Our Spiritual Giftedness

Last Sunday, twenty-one adults (including two teenagers) gathered in our fellowship hall to learn about, discuss, and discover their spiritual giftedness.  This was the culmination of a sermon series on that topic, and my pastor’s heart was very glad by the strong turnout and even stronger discussion we had at this “Spiritual Gifts Workshop.”  I’d like to share a few thoughts with you about the general make-up of our congregation.  (As a reminder, if you were not able to attend the workshop, please see me sometime, and we can work on discovering your spiritual gifts together!)

Our survey identified two kinds of spiritual gifts:  “working gifts,” which are gifts that we are currently using in active ministry, and “waiting gifts,” which are gifts that may need more development – or the right opportunity – before we put them into use as well.

Among the 21 people at the workshop, our top three “working gifts” were service, giving, and faith.  Service has to do with tending to practical needs that help build up the body of Christ.  Giving involves supporting the Lord’s work through generous and joyful contributions of material goods – financial and otherwise.  Faith is a gift which allows us to see what God wants and to be certain that he will accomplish it in response to prayer.

Does that sound like the Mt. Haley congregation you know?  It does to me!  I believe we are, indeed, very strong in these three areas.  The next question, then, is this:  “So what?”  How do we put these gifts to work as a congregation?  Our frequent love offerings for various ministry groups is a start; our support of different local Christian ministries each quarter is another good thing.  Let’s be thinking about how we can continue to develop our strengths as a congregation, even as we do the same individually.

On the other side of the coin, our three strongest “waiting gifts” – again, among the 21 people present at the workshop – are discernment, encouragement, and hospitality.  Discernment means the ability to distinguish between truth and error, especially when it comes to matters of faith.  Encouragement is the gift that enables us to motivate others to live practical Christian lives.  Hospitality has to do with welcoming and graciously serving guests or strangers.

Many individuals in our congregation are “waiting” to put these gifts into action.  How can we be more actively discerning, encouraging, and hospitable in our church and in our local community?  What would it look like if we were to grow in discipleship and outreach, intentionally paying attention to a development of these three “waiting gifts”?  Let’s discuss these things together as we serve in the kingdom of God in this particular place, at this particular time.

–Pastor David

Using the Body’s Gifts

Many of us were missing this past Sunday for various reasons, and those of us who were in the Lord’s house felt the difference.  Unfortunately, our recording device didn’t record the sermon this week, so we don’t have the usual sermon audio backup for those who were away.  Let me say, briefly, that while our sermon audio postings are helpful for visitors, distant friends, and church workers who are out of the sanctuary, there is no substitute for regular, consistent meetings with the people of God.  Simply put, we belong together, and we suffer when we are apart from each other.

This ties in directly to the sermon text from this past Sunday, Romans 12:1-8.  Take a few minutes to find and read that passage in your Bible.  We belong together, Paul says!  As part of the same body, the body of Christ, we have different functions, roles, and gifts.  And each of us belongs to all the others.  This is a type of lifestyle that differs greatly from the natural order of things, the way the world works:  normally, people (especially American people) consider themselves to be independent creatures, able to act as they please without regard for others.  In the body of Christ, though, we exist differently:  we are to live for the sake of the whole and for the sake of Christ.  Life in the church truly is an alternative community.

With this in mind, the issue of “spiritual gifts” becomes more clear.  We are given gifts by the Spirit of God not for our own sake but for the sake of the church community to which we belong.  On Sunday, we studied Romans 12 to see what Paul identified as gifts for everyone in the community, not just for its leaders:

  • Prophesying:  preaching, speaking words from God to edify the church
  • Serving: ministering, taking care of the details of the church’s life
  • Teaching: conveying the truths of the gospel for those who are learning
  • Encouraging: urging fellow believers to live the life of faith
  • Giving: contributing and distributing material goods for the church and for others
  • Leading: charting the course for the church
  • Showing mercy: visiting the sick, elderly, imprisoned, etc. (among other tasks)

These seven gifts were not intended to be comprehensive; neither were the lists of gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.  Instead, they are illustrations and examples; in whatever ways God has given you abilities and interests, use those gifts for the sake of the church.  And this applies to everyone, not just to the leaders of the church.  (Take another look at the list above; don’t those things sound like the job descriptions of the pastor and the church council?)  Paul is speaking to everyone in the Christian community in Rome (and to us!) when he writes these words.

We belong to each other.  We need each other!  God has blessed each of us uniquely to play important roles in the life of the church.  Let’s discover our gifts and use them for the glory of God and for the growth of the church to which we belong!

(For those of you reading this online, there are many free spiritual gifts inventories on the web.  Take a few minutes and explore this site or this site, and see what you can discover!)

–Pastor David