How can you use your spiritual gifts to benefit your church community today? The Foundation: Spiritual Gifts for the Common Good • “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) • Every believer receives at least one Spirit-given ability the moment of salvation. • The purpose is never self-promotion; it is always “the common good”—the strengthening of the whole congregation. Identify Your God-Given Giftings • Watch where God’s joy and fruit show up when you serve. (Philippians 2:13) • Seek confirmation from mature believers who observe your service. (Proverbs 15:22) • Experiment: serve in varied ministries; gifts surface through action, not armchair analysis. • Use biblically grounded inventories or classes as tools—not ultimate authorities. Cultivate the Gift through Dependence on the Spirit • Stay in Scripture; gifts aligned with truth bear lasting fruit (John 15:5). • Pray for fresh filling and boldness (Ephesians 5:18). • Train diligently—practice teaching, hone administrative systems, refine musical skill, etc. (2 Timothy 1:6). Courageously Use Your Gift in the Local Church Teaching & Exhortation • Lead small-group studies, children’s classes, discipleship pathways. • Share doctrinal clarity and practical application (Romans 12:6-7). Service & Helps • Handle behind-the-scenes tasks—setup, meal trains, facility maintenance. • Free others to focus on their callings (Acts 6:1-4). Leadership & Administration • Provide vision, organize teams, steward budgets with transparency (Romans 12:8). • Mentor emerging leaders so the work multiplies (2 Timothy 2:2). Mercy & Compassion • Visit the sick, comfort the grieving, advocate for vulnerable neighbors (James 1:27). • Mobilize the church in tangible acts of love. Giving • Resource missionaries, benevolence funds, building projects with cheerful generosity (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Encourage stewardship teaching so the whole body flourishes. Hospitality • Open your home for fellowship, meals, and outreach events (1 Peter 4:9-10). • Create spaces where unbelievers encounter Christ’s warmth. Evangelism • Share the gospel clearly in personal conversations, community outreach, or digital avenues (Acts 1:8). • Equip others to articulate their faith stories. Safeguards: Love, Humility, and Order • “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong.” (1 Corinthians 13:1) • Submit to biblical leadership; gifts function best within ordered worship (1 Corinthians 14:40). • Celebrate different roles without comparison or envy (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). The Ripple Effect: Building Up the Body and Reaching the World • As each part works properly, the body “builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16) • A healthy, gift-expressing church displays Christ’s fullness to a watching world (Matthew 5:16). • Your faithful stewardship today plants seeds of gospel impact for generations. |
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