Welcome to…

1. Welcome to… Christianity 401 Serving In Your God-given Ministry Instructor: Pastor Rick Helein rick.helein@mcleanbible.org 703-489-7107 (cell) McLean University McLean Bible Church

2. What are Spiritual Gifts? Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit and distributed to every believer according to God’s design and grace for the common good of the body of Christ. McLean University McLean Bible Church

3. Scripture Tells US Spiritual gifts are: God given1 Corinthians 12:11 - God gives at least one gift to each of His children when they receive the Holy Spirit at salvation - We can’t choose or earn them Supernatural1 Corinthians 12:7 - They are special abilities or divine endowmentsfrom the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s purposes Given to build up the Body of Christ1Peter 4:10-11 - Not meant for ourselves McLean University McLean Bible Church

4. Spiritual Gifts • They are not talents, skills or natural abilities • Natural abilities given to everyone by God at physical birth, spiritual gifts given only to believers at spiritual birth • Sometimes our talents and abilities do enhance our spiritual gifts • Only the Holy Spirit can bring about supernatural spiritual results in a believers life • Spiritual gifts are often unrelated to our natural talents so that God will get the glory McLean University McLean Bible Church

5. Spiritual Gifts They are notSpiritual Disciplines • Every believer should develop good spiritual habits such as prayer, bible study, fellowship • Spiritual disciplines strengthen the individual, spiritual gifts strengthen others Spiritual disciplineSpiritual gift Prayer ------ Faith Bible study ------ Knowledge Fasting ------ Mercy McLean University McLean Bible Church

6. Spiritual Gifts They are not titles or ministry positions • Titles indicate general roles, spiritual gifts indicate specific functions Ministry PositionSpiritual Gift Pastor ----- Teaching Small group leader ----- Shepherding Mercy team leader ----- Encouragement McLean University McLean Bible Church

7. Spiritual Gifts They are not THE fruit of the spirit • Example – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness • Fruits of the Spirit are inward characteristics of the believers heart • Spiritual gifts are task-orientated functions that God has equipped us to perform in service • Both are necessary for effective ministry McLean University McLean Bible Church

8. Activity: 16-18 Group discussion Read 1 Corinthians 12: 1-31 McLean University McLean Bible Church

9. Two Kinds of Gifts-20 • Permanent edifying or “service ” gifts • These gifts are in use today • Temporary confirming or “sign ” gifts • These gifts were used by God to authenticate the gospel and it’s messengers during the early church. They are not in use today

10. Permanent / Edifying Gifts-19 Serving Wisdom Teaching Knowledge Exhortation Discernment Giving Administration Leadership Evangelism Mercy Faith Pastor/Shepherd McLean University McLean Bible Church

11. Confirming / Sign Gifts -20,49 • Sign gifts • Speaking in tongues • Interpretation of tongues • Works of healings and miracles • Prophets and Apostles • Sign gifts were not given by God to be used as part of normative church worship and service • Lon Solomon’s tape set, “Tongues, Healings, and Miracles” McLean University McLean Bible Church

12. Gift of Being an Apostle p. 21 • Label of being called an Apostle is being misapplied today • Today’s missionaries are not Apostles • Apostles were a gift to the first century church • Apostles specifically appointed by Christ • Primary qualification is to have seen the risen Lord

13. Gift of Being an Apostle • Apostles had unlimited authority over the entire early church • Apostles were able to perform miracles • Not everyone who claimed to be an Apostle in the early church passed the test • Apostles were the foundation of the church

14. Gift of Being a Prophet p.22 • Purpose of a prophet was to foretell the future and receive new information directly from God then communicate that to mankind • God communicates to us today through His word – not through prophets • A prophet must be able to predict the future with 100% accuracy, without error, EVER • Old Testament men who claimed to be prophets who made even one mistake were stoned to death

15. Gift of Miracles p. 23 • Definition – God setting aside His natural law to do whatever He pleases • Moses parting the Red Sea • Jesus walking on Water • God usually works within His natural law to supernaturally answer our prayers • Person with gift of miracles would need to be able to set aside natural law at will, immediately, completely and publicly

16. Gift of Miracles • Only three times in history of the world has God poured out true miracles • Time of Moses and Joshua • Time of Elijah and Elisha • Time of Christ and the Apostles • God used miracles to authenticate His message and messengers

17. Gift of Miracles • Miracles in the bible were performed immediately • A person with the gift of miracles would need to be able to set aside God’s natural laws immediately, completely and publicly • God can and does perform miracles

18. Gift of Healing-p.27-28 • Success of the healing was not determined by the faith of the person being healed • Scriptural healing was done in public before unbelievers • Healings were immediate, instantaneous and complete • The healing was for many illnesses including organic diseases • Sometimes God will have us sick for His purposes • Jesus went to where the sick were • Jesus could heal everyone who he encountered • Everyone who healed could do it at any time they wanted to

19. Speaking in Tongues p. 24-26 • Gift of tongues is the supernatural ability to speak in a human language not previously known to the individual-chapter 13 is hyperbole used by Paul to admonish the Corinthians. • Acts 2:6,8 is the only place in the bible where the gift is described in detail as to how it operates • Human language was being spoken such that those who knew the language understood it • No indication in scripture that “tongues” is an angelic or private prayer language

20. Speaking Tongues • When Angels spoke anywhere in the bible they used human language. • Private devotional use of tongues is not in keeping with spiritual gifts • Gifts are to used for serving others, not yourself – • Tongues described in 1 Cor. 14 were always used evangelistically in a public setting • 1 Cor. 13:8 says tongues will cease • “complete comes” adjective - Cannon

21. Seven Motivational Gifts-17 “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: • If Prophesy, according to the proportion of his faith; • If service [helping], in his service • Or he who teaches, in his teaching • Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; • He who gives, with liberality; • He who leads [rules or administers], with diligence • He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

22. OUR INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVE • We each have one of these gifts as our primary motivation and ministry (although we can have secondary motivational gifts) • We must use them – according to the grace we've been given, in faith, and with sound judgment. • We should be secure in our gift – its strengths and weaknesses – without envy or trying to be like someone else with a differing gift. • Gifts match our core motivation (what makes you light up!), which also match our calling (area of ministry)

23. The body of Christ’s Perspective • Each of these seven gifts are necessary for a healthy church (the Body of Christ) and are to be vital parts of every church. • They must be ubiquitous and allowed full expression in a church- and its meetings, its structure, its ministries, its leadership and in its day-to-day life as a community • No one gift (or gifted person!) is to dominate over the others. • The absence of even one gift means a crippled church.

25. Application If those with prophetic gifts are muzzled… Your church, your meetings and your life will lack transparency and vision If the Teachers are not encouraged to explain… Your church, your meetings and your life will lack understanding and wisdom If the helpers are not honored as they serve… Your church, your meetings and your life will lack blessings and things will never reach completion.

26. Application If the exhorters are not free to reach out and relate… Your church, your meetings and your life will lack harmony and social cohesion If the givers are prevented from presenting opportunities… Your church, your meetings and your life will lack resources, vibrancy and vitality If those gifted at ruling are not allowed to administer… Your church, your meetings and your life will lack decency, structure and order.

27. Application And if those who bring mercy are not esteemed… Your church, your meetings and your life will lack intimacy and grace and will never lay hold of the full acceptance of the Father – or each other– which is available through Christ

28. Uniquely You • Every believer has at least one gift. • Many have a combination called a gift mix • Mercy – encouragement – hospitality • Administration – leadership – wisdom WARNING- Gift Projection

29. Next 2 Weeks UNWRAPPING THE GIFTS McLean University McLean Bible Church

30. Welcome to… Week 3 Christianity 401 Serving In Your God-given Ministry Instructor: Pastor Rick Helein rick.helein@mcleanbible.org 703-489-7107 (cell) McLean University McLean Bible Church

31. Uniquely You • Every believer has at least one gift. • Many have a combination called a gift mix • Mercy – encouragement – hospitality • Administration – leadership – wisdom WARNING- Gift Projection

32. Service/Helps Supernatural ability to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which minister to and meet the needs of others

33. Service/Helps • Receives great joy in meeting the needs of others • Serves behind the scenes as needed • Senses God’s purposes and pleasure in meeting everyday responsibilities • Attaches spiritual value to practical service • Interested in serving God by blessing others

34. Service/Helps Traits: Available, selfless, willing, helpful, reliable, loyal, dependable, whatever-it-takes attitude Cautions • Takes on too much • Finds it difficult to say no • Be a servant, not a martyr

35. Teaching • Supernatural ability to communicate biblical truth in a way that leads to spiritual results in people’s lives

36. Teaching • Communicate biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to God’s Word • Challenge listeners with truths of scripture • Loves to study scripture and present what they discover • Have a deep understanding of God’s truth

37. Teaching Traits: Disciplined, perceptive, practical, analytical, articulate Cautions: • Needsto avoid pride that may result from “superior” bible knowledge • Needs to remember their spirituality is not measured by how much they know • Could become too detailed and fail to make life application

38. Encouragement/Exhortation Supernatural ability to strengthen, comfort, or urge action to those who are discouraged or wavering in their faith

39. Encouragement/Exhortation • Come to the side to those who are discouraged to strengthen and reassure them • Challenge, comfort or confront others to trust and hope in promises of God • Motivate others to grow • Emphasize God’s promises and have confidence in his will

40. Encouragement/Exhortation Traits: Positive, motivating, challenging, affirming, reassuring, supportive, trustworthy Cautions: Can sometimes be overly optimistic, simplistic, or flattering Should take time to understand where others are and what they really need

41. Giving Gives time, talent, or resources in a supernatural way for the work of God.

42. Giving • Provide resources generously and cheerfully, trusting God for His provision • Supports the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance the Kingdom by managing their finances and limiting their lifestyle

43. Giving Traits: Wise stewardship, responsible, resourceful, charitable, trust in God, disciplined Cautions: Need to remember the church’s agenda is determined by leaders, not by the givers gift The power of money

44. Leadership Supernatural ability to cast a spiritual vision, communicate it, and then motivate people to make that vision a reality.

45. Leadership • Provides direction to God’s people or ministry • Motivates others to perform to the best of their ability • Able to communicate the big picture • Able to set and motivate others to achieve goals

46. Leadership Traits: Influential, diligent, visionary, trustworthy, persuasive, motivating Cautions: • Needs to focus attention on relational capabilities • Needs to remember the biblical model of the servant leader • Do not need to be in a leadership position to use this gift

47. Mercy Supernatural ability to help those who are suffering or in need, having compassion and a tender heart that is moved to action

48. Mercy • Focus on alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people • Address the needs of the lonely and forgotten • Extend love, grace and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis • Serve in difficult circumstances and do so cheerfully

49. Mercy Traits: Empathetic, caring, responsive, kind, compassionate, sensitive, burden-bearing Cautions: • Needs to guard against feeling unappreciated since some people helped do not show appreciation

50. Mercy Cautions: • Needs to be aware that rescuing people from their pain can sometimes hinder God’s work in that person • Repeated sin & bad choices always have consequences • Exercising “tough love” may be required at times