McLean University McLean Bible Church Welcome to… Christianity 401 Serving In Your God-given Ministry Instructor: Pastor Rick Helein [email protected]

McLean UniversityMcLean UniversityMcLean Bible ChurchMcLean Bible Church

Welcome to…Welcome to…

Christianity 401Christianity 401

Serving In Your Serving In Your

God-given MinistryGod-given Ministry

Instructor: Pastor Rick HeleinInstructor: Pastor Rick Helein

[email protected]@mcleanbible.org

703-489-7107 (cell)703-489-7107 (cell)


What are Spiritual Gifts?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.


Scripture Tells USScripture Tells US

Spiritual gifts are:Spiritual gifts are:

God givenGod given 1 1 Corinthians 12:11 - God gives at least one gift to - God gives at least one gift to eacheach of His children when they of His children when they

receive the Holy Spirit at salvationreceive the Holy Spirit at salvation - We can’t choose or earn them

SupernaturalSupernatural 1 Corinthians 12:7 - - They are special abilities or dThey are special abilities or divine endowments from the Holy from the Holy

Spirit to fulfill God’s purposes Spirit to fulfill God’s purposes

Given to build up the Body of ChristGiven to build up the Body of Christ 11 Peter 4:10-11 - Not meant for ourselves - Not meant for ourselves


Spiritual Gifts Spiritual Gifts

They are not talents, skills or They are not talents, skills or natural abilitiesnatural 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


Spiritual GiftsSpiritual Gifts

They are not Spiritual Disciplines

– Every believer should develop good spiritual habits such as prayer, bible study, fellowship

– Spiritual disciplines strengthen the individual, spiritual gifts strengthen others

Spiritual discipline Spiritual giftPrayer ------ FaithBible study ------ KnowledgeFasting ------ Mercy



They are not titles or ministry positionsThey are not titles or ministry positions– Titles indicate general roles, spiritual Titles indicate general roles, spiritual

gifts indicate specific functionsgifts indicate specific functions

Ministry PositionMinistry Position Spiritual GiftSpiritual Gift

Pastor ----- TeachingPastor ----- Teaching

Small group leader ----- ShepherdingSmall group leader ----- Shepherding

Mercy team leader ----- EncouragementMercy team leader ----- Encouragement



They are not THE fruit of the spiritThey are not THE fruit of the spirit

Example – love, joy, peace, patience, Example – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulnesskindness, goodness, faithfulness

– Fruits of the Spirit are inward Fruits of the Spirit are inward characteristics of the believers heartcharacteristics of the believers heart

– Spiritual gifts are task-orientated functions Spiritual gifts are task-orientated functions that God has equipped us to perform in that God has equipped us to perform in serviceservice

– Both are necessary for effective ministryBoth are necessary for effective ministry


Activity: 16-18Activity: 16-18

Group discussionGroup discussion

Read 1 Corinthians 12: 1-Read 1 Corinthians 12: 1-3131

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


Permanent / Edifying Gifts-Permanent / Edifying Gifts-1919

Serving WisdomServing Wisdom

Teaching KnowledgeTeaching Knowledge

Exhortation DiscernmentExhortation Discernment

Giving AdministrationGiving Administration

Leadership EvangelismLeadership Evangelism

Mercy FaithMercy Faith

PastorPastor//ShepherdShepherd


Confirming / Sign Gifts -20,49Confirming / Sign Gifts -20,49

Sign giftsSign gifts

– Speaking in tonguesSpeaking in tongues– Interpretation of tonguesInterpretation of tongues– Works of healings and miraclesWorks of healings and miracles– Prophets and ApostlesProphets and Apostles

Sign gifts were not given by God to be used as Sign gifts were not given by God to be used as part of normative church worship and servicepart of normative church worship and service

Lon Solomon’s tape set, “Tongues, Healings, and Miracles”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

““Since we have gifts that differ according to the Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:them accordingly:

1.1. If Prophesy, according to the proportion of his If Prophesy, according to the proportion of his faith;faith;

2.2. If service [helping], in his serviceIf service [helping], in his service

3.3. Or he who teaches, in his teachingOr he who teaches, in his teaching

4.4. Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation;Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation;

5.5. He who gives, with liberality;He who gives, with liberality;

6.6. He who leads [rules or administers], with He who leads [rules or administers], with diligencediligence

7.7. He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Seven Motivational Gifts-Seven Motivational Gifts-1717

We each have one of these gifts as our primary We each have one of these gifts as our primary motivation and ministry (although we can have motivation and ministry (although we can have secondary motivational gifts)secondary motivational gifts)

We must use them – according to the grace We must use them – according to the grace we've been given, in faith, and with sound we've been given, in faith, and with sound judgment.judgment.

We should be secure in our gift – its strengths We should be secure in our gift – its strengths and weaknesses – without envy or trying to be and weaknesses – without envy or trying to be like someone else with a differing gift.like someone else with a differing gift.

Gifts match our core motivation (what makes you Gifts match our core motivation (what makes you light up!), which also match our calling (area of light up!), which also match our calling (area of ministry)ministry)

OUR INDIVIDUAL OUR INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVEPERSPECTIVE

Each of these seven gifts are necessary for a Each of these seven gifts are necessary for a healthy church (the Body of Christ) and are healthy church (the Body of Christ) and are to be vital parts of every church.to be vital parts of every church.

They must be ubiquitous and allowed full They must be ubiquitous and allowed full expression in a church- and its meetings, its expression in a church- and its meetings, its structure, its ministries, its leadership and in structure, its ministries, its leadership and in its day-to-day life as a communityits day-to-day life as a community

No one gift (or gifted person!) is to dominate No one gift (or gifted person!) is to dominate over the others.over the others.

The absence of even one gift means a The absence of even one gift means a crippled church.crippled church.

The body of Christ’s The body of Christ’s PerspectivePerspective

Gift Motivations Means Fruit

Prophetic Transparency & change

Assert what is true, Just & real

Vision

Teacher Understanding & stability

Detailed knowledge & comprehension

Wisdom

Helper Serving & blessing

Fulfill Tasks & meet needs

Completion

Exhorter Peace & harmony Relationships & Encouraging Others

Cohesion

Giver Resources & Creativity

Generate life & seize opportunities

Vitality

Ruler Propriety & Practicality

Rules, structure & Administration

Order

Mercy Intimacy & Grace Compassion, Kindness & Empathy

Acceptance

If those with prophetic gifts are muzzled…If those with prophetic gifts are muzzled…

Your church, your meetings and your life will Your church, your meetings and your life will lack transparency and visionlack transparency and vision

If the Teachers are not encouraged to explain…If the Teachers are not encouraged to explain…

Your church, your meetings and your life will Your church, your meetings and your life will lack understanding and wisdomlack understanding and wisdom

If the helpers are not honored as they serve…If the helpers are not honored as they serve…

Your church, your meetings and your life will Your church, your meetings and your life will lack blessings and things will never reach lack blessings and things will never reach completion.completion.

ApplicationApplication

If the exhorters are not free to reach out and If the exhorters are not free to reach out and relate…relate…

Your church, your meetings and your life will lack Your church, your meetings and your life will lack harmony and social cohesionharmony and social cohesion

If the givers are prevented from presenting If the givers are prevented from presenting opportunities…opportunities…

Your church, your meetings and your life will lack Your church, your meetings and your life will lack resources, vibrancy and vitalityresources, vibrancy and vitality

If those gifted at ruling are not allowed to If those gifted at ruling are not allowed to administer…administer…

Your church, your meetings and your life will lack Your church, your meetings and your life will lack decency, structure and order.decency, structure and order.


And if those who bring mercy are And if those who bring mercy are not esteemed…not esteemed…

Your church, your meetings and Your church, your meetings and your life will lack intimacy and your life will lack intimacy and grace and will never lay hold of grace and will never lay hold of the full acceptance of the Father – the full acceptance of the Father – or each other– which is available or each other– which is available through Christthrough Christ


Uniquely You

Every believer has at least one gift.

Many have a combination called a gift mix– Mercy – encouragement – hospitality– Administration – leadership – wisdomWARNING- Gift Projection

Next 2 WeeksNext 2 Weeks

UNWRAPPING THE UNWRAPPING THE GIFTSGIFTS



Welcome to… Week 3Welcome to… Week 3






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Uniquely You

Every believer has at least one gift.

Many have a combination called a gift mix– Mercy – encouragement – hospitality– Administration – leadership – wisdomWARNING- Gift Projection

Service/Helps

Supernatural ability to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which minister to and meet the needs of others

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

Service/HelpsTraits: 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

Teaching

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

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

Teaching

Traits: Disciplined, perceptive, practical, analytical,

articulate

Cautions: Needs to 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

Encouragement/Exhortation

Supernatural ability to strengthen, comfort, or urge action to those

who are discouraged or wavering in their faith


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


Traits:Positive, motivating, challenging,

affirming, reassuring, supportive, trustworthy

Cautions:Can sometimes be overly optimistic,

simplistic, or flatteringShould take time to understand where

others are and what they really need

Giving

Gives time, talent, or resources in a supernatural way for the

work of God.

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

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

Leadership

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

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

LeadershipTraits: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

Mercy

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

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

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

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

Hospitality

Supernatural ability to care and minister to people by providing fellowship, food and shelter

Hospitality

Seems to always be ready and willing to invite guests over or offer their homes for a place to meet

Finds deep satisfaction in providing refreshments or preparing meals

Tirelessly serves others to make them feel comfortable and encouraged

Hospitality

Traits– Sociable, flexible, gracious

Cautions– Avoid ignoring your own family and

personal needs by constantly inviting others over to your home

Wisdom

Supernatural ability to effectively apply spiritual truth to meet a need in a specific situation

Wisdom

Can apply biblical truths to the circumstances of life

Can focus on unseen consequences in determining the next steps to take

Provides God given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion

WisdomTraits:Sensible, insightful, practical, wise, fair,

experienced, common sense

Cautions: Need to avoid having others develop a

dependence upon them which may weaken their faith in God

Need to be patient with others who do not have this gift


Welcome to… Week 4Welcome to… Week 4






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Knowledge

Supernatural ability to bring truth to the Body of Christ through deep insight into the Word of

God

Knowledge

Ability to search the scriptures for divine insight and understanding

Can apply biblical truths to the circumstances of life

Knowledge

Traits:Inquisitive, responsive, observant,

insightful, reflective, truthful, spiritually sensitive

Cautions:Need to be careful of this gift leading

to pride, “knowledge puffs up”

Faith

Supernatural ability to trust in God’s promises with confidence and unwavering belief in God’s ability to fulfill his purposes

Faith

Believe in the promises of God and inspire others to the same

Act in complete confidence of God’s ability to overcome obstacles

Have an attitude of trust in God’s will

Have a deep dependence on God’s Word

Faith

Traits:Prayer warrior, optimistic, trusting,

assured, positive, inspiring, hopeful

Cautions:

Should remember that those who speak with reason and desire to plan do not necessarily lack faith

Supernatural ability to distinguish the spirit of truth from error.

Discernment

Discernment

Able to see clearly through a confusing situation

Can detect when something or someone does not line up with God’s truth

Can distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure

Can identify deception in others with accuracy

Discernment

Traits:Perceptive, insightful, sensitive, intuitive,

decisive

Cautions:May struggle with how to express their

perceptions and feelingsCould be harsh when confronting others,

instead of speaking the truth in love

Administration

Supernatural ability to understand what makes an organization function, and the special ability to plan and execute

procedures that accomplish the goals of the ministry

Administration

Can organize people, tasks or events

Develops strategies and plans to reach goals

Assists ministries to become more effective and efficient

Can create order out of organizational chaos

AdministrationTraits:Thorough, objective, responsible,

organized, goal oriented, efficient, conscientious

Cautions:

Could fail to see God’s purposes being fulfilled in the process of meeting a goal

Could use people simply to accomplish goals without being concerned for their growth in the process

Supernatural ability to communicate the gospel in a way that results in people accepting Christ

Evangelism

Evangelism

Communicates the message of Christ with clarity and conviction

Seeks out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters

Challenges unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ

Adapts the presentation of the gospel to connect with the individual’s needs

Seeks opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers

Evangelism

Traits:Sincere, candid, respected, influential, confident

Cautions: Needs to remember that the Holy Spirit, not

guilt, is the motivator in a person’s decision for Christ

Needs to listen carefully because the same approach is not appropriate for everyone

Should avoid becoming critical of others who do not have this gift

Pastor / Shepherd

Supernatural ability to nurture, care for and guide people toward maturity in their spiritual journey

Pastor/Shepherd

Provides guidance and oversight to a group of God’s people

Models with their life what it means to become a fully devoted follower of Christ

Establishes trust, loyalty and confidence through long term relationships

Leads and protects those within their span of care

Pastor/Shepherd

Traits:Nurturing, guiding, protective,

supportive, relational

Cautions: Needs to be aware that the desire

to feed and support others can make it difficult to say “no”

Pitfalls and Cautions

Assuming we are automatically useful to God– “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John

15:5) As a reason not to do something

– All of us are to show mercy, share our faith, be encouraging…

Wrong view of our gift– “…do not think of yourself more highly

than you ought…” (Romans 12:3)

Documents

McLean University McLean Bible Church Welcome to… Christianity 401 Serving In Your God-given Ministry Instructor: Pastor Rick Helein [email protected]