I Believe What I Believe
Lesson 26
Spiritual Gifts - A Ministry for My Life

"Somebody Passing Out Gifts Or Something?"
1 Peter 4:10

1. What is a spiritual gift?
"A special ability given by the Spirit to every member of the church according to God's grace to use in reaching our generation for God."

"Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God's
various gifts of grace." (1 Peter 4:10)

Who gives the gifts? The Holy Spirit
Who receives the gifts? Every Christian
Who chooses the gifts? God according to His grace
Where is the gift used? Within the body
"Spiritual gifts are God's divine finger prints."

2. What are the Purposes of Spiritual Gifts?
A. Spiritual gifts minister to the body of Christ as a whole by:
Equipping the body for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12).
Edifying or building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 14:12)
Encouraging unity in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:13,16; Romans 12:4,5)
Educating the body of Christ, thus giving it stability and maturity (Ephesians 4:13-15)
B. Spiritual gifts minister to unbelievers by:
Evangelizing the unbeliever (Ephesians 4:11).
Enlisting believers to fulfill their evangelistic responsibilities (Ephesians 4:11).
Enhancing the evangelistic ministry of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:24,25).
Evidencing the authority of the Word of God (Hebrews 2:1-4).
C. Spiritual gifts minister to believers by:
Establishing the believer in their personal walk with Christ (Romans 1:11).
Enabling the believer to be a functioning part of the body of Christ (Romans 12:6-8).
Empowering the believer for the work of ministry (1 Corinthians 12:6,7).

3. What happens if I decide not to discover, develop and use my spiritual gifts? (1 Peter 4:8-11)
A. The rest of the Body suffers. v. 10
B. God does not receive glory from using them. v. 11
4. Since gifts are important, every Christian should have three important goals concerning them:
1. To discover your spiritual gift
2. Develop your gift
3. Use your gift

Previous Lesson

Next Lesson