Sermon Central
-
Discovering Your Spiritual Gift Series
Contributed by Sherman Gordon on May 14, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: Every believer within the body of Christ has been given a spiritual gift(s) to aid in the growth of the church. This series is designed to help you discover your gift.
DISCOVERING YOUR GIFT, PART II
JOURNEY . . . C.PETER WAGNER’S BOOK . . .
FOUNDATION
AVAILABLE (NOAH, MARY, PETER)
ACCEPT (MARY/MARTHA)
ACKNOWLEDGE
WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS?
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
ANSWER IS:
1. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN . . .
2. C. PETER WAGNER “IF YOU WANT YOUR CHURCH TO BE A HEALTHY, ATTRACTIVE, GROWING GROUP OF PEOPLE SHOWING FORTH GOD’S LOVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY . . .”
IN FACT, WAGNER “IGNORANCE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS MAY BE A CHIEF CAUSE OF RETARDED CHURCH GROWTH . . .”
POEM: ANYBODY – NOBODY – EVERYBODY – SOMEBODY . . .
BUT, IF WE ARE GOING TO BE A GROWING CHURCH WE’VE GOT TO BE A CHURCH THAT TAPS INTO ITS SPIRITUAL GIFTS. IF YOU’RE GOING TO GROW, YOU’VE GOT TO UNLEASH THE POWER/GIFT INSIDE OF YOU.
PASTOR “HOW DO YOU KNOW” - “HOW DO I KNOW” THAT I HAVE A SPIRITUAL GIFT?
WELL “A SPIRITUAL GIFT IS A SPECIAL ATTRIBUTE GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, ACCORDING TO GOD’S GRACE, FOR USE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE BODY.”
DISCOVER, DEVELOP, USE YOUR GIFT
DON’T SIT ON IT, WORK ON IT!!!
BUT, BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THE VARIOUS SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, I THOUGHT WE’D DISECT WAGNER’S CHAPTER FOUR. FOUR THINGS THAT GIFTS ARE NOT.
1. SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE NOT NATURAL TALENTS: EVERY PERSON, BY VIRTUE OF BEING MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, POSSESSES CERTAIN NATURAL TALENTS. AS WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS, THE NATURAL TALENTS ARE GIVEN BY GOD.
SING
TEACH
ORATORICAL SKILLS
2. SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
a. GALATIANS 5:22&23 (LOVE, WHICH ENCOMPASS JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL)
b. WAGNER - FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS THE NORMAL, EXPECTED OUTCOME OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH, MATURITY, AND HOLINESS.
c. FRUIT IS NOT DISCOVERED, AS ARE THE GIFTS, FRUIT IS GROWN THROUGH THE BELIEVERS WALK WITH GOD.
d. SPIRITUAL GIFTS DEFINE WHAT A CHRISTIAN DOES, FRUIT DEFINE WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS:
e. LOVING, JOYFUL, PEACEFUL, LONGSUFFERING, KIND, GOOD, FAITHFUL, GENTLE, DISPLAY SELF-CONTROL.
3. SPIRITUAL GIFTS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH CHRISTIAN ROLES
a. PRAYER
b. SERVING
c. EXHORTING
d. WITNESSING (EVANGELISM)
4. SPIRITUAL GIFTS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH COUNTERFEIT GIFTS
a. MATTHEW 7 & 24 . . .
b. PHAROAH’S MAGICIANS . . .
