Spiritual Gifts (Class 08) Identifying and Using Your Gifts: Participation in a Spirit Filled Church

NOTE: This is our last class of the term, so here is the FINAL EXAM LINK: https://testmoz.com/q/14922372

Class 04 — Identifying and Using Your Gifts: Participation in a Spirit-Filled Church

I. Attempts to Identify Spiritual Gifts

1. Historical and Modern Methods
   • Churches have long used tests or diagnostic questions to identify spiritual gifts.
   • Many similar tests are now available online.
2. Examples of Questions
   • “Do you enjoy managing people?” → administration.
   • “Do you look for ways to help others?” → service.
3. Evaluation of Tests
   • Not inherently good or bad.
   • Can help those struggling to discern gifts.
   • Danger: They resemble personality tests more than spiritual discernment tools.

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II. Personality Tests and Their Limitations

1. Use in Churches
   • Some churches now use personality tests to determine service roles.
   • Personality tests may give behavioral insights but cannot reveal spiritual gifts.

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III. The True Nature of Spiritual Gifts

1. Definition (from Class 1)
   • A spiritual gift is a God-given motivation, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that expresses itself in ministry and becomes a manifestation of the Spirit within the church.
2. Key Question for Self-Discovery
   • “What motivates you as a Christian?”
3. Examples of Motivations
   • Organizing and executing projects.
   • Explaining and clarifying truth.
   • Encouraging and motivating others.
   • Giving generously.
   • Proclaiming truth.
   • Serving quietly and unseen.
4. Insight
   • Your spiritual gift is often revealed through your internal motivations and desires.

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IV. Desire as a Mark of Spiritual Gifts

1. Example from Jeremiah 20:9
   • The prophet’s compulsion to speak: “a fire shut up in my bones.”
   • Certain gifts create an inner urgency to act.
2. Practical Observation
   • “You can’t keep a servant from serving.”
   • Deacons show themselves by serving before being appointed.
3. Principle
   • The best way to discover your gift is to be in a situation where it will be needed.

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V. The Role of the Church in Gift Discovery

1. Necessity of Church Participation
   • Gathering with believers is commanded and expected (Hebrews 10:24–25).
   • Avoiding church participation means living outside God’s will.
2. Biblical Basis
   • NT letters written to churches imply normal Christian life happens in community.
3. Practical Reality
   • You cannot discover or use your gifts as intended apart from a local church.

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VI. How to Find a Place to Serve

1. Be Active
   • Service begins with faithful participation in a local church.
   • Don’t be a passive attender; be an active participant.
2. Know Your Motivation
   • Reflect on what spiritually drives you; communicate it to your pastors.
3. Be Patient
   • Allow God to position you where He desires.
   • Building trust may precede leadership opportunities.
4. Be Flexible
   • Sometimes serving outside your comfort zone reveals new gifts.
   • Benefits:
     • Cultivates humility.
     • Uncovers latent talents or abilities.
5. Illustrations
   • Many discover unexpected gifts by simply being available to serve.

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VII. Offices and Areas of Service in the Church

1. Two Primary Offices
   • Elders (Overseers): Govern and teach the church.
   • Deacons: Serve practical needs.
   • Qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1–13.
2. Not Everyone Qualifies for Office
   • James 3:1 — not all should teach.
   • 1 Timothy 2:12 — women not to teach or have authority over men.
   • Discussion: Can a woman still be gifted to teach? (Yes, within proper biblical parameters.)
3. Beyond Offices
   • Service in the church extends far beyond leadership roles.
   • Every believer has value and a place to serve.

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VIII. Class Discussion: What Do Churches Need?

• Exploring practical areas where gifts can be used.
• Recognizing that healthy churches depend on active members discovering and using their God-given gifts.