This morning I would like us to think about spiritual gifts: skills and abilities given by God the Holy Spirit to followers of Christ for the purpose of ministry. And my hypothesis is that what you probably believe about spiritual gifts is wrong. Wrong in a way that’s diminishing your joy in serving God, and inhibiting your potential usefulness to God. And my intention is to offer a correction. My hope is that you will find this topic to be enlightening and thought-provoking, somewhat challenging, but ultimately, encouraging.
Encouraging, because all of us want, deep down, to matter. We don’t want to take the easy path, just getting by with as little effort as possible, sleepwalking our way to heaven. We want our lives to have significance. When we stand before God, we want to hear him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” Instead of, “What have you been doing all these years?” And this topic of spiritual gifts is one that will help us to matter. Matter to the church, matter to God’s purposes in the world, matter to our friends and families, matter to our communities. Does that sound like something you would like to understand more deeply? OK. Good.
Let’s start by defining the term “ministry”. Ministry, for a Christian, isn’t just helping people, or doing good things. Ministry is serving others for the sake of the gospel. Ministry is serving others in ways that reflect God’s character and advance God’s purposes.
This definition of ministry is broad. It isn’t restricted geographically or chronologically, which means that it isn’t limited to the activities which take place here in this building, on the first day of each week, what we do in church on Sundays. Nor is it limited to the things we do for one another; for other followers of Christ. Because God’s purposes also embrace those who do not yet know him; those whom he is calling to himself.
Why does that matter? Having a clear definition of ministry is important, because our topic this morning is spiritual gifts, which are gifts for ministry. I said at the beginning that spiritual gifts are often misunderstood, in ways that have the effect of inhibiting ministry rather than encouraging it. And one of the reasons is that our view of ministry, and therefore our view of spiritual gifts, is too narrow.
Let me explain what I mean. When you read or hear teaching on spiritual gifts, it usually includes these main points:
1. Everyone has a spiritual gift (perhaps more than one).
2. Spiritual gifts are distributed by God the Holy Spirit, as he pleases.
3. The purpose for which God distributes spiritual gifts is ministry.
4. There is a list, or a set of lists, in the Bible that together encompass the various kinds of gifts.
5. You must therefore determine which of the gifts on the list you have received, so that you can exercise it.
Some of these are true, and some are only partly true. Where it starts to go awry is between points three and four. In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, as well as Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4, we find the lists of spiritual gifts that are familiar to many of us. And if you have a narrow view of ministry, then the limited set of gifts identified in those lists seems sufficient. In other words, if what happens in a church building on a Sunday morning is your definition of “ministry”, then the gifts in those four lists are all that is needed.
But if your view of ministry is broader, then those lists seem rather restrictive. Where does, for example, feeding your neighbor’s cat while they’re on vacation fit in, or painting backgrounds for the Vacation Bible School program, or writing novels which portray the human condition insightfully, or stopping to help a stranger fix a flat tire? I’m not saying it can’t be done. You can define the spiritual gifts in those four lists broadly enough that they would cover all of those activities. I’m just saying it doesn’t feel like a good fit. It feels like you’re stretching the definitions a bit to accommodate all those other types of ministry. And it makes you think that perhaps there’s something amiss with our entire approach.
And that brings us to the Biblical gift of embroidery. How many of you knew there was a spiritual gift of embroidery, the ability to create designs in fabric? You think I’m making this up. I can see it on your faces. But I am not making this up. This is an actual spiritual gift, found in the actual Bible.
Exodus 35:30-35
“30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.”
Here’s the background. God has instructed the people of Israel to build a tabernacle, a kind of portable sanctuary for worship. This is during their forty years of wandering in the desert, after they left Egypt and before they finally entered Canaan. Once they settle in Canaan, the will build a temple made of stone, under king Solomon. But in the meantime, they need a structure that they can break down and transport from place to place, when they periodically relocate. And that’s the tabernacle. God gave the people very specific instructions on how to build the tabernacle—its dimensions, the materials to be used in its construction, the furniture that would be placed in it. He also gave specific instructions on the clothing the priests were to wear in the tabernacle.
The key point for us this morning is this: everyone involved in the construction of the tabernacle; everyone involved in fashioning the priestly garments, the temple furnishings, the cups, and bowls, and furniture—they were all enabled to do their work by God.
Now, you say, yes, fine, but that’s not a real spiritual gift, embroidery. Not like preaching and teaching. Oh, isn’t it? Where did these abilities come from? Who was the source of the wisdom, the understanding, the knowledge, and the skill that was required to do this work? Verse 31 tells us: it was the “Spirit of God”. And were these gifts for ministry? Did the building of the tabernacle serve people, in ways that advanced God’s purposes and reflected his character? Yes. And so these were abilities for ministry, given by the Holy Spirit. In other words, they were “spiritual gifts”. The difference is that, in the Old Testament, spiritual gifts were assigned only to specific individuals, as we see here. Whereas now, they are distributed to everyone who is a follower of Christ.
With that understanding, let’s look at the other spiritual gifts which are identified in this passage.
• Verse 32: The work of a goldsmith or silversmith, the ability to “make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze”
• Verse 33: The work of a jeweler, the ability “to cut and set stones”. Also carving and woodworking, and “all kinds of artistic crafts”
• Verse 34: The ability to teach others
• Verse 35: Engraving, designing, embroidery, weaving, and working with textiles.
Is your view of spiritual gifts starting to expand? Let’s look at another related passage.
Exodus 28:2-4
“2 Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. 3 Tell all the skilled workers to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. 4 These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests.”
Here we see a spiritual gift of designing and fashioning beautiful garments. That’s right. For some people, “Project Runway” could be ministry training.
How about the construction trades?
Exodus 36:1
“So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.
And finally, Exodus 31:6-11
Exodus 31:6-11
“6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— 8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— 10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”
Here we have all the gifts and abilities required to design and build furniture, to create objects such as lampstands, utensils, and basins, and to design and weave garments, and even to create perfumes and incense. Yes: verse 11 tells us that the ability to mix various chemicals and natural substances in order to create fragrant incense for the worship of God was a spiritual gift, an ability given by God for the purpose of ministry.
Now my point is not to encourage you to take up tabernacle construction, or priestly garment design, or lampstand goldsmithing. I’m not saying that we just need to add some additional skills from the Old Testament to our list of spiritual gifts. I’m not telling you we should make the list longer. I’m saying the lists are just the start, just examples. My point is that spiritual gifts are all the abilities God gives us to do all kinds of ministry. The key word there is “all”. Because James 1:17 tells us that,
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Every good and perfect gift comes from God; including every gift of ability to do ministry. And so we need to think much more broadly about spiritual gifts, and what it means to possess them and to exercise them. And that broader view, which I believe is a more Biblical view, is going to radically free us to do ministry of all kinds, in the name of Christ and in the power of God. The result of that freedom is going to be great joy as we each do the things that, in Christ, we were made to do, which is to serve others with all the abilities God has given us.
Let’s go back now and take a look at the five points on spiritual gifts I mentioned at the beginning, and see if this perspective sheds a different light on them.
1. Everyone has a spiritual gift (perhaps more than one).
True. As Romans 12:4-6a tells us:
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
Likewise, 1 Corinthians 12:7 tells us that,
“to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
The key term in both of these verses is “each”. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us”. “To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good”. It’s like Oprah giving away cars: “You get a gift, and you get a gift, and you get a gift. Everybody gets a spiritual gift!”. The twist on this is that the gifts which we all receive are not limited to those found in one of the lists in the Old and New Testaments. Those are not meant to be exhaustive lists; they’re just examples. So instead of asking, “which of the spiritual gifts on these lists do I have?” ask yourself a more open-ended question: “What can I do? What abilities do I have to minister to people? What abilities do I have to serve people for the sake of the gospel, to serve people in ways that reflect God’s character and advance God’s purposes?” Those are your spiritual gifts.
And the possible answers to that question are literally limitless; the answers to that question are as unique as each one of you is unique. For example:
• Do you like to garden? Do you have a green thumb? How can you use your ability to nurture plants and flowers to serve people for the sake of the gospel?
• Do you work on cars? How can you use your skill in auto repair to serve people in ways that reflect God’s character and advance God’s purposes?
• Are you interested in woodworking? How can you turn that skill into an opportunity to minister to people in the name of Christ; that is, to serve them for the sake of the gospel?
• Do you have a passion for fashion? Do you have skills in sewing, or knitting, or embroidery, or textiles that you could use to serve people, in ways that reflect God’s character and advance God’s purposes?
• You fill in the blank. If your abilities correspond with the gifts listed in Romans or First Corinthians, then great! Use those abilities to serve people for the sake of the gospel. But if your skills and abilities lie elsewhere, understand that God gave you those skills and abilities, not only for your own benefit; not only for you to enjoy, but for you to employ in the service of others, for the sake of the gospel. Those are spiritual gifts as well.
The point I’m making is like the distinction between providence and miracles. Providence is how God works in the world, every day, through the normal processes of life, to care for us. For example, we give thanks before a meal, not because it suddenly and miraculously appeared before us, or because it was brought to us by ravens, as Elijah experienced—look it up—we give thanks because we recognize that in all the processes of planting, and harvesting, and transportation, and cooking—God was acting through all of those things to provide for our needs. The fact that we can identify the natural processes involved doesn’t make it any less a gift from God.
A miracle, on the other hand, is when God intervenes in an unusual way. For example, when Jesus told the disciples to cast their fishing nets on the other side of the boat, and the nets filled up so fast that they began to break. That was a miracle. Do you see the difference? We believe that God can, and does, intervene miraculously from time to time. But we also believe that in all the ordinary events of daily life, God is also at work. And in fact, that’s how God does most of his work, in non-miraculous ways. And so, are there miraculous gifts? Yes. But most of God’s gifts are not miraculous, they are how God works in and through us in the ordinary course of events, through the non-miraculous skills, and abilities, and aptitudes which he has given us, to accomplish his purposes.
Now, you may be skeptical. You might be asking, how can all of my abilities be spiritual gifts, if non-Christians possess those same skills? After all, you don’t have to be a Christian to have artistic skills, or horticultural skills, or mechanical skills. And that’s true. Just like you don’t have to be a Christian to have skills in public speaking, or serving, or teaching, or hospitality, or any of the gifts specifically identified in Romans 12 and First Corinthians 12. All of those abilities, whether possessed by believers or non-believers, comes from God. What did James tell us? “Every good and perfect gift is from above”. Every one. Including those received by people who don’t know God. Likewise, Matthew 5:43-45 tells us this:
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
So yes, God gives good things, including gifts and abilities, to all kinds of people, including both those who know Christ and those who don’t. The difference, and what makes the gifts and abilities that we receive “spiritual gifts” from a Biblical perspective, is the purpose for which they are given and the use to which they are put. Spiritual gifts are abilities for ministry, abilities to serve others for the sake of the gospel. That’s the difference. That’s what we receive as followers of Christ.
I’m going to pause here for just a moment, and ask you to think about this. Contemplate these things. What interests and passions do you have; what skills and abilities do you possess? And then, how could you use those gifts for ministry? If you’d like, make some notes on your bulleting handout, jot down some ideas. I’ll give you a minute or two. [pause]
Got some ideas? Good. Take that home with you, and continue to think about this over the coming week. OK, let’s go on to the second point:
2. Spiritual gifts are distributed by God the Holy Spirit, as he pleases.
This is true. We don’t decide what gifts we will have. As 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11 tells us:
“4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good . . . . 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”
The Holy Spirit “distributes them to each one, just as he determines”. In other words, God is sovereign in the distribution of gifts. And really, that should come as no surprise. After all, we recognize that none of us decides how tall we are going to be, or how much natural athletic ability we will possess, or whether we will be blessed with the ability to sing with perfect pitch. We attribute those things to DNA, and true, that’s the mechanism, but ultimately God is in control of those things. It’s the same way with spiritual gifts. God decides. And it’s good that it is that way, because God can distribute the gifts in a way that supports his plans and purposes. As Paul writes in 1 Cor. 12:17-18:
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
So there’s a rhyme and a reason for the way that God distributes the gifts, whether or not that design is apparent to us, and whether or not that reason meets with our approval.
But having said that, the fact that God distributes the gifts doesn’t mean that we have no role in developing them. On the contrary, all of our skills and abilities for ministry need to be developed, we need to continue working to become more skillful and competent, so that we can be more effective in ministry. Taking the example of the Old Testament gifts we talked about a few minutes ago: do you think that because God was the source of the gift of working with gold and silver, for example, that those skills just magically appeared? That those goldsmiths and silversmiths woke up one day suddnely able to work with those metals? No, those abilities were the result of years of training and apprenticeship, labor and self-discipline. Just like gifts of music, or craftsmanship, or speaking, or service. The gift comes from God. But the development of that gift is a cooperative effort that requires our commitment and dedication. “Gift” does not equal “effortless”.
For example, the apostle Paul had the gift of apostleship. As he write in Ephesians 3:7-8:
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ”
So his apostleship was a gift. But did that make his work easy? On the contrary, he labored to develop and utilize his gifts to the fullest: (1 Cor. 15:9-10)
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
God distributes his gifts according to his plan and purposes, according to his wisdom, and also according to his love. That last part is critical. We aren’t just his tools, or a means to an end. Yes, he intends that we use his gifts for ministry. But he selects them for us, and assigns them to us, and develops them in us, in love; with the intention of blessing us in their use, as well as blessing others through us.
Point three:
3. The purpose for which God distributes spiritual gifts is ministry.
This is true. As 1 Cor. 12:7 tells us,
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
Likewise, in 1 Peter 4:10, we read this:
“10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
So far, so familiar. But the spin which this broader understanding of spiritual gifts puts on those verses is that it isn’t just a very limited and specific set of abilities that we are to serve others with. The “whatever” isn’t limited to teaching, or hospitality, or giving encouragement. We are to draw upon all our gifts and abilities when serving others for the sake of the gospel. We’re to utilize all of our skills. Because that’s why God gave them to us. To be used in serving others in ways that reflect his character and advance his purposes.
I recognize that this can be a bit daunting. Because it significantly expands the opportunities for ministry, and expands the possibilities for how I can serve others. But fundamentally, it’s about giving us the freedom to serve in ways that are consistent with how God made us, in ways that harmonize with all of who we are; all of our skills, and gifts, and abilities, and passions. And that’s a joyful thing, not an oppressive thing.
Two more, and I’ll cover these together:
4. There is a list, or a set of lists, that together encompass the various kinds of gifts.
5. You must therefore determine which of the gifts on the list you have received, so that you can exercise it.
These I would classify as only partly true. Yes, there are several lists of spiritual gifts.
For example, here’s the list in Romans 12:4-8:
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
But as we’ve said, these are examples, not a comprehensive or exhaustive list. And because
of that, it’s not so much a process of finding out which of the gifts on the list you have, but rather a process of assessing what it is you can do, what your skills and abilities and interests are, and then seeking ways to utilize those gifts in serving others for the sake of the gospel.
Now, are the things on this list good things? Absolutely. We need people who are exercising their gift of serving. We need people who are sharing with us their gift of teaching. We need givers, and leaders, and agents of mercy. And we definitely need more encouragers. These are all wonderful gifts. But these aren’t all of them. This list doesn’t exhaust God’s creativity in assigning gifts. If you have a skill or ability that you can use to serve people for the sake of the gospel, if you have a skill or ability that you can use to serve people in ways that reflect God’s character and advance God’s purposes, then what you have is a gift for ministry that comes from God, and that is the definition of a spiritual gift.
I’ll conclude this morning with a challenge and an encouragement. Almost done. Here’s the challenge. What are you doing with the gifts, and skills, and abilities, and opportunities that God has given you? How are you ministering? How are you serving people for the sake of the gospel? Are you serving people in ways that reflect God’s character and advance God’s purposes? I hope so. If not, will you determine right now to start doing that? Because you don’t want to waste God’s gifts. Listen to this parable (Matt 25:14-30):
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Jesus has gone on a journey. He was crucified, rose fom the dead, and ascended into heaven. But he’s coming back. And when he does, he will call us to account for how we have utilized the gifts he has entrusted to us; whether we have been faithful stewards of those gifts. So here’s the question: when you stand before God, which of the servants in this parable do you want to be? If Jesus came back today, which would you be? Which will you be?
And finally, the word of encouragement is this: you matter. If you are in Christ, if you have trusted in him for salvation, then the Holy Spirit has gifted you for ministry. You have a part to play in God’s plan of redemption. You are not a spectator, you are not a bystander. And more than that, you are needed. Your gifts are needed; your skills and abilities are needed. We need you to use what God has given you, to work together with all of us in accomplishing his purposes. You are not insignificant. You matter. And that applies to every single person listening to my voice: if you are in Christ, you have something to contribute. You matter. Your life matters. So decide before God today that you are going to make a difference. [Amen]
