Spiritual Gifts

In seminary I used to walk the grounds thinking, with our Spiritual Gifts, we were like students at Xavier's School for The Gifted

Sunday’s sermon looked at some application points from last weeks message on One-ness in the church. We answered the question of “How the Church is one” in 1 Corinthians 12 saying that we are (1) Baptized into one body – 1 Corinthians 12.13; (2) Lead by the Spirit (v. 1-3); and (3) given Spiritual Gifts for our function and functioning in the Church.

But what are Spiritual Gifts? How do they work? How are they used? What if I don’t know what my Gift is – How do I find out?

Below, as I promised on Sunday, are some quick points and thoughts on Spiritual Gifts. Praying and hoping that this will be useful to you and TcD as Jesus continues to grow our church here in DeKalb – providing all the necessary Giftedness that the church requires to accomplish Kingdom building ministry.

Spiritual Gifts, Defined: Spiritual Gifts can be defined as “any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and is used in any ministry of the church” (Grudem, Systematic Theology). Further, the purpose of Spiritual Gifts is “to equip the Church to carry out it’s ministry until Christ returns” (ibid).

Open vs. Closed: While there are many contentious points regarding Spiritual Gifts one that I want to discuss here, quickly, is the question of are the Gift lists in Scripture “open” or “closed” or, to say it another way, are the Spiritual Gift lists in the bible exhaustive or are there Spiritual Gifts that exist outside of what the bible lists. My personal take on this question is that the Bible contains an exhaustive list of the Spiritual Gifts. While there are good arguments against my understanding of this question I hold to my response for two reasons. Firstly, we believe that the Bible is authoritative, necessary, sufficient, and clear for all things, why not Spiritual Gifts then too? Secondly a “closed” view guards against making up gifts that might go against the definition and purpose of the Gifts as well as guarding against “whacky gifts.” Having the “Spiritual Gift” of shoe tying, cooking Spaghetti, or guessing someones age isn’t necessarily helpful for the building up of the Church, and, after all, we are the Church and not the X-Men.

Where are Spiritual Gifts Found in the Bible: Spiritual Gifts are found in four main passages. 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4.

How They Work: Theologians have developed many paradigms for how Spiritual Gifts are used and work. The Gifts can be divided up between the categories of Prophet, Priest, King. Or they can be divided up into Gifts of Knowledge, Gifts of Power, Gifts of Speech.  Some leave the Gifts in two simple categories, as Peter seems to do, “whoever speaks” and “whoever serves.” I prefer to take the paradigm of 1 Corinthians 12. In verses 4-6 Paul mentions three “varieties.” The NASB renders these as “Varieties of Gifts,” “Varieties of Ministries,” and “Varieties of Effects.” In this scheme, then, all Christians have a Gift, that they use in a Ministry, which when they use it, has an Effect. For example, I have the Spiritual Gift of Teacher, I use this gift in the Ministry of Pastor and Teacher, and the effect, when I teach, manifests in Words of Wisdom and Words of Knowledge. Someone else may have the Gift of Contributing, or Giving, which they use in the Ministry of Service, which manifests in Faith, or Helps.

Gifts at Work:

1. How to learn my Spiritual Gift: There are three ways I think you can learn your gift. Prayer, people, and passions. James 1.5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Go ahead and ask God,”What’s my gift? How will you use me to build up your Church?” Another way is other people. What do people say about you, (the good things!)? Has anyone mentioned to you that you are generous, helpful, a good leader, an encourager? Many times people outside of ourselves see us better than we see ourselves – it’s good to listen. The third way is passions – what are you passionate about? What keeps young at night? Who do you cry over? What do you, so badly, want to see happen in your home, neighborhood, city, world? (This is another reason I believe the gift list is closed, I know a few people who would say, “I cry over Sawyer and Juliette and Jack and Kate – I must have the Spiritual Gift of LOST! )

1. How to use my Spiritual Gift: Going back to the definition and purpose of Spiritual Gifts we know that the Gifts are for the ministry, equipping, and building up of the Church. That means that use of your Gifts has to be in this context. But here is an incredibly important point – your “Christianity” doesn’t just take place at church, you are the church (rather we are the church). Do you remember how I explained Matthew 28.18-20? A literal, and clear way to understand Jesus’ Great Commission is “as you go, disciple.” For us this means “as we go” to Wal-Mart, or Target, or Starbucks, the ball fields, the Post Office; work, play, free time, we go anticipating opportunities where we can use our Gifts. Using your Gifts doesn’t mean punching the “Christian Clock” – you are a Christian all the time. Using your gifts doesn’t mean having to go work at the church. Using your Gifts means, perhaps if you have the Gift of Mercy, or Contributing, that you buy a sandwich for the homeless dude on the street corner on your way home from work or grocery shopping. Using your Gift means, perhaps if you have the Gift of encouragement, that when you hear that gal at the coffee shop telling her friend how she’s worried she won’t be able to pay her rent because she’s been out of work that you share with her how God provides providentially and to try to trust Him. Using your Gifts means using them to build up the Church, God’s Kingdom everywhere and all the time, as we have opportunity, just as He is building His Church everywhere and all the time and in all opportunities.

1. How to enjoy my Spiritual Gift: One of the reasons that a lot of church “partners” and even pastors move on to new churches, or out of the church, is because of burn out. Why, and how can we guard against this? Firstly, I think that this happens to a lot of Christians because they may not be operating in their Giftedness. I think this happens because so many of our churches are desperate for workers that people might get thrown into a position or ministry that isn’t a fit for their passions. Excitement to be serving in a new ministry may last awhile but eventually the newness wears off – you’re burnt out. A second reason for burn out occurs because of the misunderstanding of using your Gift at the church versus using your Gift being the church. Having to serve every week with setup and break down of the church plant, having to serve every week with the youth, having to serve every week as a leader, always having to serve at the church. While these are important areas of ministry it can eventually be a drag. What if we thought of using our Gifts this way: doing a little bit as we are given opportunity, versus the “on the clock” “off the clock” feeling that church and church work can be? What if, instead of going into the office to work your forty hours, you could do a little here and a little there? Some of you might say, “I’d never get anything done!” and that’s fine, maybe you’re that kind of worker. But others of us might be much more efficient and productive. I think this second reason of burnout takes place because most churches have been working in a paradigm where church work has to be done at church instead of in your home, or your neighborhood. What if our youth groups were just natural communities of neighbors who already live on your block and around the corner? What if evangelism is what you did throughout your day instead of a program on Monday night? The final reason I’ll give now for church burnout is perhaps the main reason. The problem? In most churches 90% of the work is being done by 10% of the people. That means that 90% of the church is either unregenerate and doesn’t have a Spiritual Gift, or they’re not using it and not fulfilling their function in the church. This makes for a rather handicapped Body of Christ. Even if the ratio were 50/50 or 75/25 we would surely see less burnout. The key to enjoying the use of your Gift – (1) Use it, all of us, and work together. (2)Operate in your passion not just a need.

Over the next week or so I’ll post a few Gifts at a time with definitions, purposes, and practical uses. Please, if you have any questions or points for discussion don’t hesitate to email, call, or post replies here.