2. Here is the link for the spiritual gifts inventory, and you can also find it online on our website.

3. Discernment is the supernatural ability to distinguish between truth and error and to identify whether words and actions are from God, people, or Satan.

4. Discernment principles:
1) Every Christ-follower should grow in discernment.

5. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1

6. Discernment principles: 2) Strongly connected to Bible truths

7. “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said
was true.” Acts 17:11

8. Discernment principles: 3) Is probably a fairly rare gift.

9. Discernment principles: 4) Recognizes the reality of the spirit-world

10. “Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan
“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” Matthew 4:10-11

11. “For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades
as an angel of light.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-14

12. Discernment principles:
5) Need to be careful about the abuse of this gift.

13. Discernment examples:
Peter in Acts 8 with
the sorcerer.

14. “When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the
Holy Spirit.’” Acts 8:18

15. “Peter answered, ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.’” Acts 8:20

16. Discernment examples:
2) Jesus

17. “Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ‘Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’

18. Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things?’” Mark 2:6-8

19. Encouragement is the supernatural ability to share words and actions of comfort and guidance to members of the body of Christ so they will be helped and healed.

20. Encouragement principles: Strong emphasis on practical application

21. “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

22. Encouragement principles:
2) A consistent quality for all Christ-followers

23. may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you
may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
Hebrews 3:13

24. Encouragement principles: 3) Can be used in varieties of settings

25. Encouragement principles: 4) A good word for an encourager is coach.

26. An Encouragement Coach Kudos for a good job Dealing with a mistake
How to be more effective
Developing those skills

27. Encouragement
example: Barnabas
Takes up for Paul
in Acts 9:27

28. “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles
“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.”
Acts 9:27

29. Encouragement
example: Barnabas
Invests in John Mark
in Acts 15:36-41

30. “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company
“They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” Acts 15: 39-41

31. What if we all strive
to be encouragers?
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

32. and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
not giving up meeting
together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another –
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:23-25