Embracing Our Spiritual Gifts for God's Glory
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that as believers in Christ, we are endowed with spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit. Drawing a parallel to Spider-Man's famous motto, "With great power comes great responsibility," we are reminded that our spiritual gifts are not just privileges but responsibilities to be used for God's glory. These gifts are divinely distributed, diverse in design, and meant to be discovered, developed, and deployed for the common good and the advancement of Christ's mission.
We began by acknowledging that each believer has the Holy Spirit living within them, granting them unique spiritual gifts. These gifts are not rewards for our actions but are graciously given by God. Just as we cannot choose our physical attributes, we cannot choose our spiritual gifts. The Corinthian church struggled with elevating certain gifts above others, but Paul reminds us that all gifts are equal because they come from the same Spirit.
The diversity of these gifts is akin to the various roles in a movie production, where each person's unique skills contribute to the final masterpiece. Similarly, the body of Christ functions best when each member uses their distinct gifts in unity. Spiritual gifts can be categorized into serving, speaking, and sign gifts, each playing a vital role in the church's mission.
We are encouraged to discover our gifts through prayer, scripture, serving in various roles, seeking feedback from others, and evaluating the impact of our service. It's crucial to recognize that our gifts are not for self-glorification but for building up the church and reaching the lost. We must resist the temptation to elevate certain gifts and instead focus on using them to glorify God.
Ultimately, our spiritual gifts are a testament to the Holy Spirit's work in us. They are tools for living out our faith and demonstrating that Jesus is Lord through our actions. As we embrace our gifts, we are called to use them responsibly, just as Spider-Man uses his powers for good. Let us commit to using our gifts to build God's kingdom, not for our own elevation, but to honor Him and serve others.
Key Takeaways:
1. Spiritual Gifts as Divine Responsibility: Just as Spider-Man's powers come with responsibility, our spiritual gifts are entrusted to us by God to be used for His glory and the common good. We must recognize that these gifts are not earned but are graciously given by the Holy Spirit. [02:25]
2. Unity in Diversity: The body of Christ thrives when each member uses their unique gifts in harmony. Just as a movie production requires diverse talents, the church needs a variety of gifts to function effectively. This unity reflects the Trinity and strengthens the church's mission. [14:33]
3. Discovering and Developing Gifts: We are encouraged to discover our spiritual gifts through prayer, scripture, and serving in various roles. By seeking feedback and evaluating our impact, we can develop and deploy our gifts for God's purposes, ensuring they are used to glorify Him. [28:34]
4. Avoiding Gift Elevation: The Corinthian church struggled with elevating certain gifts, but Paul reminds us that all gifts are equal in value. We must resist the temptation to prioritize certain gifts over others and instead focus on using them collectively to build up the church. [21:16]
5. Living Out Our Faith: Our spiritual gifts are a testament to the Holy Spirit's work in us. They are tools for living out our faith and demonstrating that Jesus is Lord through our actions. By using our gifts responsibly, we honor God and serve others, fulfilling our divine calling. [32:45]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:25] - Introduction to Spiritual Gifts
- [05:41] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [09:44] - Divine Distribution of Gifts
- [12:31] - Genuine Faith and Actions
- [14:33] - Unity in Diversity
- [17:03] - Categories of Spiritual Gifts
- [21:16] - Avoiding Gift Elevation
- [23:41] - Talents vs. Spiritual Gifts
- [28:34] - Discovering and Developing Gifts
- [32:45] - Using Gifts for God's Glory
- [35:00] - Encouragement to Serve
- [37:00] - Conclusion and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Spiritual Gifts and Responsibility
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
2. Romans 12:1-8
3. Ephesians 4:11-13
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, what is the source of spiritual gifts, and how are they distributed among believers? [05:41]
2. In the sermon, how does the speaker compare the diversity of spiritual gifts to roles in a movie production? What point is being made with this analogy? [14:33]
3. What issue did the Corinthian church face regarding spiritual gifts, and how did Paul address this in his letter? [09:44]
4. How does the speaker suggest believers can discover their spiritual gifts? List the methods mentioned. [28:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "With great power comes great responsibility" apply to the use of spiritual gifts in the church? What responsibilities do believers have when using their gifts? [02:25]
2. In what ways does the diversity of spiritual gifts reflect the unity and diversity within the Trinity, as mentioned in the sermon? [17:03]
3. How might the elevation of certain spiritual gifts over others lead to division within the church, and what can be done to prevent this? [21:16]
4. What does it mean to live out one's faith through the use of spiritual gifts, and how does this demonstrate that Jesus is Lord? [32:45]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual gifts. Have you taken steps to discover, develop, and deploy them? If not, what is one step you can take this week to begin this process? [28:34]
2. Consider a time when you may have compared your spiritual gifts to others. How can you shift your focus to using your gifts for God's glory rather than seeking validation from others? [09:44]
3. How can you contribute to the unity of your church community by using your unique spiritual gifts? Identify one specific way you can serve this month. [14:33]
4. Think about a situation where you might have elevated certain gifts over others. How can you encourage and affirm the diverse gifts within your church community? [21:16]
5. The sermon mentioned using spiritual gifts to reach the lost and build God's kingdom. Identify one person in your life who might benefit from your spiritual gifts. How can you intentionally serve them this week? [32:45]
6. How can you ensure that your use of spiritual gifts is aligned with the mission of Christ and not for self-glorification? What accountability measures can you put in place? [02:25]
7. Reflect on the analogy of a movie production. How can you better appreciate and support the various roles and gifts within your church, even those that are less visible? [14:33]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Gifts as Divine Responsibility
Our spiritual gifts are not merely privileges but divine responsibilities entrusted to us by God. These gifts, given by the Holy Spirit, are not rewards for our actions but are graciously bestowed upon us to be used for God's glory and the common good. Just as Spider-Man's motto, "With great power comes great responsibility," reminds us of the weight of our gifts, we must recognize that they are not for self-glorification but for building up the church and reaching the lost. We are called to use these gifts responsibly, ensuring they serve God's purposes and honor Him. [02:25]
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 specific spiritual gift do you feel God has entrusted to you, and how can you use it today to serve someone in your community?
Day 2: Unity in Diversity
The body of Christ thrives when each member uses their unique gifts in harmony, reflecting the unity and diversity of the Trinity. Just as a movie production requires diverse talents to create a masterpiece, the church needs a variety of gifts to function effectively. This unity strengthens the church's mission and demonstrates the beauty of God's design. We are encouraged to embrace our differences and work together, recognizing that every gift is valuable and essential for the church's growth and impact. [14:33]
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."
Reflection: How can you actively promote unity within your church by appreciating and collaborating with others who have different gifts than your own?
Day 3: Discovering and Developing Gifts
Discovering our spiritual gifts is a journey that involves prayer, scripture, and serving in various roles. By seeking feedback and evaluating the impact of our service, we can develop and deploy our gifts for God's purposes. It's crucial to remember that our gifts are not for self-glorification but for glorifying God and building up the church. As we grow in understanding and using our gifts, we become more effective in fulfilling our divine calling and advancing Christ's mission. [28:34]
Romans 12:6-8 (ESV): "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."
Reflection: What steps can you take this week to discover or further develop your spiritual gifts, and who can you ask for feedback on your journey?
Day 4: Avoiding Gift Elevation
The Corinthian church struggled with elevating certain gifts above others, but Paul reminds us that all gifts are equal in value because they come from the same Spirit. We must resist the temptation to prioritize certain gifts over others and instead focus on using them collectively to build up the church. By valuing each gift equally, we honor the Holy Spirit's work in us and ensure that the church functions as a unified body, with each member contributing to its mission. [21:16]
1 Corinthians 12:21-23 (ESV): "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor."
Reflection: Is there a gift or role within your church that you have undervalued? How can you begin to appreciate and support those who serve in that capacity?
Day 5: Living Out Our Faith
Our spiritual gifts are a testament to the Holy Spirit's work in us, serving as tools for living out our faith and demonstrating that Jesus is Lord through our actions. By using our gifts responsibly, we honor God and serve others, fulfilling our divine calling. As we embrace our gifts, we are called to use them not for our own elevation but to build God's kingdom and reach the lost. This commitment to serving others reflects the love of Christ and advances His mission in the world. [32:45]
Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV): "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you use your spiritual gifts this week to demonstrate the love of Christ and advance His mission in your community?
Quotes
"And with these spiritual gifts, with this great power, comes the responsibility to use those to glorify God. And I quickly want to pause today before we get any further into this. If that is a choice you haven't made, if you are sitting in here and you haven't made the choice to turn from your sins and turn to Jesus, the one and only Savior, I want to encourage you to make that choice." [00:02:38] (25 seconds)
"He's saying, now concerning once again, which he started doing in chapter seven. Saying, now concerning the matters which you wrote. Because in chapter seven, Paul has been hitting these specific issues that he's received from the Corinthians, the Corinthian church that they were struggling with. So now we come to this idea of the spiritual realm. Now concerning spiritual issues. He's saying, hey, I don't want you to be uninformed. I don't want you to be ignorant to the fact that the Holy Spirit is alive, the Holy Spirit is active, and the Holy Spirit has given you gifts." [00:04:03] (33 seconds)
"But he's also saying, I don't want you to be ignorant to the fact that our flesh plays into it. What we as humans do, and what the church of Corinth was doing, is they were elevating certain gifts above another. They're saying, oh, preaching is way better than the wisdom that you received in this. No, that's not the case. Each and every gift is equal because the same Spirit has given these gifts. The gifts look different. But that's what he's challenging. And he's saying, hey, now concerning this, I don't want you to be uninformed. I don't want you to be ignorant to the fact that the Holy Spirit is working." [00:04:36] (34 seconds)
"So if we're to be led by something as Christians, it needs to be the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our guide, our helper, and he's the giver of these gifts. And we have God on our side. We have God fighting with us. So don't be ignorant to the fact that God is working in you. And don't be ignorant to the fact that God has given each and every one of you gifts." [00:06:40] (24 seconds)
"These aren't some hokey pokey things that we'll never see. These are real. These are practical. These are things that God has empowered us with. So the goal of today, I got a few things I want us to accomplish today. The first one is I want us to recognize that each and every one of us, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. We have spiritual gifts. Each and every one of us. Secondly, I want us to recognize that these gifts aren't weighed or valued. These gifts aren't comparable. They're not greater than another. One gift isn't greater than another. They look different. There's a variety of gifts, but they're equal because the same spirit distributes them." [00:07:31] (38 seconds)
"On a much more real and a much more serious level, that is what the body of Christ is. Each and every one of us is gifted in different ways. And on our own, we won't function properly. But when we come together united over the mission of Christ, that is when it all works together beautifully. That's when that harmony comes together. And that is the picture that we see here." [00:15:40] (28 seconds)
"And like I said, really boiled down, this doesn't cover everything, but serving would be helping others, caring for others in practical ways. Speaking would be preaching, teaching, or sharing God's truth with others. And then signed gifts would be miraculous gifts like healing or speaking in tongues. And I want to acknowledge here, as gifts were dividing the church of Corinth, spiritual gifts can still divide the church today." [00:17:56] (31 seconds)
"But I can't help but think of spiritual gifts in the same way. God has given us gifts. And we don't want to sit at the end of our life and say, man, what would have happened if I would have developed that gift even further? Because basketball, it's not my spiritual gift. But I would hate to sit at the end of my life and say, I feel like God gifted me in that way, but I never pursued that. I never sought out how to make that happen." [00:27:05] (32 seconds)
"Because using our gifts will be challenging at times. It will push you to your limit, but the joy that will be experienced is the greatest feeling we will ever have because we will be living out the purpose God has for our life. Romans 12 .1 says, I urge you, brothers and sisters, to view your bodies or to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is your act of spiritual worship. We are gods. We are to give ourselves to him and say, God, use me how you need to use me. Lord, work in me." [00:27:47] (36 seconds)
"So I want to briefly give you five things and you can write these down if you want but if you're if you're here and you're like i don't know what my spiritual gifts are i want to give you these five things and and uh to talk through these the first one pray ask god to reveal where where he's gifted you ask the lord for guidance secondly seek guidance through scripture i know it i i say it every time i'm up here read your bible and pray feel like i'm coming back to it constantly but it's so true this is where we seek out god's wisdom pray ask god to reveal your spiritual gifts and then read it through scripture and then thirdly is i want to encourage you serve in a variety of roles serve in areas where maybe you haven't served before serve in areas that challenge you serve in areas that make you uncomfortable because that is where god can work and then that is where god can grow because if i'm just sitting by and i'm like i'm not comfortable doing anything and you ultimately going to get used i know for me i was asked to to teach on a wednesday night three years ago and that terrified me i was just preaching to students but that idea terrified me i was like i do not want to ever teach in front of people but what god did with that uncomfortableness god that uncomfortable situation god used that and you can argue today ethan you were right you can't preach you can say that to me but god took that uncomfortable situation and he grew me in that that was because i was actively pursuing that so serve in a variety of roles you" [00:28:49] (105 seconds)
"So you could be sitting here thinking, okay, where is my place to serve? Where is it? And then I also don't want you to think, okay, I know where God's gifted me, but I don't see it present in the church. I don't think I can use it here at Village Bible Church. And that might be true. But I would encourage you, talk to me, talk to Anna, talk to Pastor Keith when he's back. If you have an idea for a ministry or something that God's weighing on your heart, bring that to us. We'd love to hear you out. We'd love to talk through that." [00:32:38] (34 seconds)
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