Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gifts

*** Bible text used: Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12 - 14, Ephesians 4:7-13***

I. We are all given different spiritual gifts so that we can work together as one group in Christ, and thus further His kingdom here on Earth:

a. Think about it - if we all had the gift of encouragement - what would happen? Nothing. We'd all go around encouraging people, but there would be no one to evangelize (preach the gospel) to others who are not yet saved.

b. And, the same goes for the opposite of that = if we all had the gift of evangelism and we all went around evangelizing, we would soon grow weary and tired if there wasn't anyone there to encourage and build us up.

i. See Corinthians 12 - 14 and Romans 12:3 - 8

II. Although there seems to be certain gifts that are held in higher esteem or value than the rest, it is not true. Every gift is important in the goal of furthering the Kingdom of God.

a. For instance = the Bible calls saved believers in Christ (Christians) who fellowship and are active in church the "Body of Christ" (anyone who is saved becomes part of this "body" in which we are all connected and focused on furthering the Kingdom of God. Why is it called the "body"? Think about it = just like a body needs all of it's parts to fully function - like the eyes, and hands, and fingers, and toes, and feet - so too does the church need all of the spiritual gifts in order to fully function properly. Think about it = if you stub your little toe, your whole body reacts to the pain - you cry out, you hop around, you curse, you grab your foot = this is the same way the Body of Christ responds to losing a member, or if there is a certain spiritual gift that we lack.

i. See 1 Corinthians 12 - 14 & Romans 12:3 - 8

III. What are the different kinds of spiritual gifts?

a. Apostles (not anymore.... died out with Christ - They were the disciples that actually knew Christ)

b. Prophecy

c. Teachers

d. Miracle workers

e. Workers

f. Gifts