Empowered by Grace: Uniting Through Spiritual Gifts
Summary
In Ephesians 4:7-12, we are reminded that God has endowed each believer with unique spiritual gifts, intended for the maturation of the church and the magnification of Christ. These gifts are not for personal glory but for the edification of the body of Christ. The Ephesian church, despite their spiritual wealth, was warned in Revelation 2 for neglecting their first love, highlighting the importance of using our gifts to remain focused on Christ. Each Christian is uniquely gifted, and these gifts are a manifestation of God's grace, meant to serve others and glorify Him.
The gifts are diverse, as seen in 1 Corinthians 12, where different gifts are listed, all originating from the same Spirit. This diversity underscores the necessity of each member in the church, as no one possesses all gifts. We are interdependent, needing each other to fulfill the church's mission. These gifts are grace gifts, unearned and undeserved, given by God for His purposes. They are supernaturally energized, enabling us to serve beyond our natural abilities, resulting in a strong church that glorifies God.
The gifts are multifaceted: they are from God, given by grace, meant for serving others, supernaturally energized, and result in a strong church. They are not talents but divine enablements for spiritual purposes. While talents can be used for God's glory, spiritual gifts have a unique capacity to minister to the body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Lists of gifts in the Bible are not exhaustive, and we are stewards of these gifts, called to manage them well.
In Ephesians 4, Paul lists apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as gifts given for equipping the saints. While apostles and prophets have fulfilled their roles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers continue to serve the church today. These gifts are for equipping the saints for service, building up the body of Christ. We are reminded not to compare our gifts with others but to be content and faithful with what Christ has given us. Each believer is uniquely designed and irreplaceable in the local church, contributing to its mission.
Key Takeaways:
- Spiritual gifts are divine enablements given by God for the edification of the church and the glorification of Christ. They are not for personal gain but for serving others and building up the body of Christ. Each believer is uniquely gifted, and these gifts are a manifestation of God's grace. [04:04]
- The diversity of gifts highlights the interdependence of the church body. No one possesses all gifts, and we need each other to fulfill the church's mission. This interdependence fosters unity and maturity within the church, as each member contributes their unique gifts. [07:03]
- Spiritual gifts are distinct from natural talents. While talents can be used for God's glory, spiritual gifts have a unique capacity to minister to the body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. They are supernaturally energized, enabling us to serve beyond our natural abilities. [10:49]
- The gifts listed in the Bible are not exhaustive, and we are stewards of these gifts, called to manage them well. We should not compare our gifts with others but be content and faithful with what Christ has given us. Each believer is uniquely designed and irreplaceable in the local church. [24:48]
- Using our gifts zealously is a response to Christ's sacrifice. We are called to serve passionately, recognizing that our gifts are the fruit of the cross. This service is not always easy, but it is empowered by God and contributes to the health and mission of the church. [39:07]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[04:04] - Gifts for Maturing the Saints
[07:03] - Interdependence in the Church
[09:09] - Grace Gifts Explained
[10:49] - Supernatural Empowerment
[13:03] - Spiritual Gifts vs. Talents
[16:28] - Joy in Using Gifts
[18:16] - Christ's Ascension and Gifts
[20:53] - Authority of God's Word
[22:30] - Equipping the Saints
[24:48] - Unique Design and Irreplaceability
[27:00] - Measured Gifts and Faith
[29:51] - Exercising Gifts
[31:03] - Prophecy and Teaching
[33:56] - Exhortation and Leadership
[35:37] - Mercy with Cheerfulness
[38:18] - Zealous Service
[39:07] - Christ's Sacrifice and Our Response
[43:03] - Church's Purpose and Gifts
[44:22] - Take-Home Truths
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 4:7-12
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
- Revelation 2:1-7
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 4:7-12, what is the purpose of the spiritual gifts given to believers? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on the maturation of the church and the magnification of Christ? [04:04]
2. In 1 Corinthians 12, what does Paul say about the diversity of spiritual gifts and their source? How does this diversity contribute to the interdependence of the church body? [07:03]
3. How does Revelation 2:1-7 describe the state of the Ephesian church, and what warning does it provide about neglecting spiritual gifts? [04:04]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the difference between spiritual gifts and natural talents? Why is it important to recognize this distinction in the context of serving the church? [13:03]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the role of apostles and prophets today, and how does it relate to the authority of God's Word? [20:53]
3. How does the sermon interpret the concept of "grace gifts" and their supernatural empowerment? What implications does this have for how believers should view their own spiritual gifts? [10:49]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the spiritual gifts you believe you have. How are you currently using them to serve others and build up the body of Christ? If not, what steps can you take to start using them? [24:48]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of not comparing our gifts with others. How can you cultivate contentment and faithfulness with the gifts Christ has given you? [22:30]
3. Consider a time when you felt particularly energized or empowered while serving in the church. How can you seek more opportunities to serve in this way? [10:49]
4. The sermon warns against neglecting our spiritual gifts. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are actively using your gifts for the church's mission? [44:22]
5. How can you encourage others in your small group or church community to discover and use their spiritual gifts? What role can you play in fostering a supportive environment for this? [46:11]
6. Reflect on the idea that using our gifts zealously is a response to Christ's sacrifice. How does this perspective change your motivation for serving in the church? [39:07]
7. Identify one area in your church where you see a need for service. How can you use your spiritual gifts to meet that need, and what steps will you take this week to get involved? [43:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Gifts for the Church's Edification
God has endowed each believer with unique spiritual gifts, not for personal glory but for the edification of the body of Christ. These gifts are a manifestation of God's grace, meant to serve others and glorify Him. The diversity of gifts highlights the interdependence of the church body, as no one possesses all gifts. This interdependence fosters unity and maturity within the church, as each member contributes their unique gifts. We are reminded not to compare our gifts with others but to be content and faithful with what Christ has given us. Each believer is uniquely designed and irreplaceable in the local church, contributing to its mission. [04:04]
Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: What unique spiritual gift do you believe God has given you, and how can you use it this week to serve and build up your local church community?
Day 2: Interdependence in the Church
The diversity of spiritual gifts underscores the necessity of each member in the church, as no one possesses all gifts. We are interdependent, needing each other to fulfill the church's mission. This interdependence fosters unity and maturity within the church, as each member contributes their unique gifts. The Ephesian church, despite their spiritual wealth, was warned in Revelation 2 for neglecting their first love, highlighting the importance of using our gifts to remain focused on Christ. Each Christian is uniquely gifted, and these gifts are a manifestation of God's grace, meant to serve others and glorify Him. [07:03]
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: Consider a time when you relied on someone else's spiritual gift. How can you express gratitude to them and encourage their continued contribution to the church?
Day 3: Spiritual Gifts vs. Natural Talents
Spiritual gifts are distinct from natural talents. While talents can be used for God's glory, spiritual gifts have a unique capacity to minister to the body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. They are supernaturally energized, enabling us to serve beyond our natural abilities. These gifts are grace gifts, unearned and undeserved, given by God for His purposes. They are not talents but divine enablements for spiritual purposes. Lists of gifts in the Bible are not exhaustive, and we are stewards of these gifts, called to manage them well. [10:49]
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: Identify a natural talent you have. How can you ask God to transform it into a spiritual gift that serves and edifies the church?
Day 4: Contentment and Faithfulness with Our Gifts
The gifts listed in the Bible are not exhaustive, and we are stewards of these gifts, called to manage them well. We should not compare our gifts with others but be content and faithful with what Christ has given us. Each believer is uniquely designed and irreplaceable in the local church. Using our gifts zealously is a response to Christ's sacrifice. We are called to serve passionately, recognizing that our gifts are the fruit of the cross. This service is not always easy, but it is empowered by God and contributes to the health and mission of the church. [24:48]
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: Reflect on a time when you compared your gifts to others. How can you practice contentment and faithfulness with the gifts God has given you today?
Day 5: Zealous Service as a Response to Christ's Sacrifice
Using our gifts zealously is a response to Christ's sacrifice. We are called to serve passionately, recognizing that our gifts are the fruit of the cross. This service is not always easy, but it is empowered by God and contributes to the health and mission of the church. The gifts are multifaceted: they are from God, given by grace, meant for serving others, supernaturally energized, and result in a strong church. They are not talents but divine enablements for spiritual purposes. [39:07]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can serve zealously in your church or community this week, as a response to Christ's sacrifice for you?
Quotes
The gifts God endows the church members ultimately serve to mature the church and to magnify Christ. We're going to talk about the gifts today from the text, and I look forward to seeing how we are all encouraged in the fact that God has endowed each of us with gifts. [00:00:13] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And so gifts are for the maturing of the saints. That's your gift that you have from God. It's not for you. It's for the maturing. It's for others, maturing the saints. Your service gift will benefit others and ultimately it magnifies Christ. [00:04:22] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Every single believer has at least one gift. And that gift, you'll see, can be packaged with other gifts, okay? I'll explain more later. In verse 11, it also says, but one and the same Spirit works all things, distributing each one individually just as He wills. [00:07:03] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Now in verse 7, not only to each one do we all have it, but it's a grace gift. Back to Ephesians, if you would. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 7 says, but to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ. And so you can call it a grace gift. [00:08:31] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
When you are operating in the area of your giftedness, the Holy Spirit's power works through a clean vessel to achieve God's ends and means. Okay? It is absolutely humbling when a Christian is used by the Holy Spirit to serve the saints and to glorify Christ. [00:10:58] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Spiritual gifts are for spiritual purposes. Not natural talent, okay? So, spiritual gifts have spiritual results and are associated with the Holy Spirit. And so, your ability to cook or design or build or read or calculate these talents, okay, these things that you can do, these are not spiritual gifts. [00:13:03] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And so, it's not a spiritual gift such as spiritual gifts. It's a spiritual gift that blesses someone. And so, it's not a spiritual as cooking and helping through cooking and that that is effective in uplifting people remember it's you not the food that has the spiritual impact or it's it's you and your service through god through you that helps erect buildings and such that is great so god's spiritual gift to you is a unique capacity to minister to the body of christ empowered by the holy spirit to serve mature and unify the church which ultimately glorifies god [00:13:28] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And so, this means that every individual here is irreplaceable. Your intrinsic value is custom designed by God. And I'm so happy you're here. And I'm so happy to see the church functioning well. And I'm so happy to see our services strong, and our Bible studies strong. [00:44:04] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And so retrospectively, we should look back and ponder Christ on the cross in our place and be prompted to serve Christ zealously. I think of Isaiah 53, 3 to 6, it says, he was despised. He was forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And like one who men hid their face, he was despised and we did not esteem him. [00:41:18] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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