Theme: Stewardship Topic: Stewardship of spiritual gifts and talents.
Main Texts: 1Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-28,31, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11-13
Key verse: “But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” 1Corinthians 12:7
Introduction:
The Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian church, to address specific problems begins to deal with spiritual gifts in chapter 12 continuing through chapters 13 and 14. Spiritual gifts are supernatural enablements bestowed by the Holy Spirit on all believers (vv. 7, 11), to minister to each other, build up the church and honour the Lord. Ultimately, all gifts and talents are from God and intended to be used for His purposes. Natural talents should not be derided or discounted simply because they are inherited genetically. Every person, believer or not, has some God-given talent that can be yielded to God to accomplish His will, but spiritual gifts operate through believers for the specific purpose of building up the body of Christ. It has been rightly said that natural talents reveal human ability whereas spiritual gifts reveal Christs supernatural ability. To be effective stewards of spiritual gifts, believers must not be ignorant or deceived, as some in the Corinthian appear to have been. Instead, we need to understand the nature, purpose and proper operation of spiritual gifts and discover and use the gift (s) given to us for the benefit of the church recognising that they are gifts by grace as the Holy Spirit wills and not a reflection of our ability, merit or even maturity. The Corinthian church was spiritually immature, yet they were not lacking in any gift (1 Cor 1:7).
Q1.Read Rom 12:3-5; 1 Pet 4:8-11, (1a) How do spiritual gifts differ from spiritual fruit? See also 2 Pet 1:58. (1b) Are some gifts more “important” than others? Give reasons for your response (1c) What is the “more excellent way” (1 Cor 12:31)? How does it relate to the stewardship of spiritual gifts?
Paragraph 2:
There are a few listings of spiritual gifts in the New Testament (e.g. Romans 12: 4-8; 1 Cor 12:12-14; Eph 4:11-12). The emphasis in each list is not on believers’ identifying their gift perfectly, but on faithfully using the unique enablement God has given them. The context in which the list in Romans 12 is given is Paul urging believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices (v.1) and to be transformed by renewed minds (v.2). From this renewal flows active service through diverse spiritual gifts (vv.3–8). To use spiritual gifts effectively, we need first to realize that all gifts and abilities come from God, that not everyone has the same gifts, and we need to have a right attitude to our fellow believers and to God. We do not glorify God if we think too highly of ourselves and make spiritual gifts a source of pride as some of the Corinthians did. However, we also rob God of His due glory if we deny the Biblical truth that everyone of us is gifted. We must be willing to utilize our gifts wholeheartedly, not holding back anything from God’s service. The church includes many people, but is to be united, serving one another.
Q2.Read Rom 12:6-8, 1 Cor 12:12-14; Eph 4:16 (2a) What spiritual gift(s) do you believe God has given you? How are you using them for the common good? (2b) How does understanding the diversity of gifts help prevent competition or division in the church? (2c) What steps can you take this week to encourage someone else’s spiritual gift?
Paragraph 3:
God has given His church an enormous responsibility – to make disciples of every nation. He has also, through Christ, given the church what it needs to function in a healthy way and fulfil the Great Commission while keeping the Grat Commandment. The “five-fold ministry” of Ephesians 4:11 has been given to equip the church to do the work of the ministry (make discipes of all nations). The ministries are meant to equip the church for service to mature the body of Christ and build it up in faith, to the measure of the fullness of Christ. Col. 1:19 – not do the work themselves! We must all work.
Q3.Read Col. 3:11, John 1:16, Col. 2:9-10 (3a) How is a believer made full and complete in Christ? (3b) Some Christians believe that ALL the gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and Ephesians 4:11 operate today and other Christians hold that SOME (miraculous) gifts have ceased. How does our position on this (continuation or cessation) affect our duty of stewardship?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us all that we need to do the work of the ministry. Help us each to discern our gift from you, to use it wisely and wholeheartedly in humility and gratitude to work to unifying the body of Christ in reaching the measure of His fullness. Amen