Spiritual Gifts Facilitated by Gerson P. Santos Sabbath School & Personal Ministries Greater New York Conference

Why should I know about Spiritual Gifts?  1 Corinthians 12:1 We should know spiritual gifts.  1 Timothy 4:14 We should use the spiritual gifts.  1 Peter 4:10 We are responsible for them.

New Testament Church Models The Pauline Model Stationary Congregational Mechanistic Shepherd/Flock Ecclesial Corporate structure Gifts-based The Jesus Model Mobile Small group Organic Teacher/Disciple Apostolic Team structure Spirit led

The Structure Based Church People put in Appropriate Leadership Slots Organizational Structure Determined Plan for Ministry in Place

The Gifts Based Church Design Articulate Focus on Appropriate Shared Systems for Effective Ministry Articulate Shared Vision for Ministry Focus on Human & Material Resources

Spiritual Gifts Definition Spiritual Gifts are divine abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit to every Christian, according to God’s will for the well being of the body of Christ.

Romans 12:6-8 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Spiritual Gifts Romans 12:6-8 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Ephesians 4:11-12

Spiritual Gifts Key Wisdom Knowledge Administration Apostleship Shepherding Faith Miracles Prophecy Leadership Giving Compassion Healing Discernment Teaching Helping Evangelism Servanthood Exhortation Tongues Interpretation of Tongues

Our Primary Task Making Disciples Reach Out & Receive Relate People to God Making Disciples Send Forth to Live Transformed/ Transforming Lives Nurture & Strengthen in the Christian Faith

Spiritual gifts need to be identified, verified, used, developed, and polished.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed...” 2 Tim. 2:15

The Spiritual Gifts Process Identify your gifts Verify your gifts Use your gifts Avoid abuse

How do you identify your spiritual gifts?

How do you identify your spiritual gifts? Have the body of Christ affirm your gift. Have the Lord confirm your gift through prayer. (James 1:5) Experiment – use your gifts in a ministry. Take a spiritual gifts inventory

How do you identify your spiritual gifts? Additional steps: By faith BELIEVE that God has granted you at least one Spiritual Gift. Review Romans 12, 1 Cor. 12 and Ephe. 4, asking God to guide you in your Ministry. Put them to use. Examine your feelings and analyze your abilities.

Identification: Your own inward convictions Your experience Your service A conviction A specific call

Spiritual Gifts Discovery Answer Sheet 4 — Strongly 3 — Considerably 2 — Moderably 1 — Little 0 — Not at all

The Gifts of the Spirit Administration -- the gift of organizing human and material resources for the work of Christ. Apostleship -- the gift of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to other cultures and foreign peoples. Compassion -- an exceptional empathy that moves one to action on behalf of others.

The Gifts of the Spirit Discernment -- the ability to separate truth from erroneous teaching and rely on spiritual intuition to receive God’s guidance. Evangelism -- the gift of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Exhortation -- the gift of exceptional encouragement and hopefulness.

The Gifts of the Spirit Faith -- the gift that empowers an individual or group to hold fast to their convictions regardless of external circumstances. Giving -- the gift of supplying physical and material needs for ministry. Healing -- the gift of channeling God’s healing power to those who are afflicted in body, mind, or spirit.

The Gifts of the Spirit Helping -- the gift of supporting the demanding work and workers of Jesus Christ. Knowledge -- the gift of knowing the truth of God through the study of Scripture, intuition, and experience. Leadership -- the orchestration of the gifts and resources for ministry.

The Gifts of the Spirit Miracles -- the gift that recognizes and facilitates the miraculous power of God in the world. Prophecy -- the gift of speaking God’s word clearly and faithfully. Servanthood -- the gift of providing for the spiritual and material needs of others without condition.

The Gifts of the Spirit Shepherding -- the gift of guiding and empowering others to faithful service. Teaching -- the ability to share spiritual and scriptural truths with others in a transforming way. Wisdom -- the gift of translating life experience into spiritual truth and enabling others to apply such wisdom.

The Gifts of the Spirit Tongues -- the ability to communicate the gospel to other people in a foreign language not studied. Interpretation of Tongues -- the ability to understand and translate the gospel when it is communicated in a foreign language not studied.

The Gift of Teaching Master the principles of biblical interpretation Have a Bible-reading plan Apply what you learn Learn to communicate Continuing education

The Gift of Evangelism Know the essentials of the gospel Learn friendship evangelism and public speaking skills Watch the gift in action Try out your skills

How do you verify your gifts?

Confirmation by the church body Verifying your gifts Confirmation by the church body Confirmation by the Lord through intercessory prayer

Verifying your gifts Identification is with the individual, Verification is with the body. Expect confirmation from the body.

Abuses of Spiritual Gifts Gift projection “Why don’t you have my gift?”

Abuses of Spiritual Gifts Gift exaltation “ My gift is better than yours”

Three questions for study How might you set up a spiritual gifts discovery and verification system in your church? How can cognate gifts work together? How can you avoid the abuse of spiritual gifts?

Searching Questions What can I do about what this lesson is teaching? What does this lesson teach me to do differently than I am presently doing? How would my life be different if I made some personal changes? What would it take for me to want to make these changes?

Personal Application Card Name: Date: Topic: _________________________ Principle or teaching I am going to apply this week: _________________ ______________________________________________________________ What am I going to do (in general)? _______________________________ List three or more steps I will take in applying this Biblical principle or teaching this week: 1. __________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________ How do I think my life (or the lives of others) will be different if I make these changes? _____________________________________________________ Personal Application Card

Spiritual Gifts Clusters Outreaching Nurturing Witnessing Organizing

Nurturing Gifts Wisdom Shepherding Exhortation Helping Discernment Faith Compassion Nurturing congregations tend to be very committed to building fellowship, visitation, small groups, Sabbath School, and member care. The focus is primarily turned inward.

Outreaching Gifts Apostleship Evangelism Working Miracles Compassion Healing Servanthood Prophecy Outreaching congregations tend to be very missional in nature, serving the community in a variety of ways, and reaching out to people in the area. The focus is on the world.

Witnessing Gifts Knowledge Faith Prophecy Teaching Evangelism Exhortation Healing Witnessing congregations tend to emphasize worship, Christian Education, and church growth. Faith sharing is central to the life of the fellowship. Focus is local.

Organizing Gifts Knowledge Administration Giving Leadership Helping Teaching Wisdom Organizing congregations tend to be highly structured, very organized, and program rich. Committees and work teams involve large numbers. Focus in on the institution.

Ministries Resulting From Spiritual Gifts Are For: The Building Up Of The Church (Not The Individual! “For the PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS, for the WORK OF THE MINISTRY, for the EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.” -- Ephesians 4:12

2 Parts Of The Spirit’s “GIFTING” Ministry Singles out individuals for particular Ministries– Giving Spiritual Gifts (1Cor. 12:11; Isa. 61) Imparts the ability to perform those Ministries (Acts 1:8)

Ch’s Strength - Diversity of Gifts Variety of Gifts (1 Cor. 12:4) HS determines who gets the Gifts (v. 11) The Gifts are designed to foster cooperation, NOT DIVISION (v. 13-17) The unique blend of Gifts is ORDAINED BY GOD (v. 18, 21-25) UNITY IS THE NATURAL RESULT (v. 25-27)

Spiritual Gifts Are Not An End In Themselves Spiritual Gifts are useless without ACTIVE SERVICE! USE THEM OR LOOSE THEM!

Everyone Has At Least One Spiritual Gift (1 Cor. 12:11) “All men do not receive the same Gifts, but to every servant of The Master some Gift of The Spirit is promised.” Col. 327

ALL GIFTS ARE IMPORTANT! EVERYONE OF US IS IMPORTANT! We cannot all DO the same thing. But we can all DO SOMETHING!

Many would be willing to work if they were taught how to begin. Min. of Healing, 149

Greater efforts should be put forth to educate the people. Testimonies, 9:161

When the churches are left to inactivity Satan sees to it that they are employed. Testimonies, 6:425

The greatest cause of our spiritual feebleness as a people, is the lack of real faith in Spiritual Gifts. RH, January 14, 1868.

Spiritual Gifts Benefits 1. Personal 2. Church 3. God’s Kingdom

Two chapters to be memorized The 12th and 13th chapters of 1st Corinthians should be committed to memory, written in the mind and heart (MS 82, 1898).

Read this Chapter Every Day The Lord desires me to call the attention of His people to the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians. Read this chapter every day, and from it obtain comfort and strength (RH July 21, 1904).

2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Our Fervent Prayer: “Lord, Impress me with the Gifts You have given me, and grant me wisdom to use them in Your cause. Amen.”