinner saved by grace.'" [00:58:04]

"He was a blasphemer. He was a persecutor of the Christian church. You must understand that this man almost brought the early church to the very edge of extinction. He was within an inch of the church's life of snuffing it out entirely. He hated Christ. He regarded Christ as a blasphemer. That Christ claimed to be the Messiah was nothing short of blasphemy. And then on the Damascus Road, his complicity in the stoning of Stephen. He may not have lifted the stone himself, but they brought their garments and laid them at his feet. They did it at his bidding. He was responsible for it." [00:58:04]

"Every night as he went to sleep, he would think to himself, 'Grace came to me. I deserved, I deserved hell and damnation for what I did. But the risen Jesus appeared before me saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"' Well, he was persecuting Stephen, but he was persecuting Jesus. And grace came to him. He might have raised the matter of the fact that he was an apostle, the greatest apostle, superior to John and Peter and Jude and James." [00:58:04]

"He could roll out his achievements. He could say to these Roman Christians, 'Do you want to talk about gifting? Well, I've written the epistle to the Romans.' People are going to study it for the rest of the existence of this world and beyond. People are going to say about it, even secular people are going to say about it, 'It's the greatest letter that has ever been written.' There are hundreds, possibly thousands of commentaries on Romans, and still, they are turning them out." [00:58:04]

"The point is that when you realize the nature of grace, it determines how you think about yourself, and you think about yourself not too highly. You think about yourself, not with conceit. And we've just heard the citation of Philippians chapter 2, that extraordinary Christological poem that Paul employs, often referred to as the Carmen Christi, the song of Christ, 'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but emptied Himself.'" [00:58:04]

"Now, pride, that's the first thing, but, secondly, we are one body in Christ with many different parts. Verses 4 and 5, we are one body, '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.' Now, the church is the body of Christ, that's a Pauline phrase. And it's a Pauline phrase that he uses in three of his epistles, 'The body of Christ.'" [00:58:04]

"And what Paul wants to do is that before we talk about gifts, and before we can talk about people having particular gifts and different gifts and different levels of gifts, and some have one gift and others have ten gifts, before we can even go there, we need to talk about humility. We need to remember grace. But we also need to remember the unity of the one body that is the church; the unity of the body." [00:58:04]

"This was such an important truth at the time of the Reformation. This was such an important truth for Luther, the doctrine of vocation, that the man or woman who sweeps the floor has a gift, and that gift can be celebrated for God. That was not true in medieval times. We are members one of another. Fellow Christians who may have greater gifts than we do are equally members of the one body. And Paul wants us to understand that as foundational before he talks about the gifts themselves." [00:58:04]

"So, what have we seen? That when Paul begins to think about individual gifts, 'Do I have this gift? Do I have that gift?' And when some gifts seem to be more important than other gifts, or more public than other gifts, or more demonstrable than other gifts, he wants to remind you of the grace of God. That whatever gifting we may have, it is all by grace because the whole of the Christian life from beginning to end is of grace." [00:58:04]

"When the great Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China and the founder of the China Inland Mission, and he was speaking one time at a Presbyterian church in Melbourne in Australia. And the moderator, it was the general assembly, and it was meeting in Melbourne of a Presbyterian denomination, and they had invited Hudson Taylor to come and speak. And the moderator was using all kinds of grandiloquent terms and introducing Hudson Taylor as their illustrious guest. And Taylor stood on the podium quietly, and said, 'Dear friends, I am a little servant of an illustrious Master.'" [00:58:04]

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Transcript
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