Course Objectives Discover you gifts for ministry and commit to develop and use them for God’s glory and the growth of the Body Choose a ministry and commit to serve in your church and/or community

Lesson Highlights God’s purpose for the local church Define a Spiritual Gift Begin the process of discovering your gifts

On Your Own Look over the list of gifts on page 4 Answer the two questions at the bottom of that page

Scripture Is Our Foundation 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

Scripture Is Our Foundation 1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Scripture Is Our Foundation Ephesians 4:11-12 …And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up the body of Christ…

Scripture Is Our Foundation 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 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…

What is a Spiritual Gift? A spiritual gift is a God-given ability given to all believers to serve the church effectively and to manifest God’s glory.

Character is the result of the process of sanctification in the believer. A Spirit sanctified character is to be the context within which the Spiritual Gifts are expressed.

Character is Key 1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB) But the goal of our instruction is LOVE from a PURE HEART, and a GOOD CONSCIENCE, and a SINCERE FAITH.

The Goal: Love from A pure heart A good conscience A sincere Faith

Love Our service must be motivated by a genuine desire to please God in all things knowing that we will give account for our stewardship of what we’ve been given. Our service must be motivated by genuine desire to see others built up and served. This kind of love is only possible if it issues from three sources: Pure Heart, Good Conscience, and Sincere Faith

Pure Heart Ephesian 4: Put off the old self…corrupt through deceitful desires. v Be renewed in the spirit of your minds v Put on the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness v.24

Good Conscience Ephesians 4: Speak the truth v Do not sin in your anger v Handle problems biblically v Work hard and share with others v Let your speech build up and bring grace v Remove bitterness and replace it with forgiveness. v.32

Sincere Faith Ephesians 5: My love is motivated chiefly by my confidence in my relationship with my Father “as beloved children.” 2. The grace we have received from God in Christ Jesus has a number of important implications.

Sincere Faith Because I am accepted by grace through faith: I can trust God as my loving Father in the ways he has gifted me. I can grow in this gift and develop it for the glory of God. I can confidently though humbly employ it. I do not have to constantly compare myself to others or perform for his acceptance.

Walk in the Spirit Ephesians 5:18 and Galatians 5:16; “Keep being filled” with the Holy Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is the supernatural result of walking in the Spirit. Those character traits will be increasing and regularly expressed in your life.

Homework Complete your spiritual gifts assessment and identify what your top 3 spiritual gifts might be. Read about those 3 top gifts in Appendix 1 in your folder and make note of where those gifts may have been affirmed in your past or questions you may have. Give your Observation Assessments to 3 other people who know you fairly well. You will need this in week 3.