Embracing Our Spiritual Gifts for God's Kingdom

I was born and raised in a Christian home with parents that desired to share the love of Jesus with my family and those around them. Even though I came to faith at a young age, I struggled a lot with putting my identity in my achievements and the things that I could do for the Lord, whether that was academically or in sports or through trying to be the best friend that I could be. I never left feeling fulfilled.

The shift in my faith, where Jesus became more than my savior but my best friend and Lord over my life, happened gradually through people like my English teacher, my soccer coach, and my parents who instilled a love for prayer, remaining in the secret place, which is where I found my identity. Now I love using worship through song as an outlet to share the gospel, and loving people intentionally through a deep relationship is how I share the love of Jesus. Jesus saved me, and now He ascended.

Good morning, Stonegate! It's good to see you this morning. We're glad you're here. Why don't you stand? We're going to get started with our responsive reading. So I'm going to have a part first; it'll be on the screen, and then you'll have a part that goes like this:

We were captives of our sin, imprisoned by our lust and bound by our addictions. But You, O Lord, have come and set the captives free. You have done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with shouts of gladness. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." You have done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. We have suffered loss, but in Christ, our fortunes are restored. We have sown in tears, but we will reap with shouts of joy. You have done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

And all God's people said, "Praise God!"

Savior has done, see, foreign, go through every storm. You'll be faithful forever. Days it's got you too great. Our Savior lives, good Hallelujah. Imagine three things: you conquered the grave, you're free, every captain, and break every chain. O God, you have to agree. Oh Jesus, every day, God of Abraham, the God of Covenant, faithful promise to say, though the stars, let my father, when you speak a word, it will come to pass. Foreign, and then our God is great, and He's a God who keeps His promises. So let's continue our worship. Thank you for that.

God of Abraham, the God of Covenant, faithful promise to say, though the stars, let my father, when you speak a word, it will come to pass. Foreign, oh my God, I love you more, faith in Jesus my acre to the ground, Found.

This morning, Stonegate, we're going to be reading from First Corinthians chapter 12, verses 1 through 31.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to mute idols. However, you were led. Therefore, I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says, "Jesus is accursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except in the Holy Spirit.

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. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit. To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

We also want to pray for those around us, so in your bulletin, you'll find a little slip of paper there that's got a prayer request on it. So I just want to give you a moment to read that and take it to the Lord. One of the ways we can encourage one another is through praying, so we're going to do that now.

We lift these things up to You expectantly, knowing that You will answer. Ask to move in this place, knowing that You're already here. So God, make us more like You. We love You. It's in Your Son Jesus' name that we pray.

A lot of time talking about that, then section four is chapters eleven and twelve, and it deals with the Lord's Supper. And then the fifth section is chapters thirteen through sixteen, and it deals with love. So that's the five sections of First Corinthians, and we are in section four right now, and we are in chapter twelve.

So today we are going to be looking at verses twelve through thirty-one, and so let me just read that section of scripture to you, and then we'll dive in.

First Corinthians chapter twelve, verses twelve through thirty-one says this:

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 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.

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. And our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts, and I will show you a still more excellent way.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 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.

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.” It doesn't work that way. The body is interdependent; everyone needs everyone in the body.

Think of Christianity as a team sport. Let me just use football as the illustration. The quarterback is the most prestigious position on the team, right? Kind of the most famous one, the one that everybody's going to see. It's going to be the quarterback.

So just think about when the Cowboys finish a game after their latest loss. Here's what you've never seen happen: you've never seen a reporter run out onto the field and do the interview with the left guard. You don't see that happen, right? They don't pick the left guard for the interview. It never happens. But every quarterback knows if you're missing that left guard, it doesn't matter how good you are as a quarterback.

Linemen aren't famous; there's no prestige for alignment, but there are no wins without them. It's impossible to win without them.

Or maybe think of it this way: what if you saw a quarterback show up to the game by himself? He was talking to someone about the importance of a team, and how the same is true for the church. He said that every gift matters, and that no one has everything. He warned against looking down on others for their lack of gifting, as it is a danger in every church.

He said that if you have the gift of faith, you may be prone to think that everyone else is a coward, and if you have the gift of generosity, you may be prone to think that everyone else is greedy. He concluded by saying that everyone should value all the gifts that make up the body, as it is the only way for the team to win.

People, if you've got the gift of mercy, you're going to have a tendency to think like this: no one else cares about the poor. It's obvious that no one in the church is reading the New Testament and sees how much Jesus cares for me because no one else is doing it like me.

If you have the gift of evangelism, you're going to have a tendency to think no one else in the church really cares that people die and go to hell. No one cares; I'm the only one around here who cares about this.

You see that it's looking at other people through the lens of your gifting, which creates the scenario where you are quickly looking down at others in their lack of gifting.

If you've been married for more than about two minutes, you know how this works, right? So, we often get married thinking this person is going to complete me, and then you live with them, right? And then you realize there ain't no completing going on here, right?

Our whole world begins to crumble when we live with them because when we live with them, we don't just see their giftings; we see their lack of giftings, right? Here is one of the key moments for every marriage: it's when a husband or wife can look at their spouse and say, "I see all of you, your giftings and your lack, and I love the way God has made you. I love you for who you are, for how God has made you, gifted you."

That is a key moment in the life of every church. We can look around a room and not look down at other people in their lack of gifting, but we can recognize they're just gifted in different ways, and we can appreciate and love them in the way that God has made them and gifted them.

Don't we all want to be in a marriage like that and a church like that? We all want to be a part of a church that appreciates how God has gifted us rather than despising us for how He hasn't gifted us, right?

Last thing, and we're done. Here's where this whole chapter is leading us, and this is really the application of the chapter.

Part five, truth number five: use your gift, friend, use your gift. Why did God gift you? Answer: your gifting is first for God, not for you. It's for God; that's why He's gifted you. It's for the glory of God; that's why He has gifted you.

And here is how you use your gifting for God: you pour out your gifts into the lives of others, into the lives of your church family. You give your gifts away. Your gifts are not meant to terminate on you; your gifts are meant to lead you to serve and pour out your life to others.

Again, this is verse seven: "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit." You have been gifted by God. Why? For the common good, so that you would take that gift and pour it out into the lives of other people.

Here's just the simple way we can all do that: by serving. Or we say this way: by using your gifts in the church by serving. That is how we obey First Corinthians 12. This is what it means to use your gift.

This chapter is leading us to serve and use our giftings for the good of others. Around Stonegate, there are dozens of opportunities to do this: our connection team, leading groups, care ministries, kids ministries, student ministries, facilities, prayer team, foster and adoption are just a few of the ways to use our giftings in this church.

Surveys are clear that the people who feel most connected to a church and are growing in their faith are those who are serving. Serving in the church is how we flourish, not just the church, but us individually. God has designed us to be on the field, using the gifts He has given us.

But somewhere along the way, we have left the field and climbed up into the stands, watching everyone else play. This is why so many people are bored in their walk with God. God has made us to get out of the stands and onto the field.

It's the fourth quarter; time is short. God has made us to use our gifts for Him. Let's make the commitment to get out of the stands and onto the field. If you haven't taken Jesus yet, take Him even now. You can hold up your life and say, "God, I'm trusting in the person and work of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. Save me, rescue me." God is so ready and willing to do that for you today.

Are we using our gifts, or are we sitting in the stands? Let's get on the field and play together. Jesus is inviting us to get our life out there, pouring out our gift into the lives of others.

Father, come now and speak to us and minister the good news of Jesus to us. God, make our hearts open and responsive. It's in the good name of Jesus we ask it. Amen.

Let's thank Him for His death, burial, and resurrection on the cross that allows us to receive those gifts, and let's faithfully commit to putting those gifts to use for our goodness and glory. Amen.

If we are to edify one another, as we stand and respond through song, let's sing this together.

There was a moment when the lights went out, when death it claimed its victory. King of Love had given up His life, the darkest day in history. They mourned across the earth, for every curse is blood atoned. One final breath, and it was finished, but not at the end we could have known. For the earth, what sacrifice was made, Jesus, oh, He's the Savior of the world.

So we lift Him high in this place; read me come out before the King of Kings. Come on, let's sing this out, there's eternity. The King of Life was on the cross. I go to where the Lord forever reigns, for He's the Savior of the world.

So come on with your voices, let's sing this out, all hail the same. Amen.

Church, amen, that we would all hail the Savior of the world, and a good Savior we do have indeed. Would you take a seat?

In a moment, I just want to pray for our offering. Just want to say if you're new and visiting with us, I'm new to this service as well. I've never been to the 9:30 service. For those of you who are new around here, my name is Ryan.

10 o'clock, see, that's how new I am; I don't even know where I am, so I'm rusty at this. Hopefully, I'll figure it out one of these days. But I've been on sabbatical the last couple of months, and I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to every one of you for your prayers and encouragement for that season of my life.

The Lord used it in some really profound ways that I think will shape and impact how I do ministry and pastor here at Stonegate for years to come. So I'm excited to be back. We got an opportunity to go to all sorts of different churches, do a little church hopping and church shopping during my sabbatical, and it was great getting to see how the Lord is moving in different churches all throughout our community and country.

But really, there's no place like home. This is a wonderful church filled with Jesus-loving people—not perfect people, but people who really do love the grace of God, who are needy for the grace of God and are willing to open their lives to each other and to the Lord. I'm just so grateful to be back and to see so many smiling familiar faces this morning.

And that's why I'd say even if you're new, I would hardly recommend this church to you. It's a wonderful church—not a perfect church, but it's the dearest place on Earth that I know of, and I'm grateful to be here this morning.

For those of us who do call Stonegate Church home and want to give through offering, a couple of different ways you can do that, they're on the screen behind me. There's giving boxes on the wall.

We love the vibrant and amazing student ministry here at Stonegate. We have an amazing student ministry staff and volunteers who are dedicated to helping the next generation meet and enjoy Jesus together. We recently had a junior high camp, and eight students met Jesus for the first time. We are so excited about that and all the students taking steps in their faith.

We want to thank all of our student ministry volunteers and leaders for their hard work and dedication.

God has been so generous to us. He is gracious and good, saving and rescuing us. He gives us a new nature and new hearts, and then gives us an incredible commission to go and seek and save the lost and share the good news with the world around us.

He equips us with good gifts that are not our own, but we get to steward them. We pray that our church would be an example of what it looks like when God's people come together to use their gifts in unity so that lives can be changed and eternities can be impacted.

We pray that God would take our financial gifts and use them beyond what we can imagine and do on our own to create an impact that can only be done by Him and a work of His Spirit.

In closing, we ask that God would bless us and keep us. We thank Him for His generosity and ask that He would continue to use us to make disciples and impact eternity. Amen.

His church has given us so much. Now, we go as good news ambassadors to the spaces and places He calls us to share good news with the world around us.

So, here is Romans 15:5-6 spoken over you as you go throughout your week: "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We love you, church! Have a great Sunday and happy Fourth of July. See you next Sunday!