Play Ball 2 // Discern Your Gift and Take the Field

1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11 (MSG) | God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: … All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
What is a Spiritual Gift?
- Gifts given by God to build up the church and promote the common good for all believers.
How do I get a Spiritual Gift?
- The Holy Spirit gives you gifts to do God’s work when you accept Christ.
Who benefits from Spiritual Gifts?
- God’s Team, the Church! Fight the temptation to use your gift only to draw attention to yourself as opposed to God.
How can I play my position?
- Romans 12:6-13 (MSG) | So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
What shall I do next?
- Keep working on and in your giftedness.
- 2 Timothy 1:6 (NLT) | … fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you.
Reflection Questions
- How do you understand spiritual gifts as something from God to help you help the church?
- How have you discerned your own spiritual gifts?
- When have you found yourself enviously or pridefully comparing yourself with another because of their spiritual gifts?
- How can and will you use your spiritual giftedness to help Hope Church?
- What do you need to do to fan into flames the gifts God gave you?