SERMON OUTLINE:
TIME to EVALUIATE:
• know yourself (vs 3)
• accept yourself (vs 3)
TIME to FUNCTION:
• the theory (vs 4-5)
• the practice (vs 6-8)
TIME to DISCOVER:
• be informed
• be open
• be available
• be sensitive.
Time to EXPLAIN:
• the gift of prophecy (vs 6)
• the gift of serving (vs 7)
• the gift of teaching (vs 7)
• the gift of encouraging (vs 8)
• the gift of giving (vs 8)
• the gift of leadership (vs 8)
• the gift of showing mercy (vs 8)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• The man in the photograph is Austrian-born violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler,
• He was one of the most famous violin masters of his or any other day,
• And regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time,
• Go online and listen to a YouTube clip called:
• Kreisler: 2 hours of Perfection - 38 short pieces
• Link: https://youtu.be/Z_x5vxLevHw?si=OI8SHh5j5L9uUJQW
• (joke: not many of us have our work called, perfection!)
• The story is told that on one occasion a fan rushed up to him after a concert and cried:
• "I'd give my life to play as beautifully as you do."
• Kreisler looked her in the eye and replied, "I did."
• Nothing that is valuable is achieved without effort.
• And on another occasion, Fritz Kreisler said.
"Narrow is the road that leads to the life of a violinist.
Hour after hour, day after day and week after week, for years, I lived with my violin.
There were so many things that I wanted to do that I had to leave undone; there were so many places I wanted to go that I had to miss if I was to master the violin.
The road that I travelled was a narrow road and the way was hard."
• TRANSITION: That is commitment to a cause,
• And I tell you this that Jesus demands no less a commitment!
Ill:
• Verse 1 of this chapter (#12) starts off with the word, “Therefore.”
• For eleven chapters the apostle Paul has been explaining God’s great plan of salvation.
• Now says the apostle Paul, If God has done all that for you…
• What will you give back to him?
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
• God requires our bodies, our minds and our wills,
• Cimmitted to him in dedication and service.
Now, this morning, we are looking at grace or spiritual gifts.
• But if we are not right regarding verses 1&2,
• Which we looked at last week,
• We are not going to be effective regarding verses 3-8!
Note:
• Verse 1: Consecration – our choice to be set apart for God's use.
• Verse 2: Transformation – automatically happens, when we are obeying God.
• That leads onto Evaluation (vs 3).
• Where the Apostle Paul teaches us to think in a balanced way.
(1). Time to Evaluate (vs 3)
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
• Question: How do we evaluate?
• Answer: twofold.
(a). Know yourself: “Sound / sober judgement”
• It is rare to find someone who really knows themselves,
• And who really accepts themselves.
• We tend to gravitate towards two extremes.
FIRST Mistake: We think more highly than we ought to think.
ill:
A little poem:
"Sometime when you’re feeling important,
Sometime when your ego's way up,
Sometime when you take it for granted,
that you’re the prize-winning pup.
Sometime when you feel your absence
will leave an infallible hole,
Just follow these simple instructions
and see how it humbles your soul.
Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to the wrist,
Now pull it out fast, and the hole that remains
is the measure of how you'll be missed.
You may splash all you please as you enter
and stir up the water galore,
But stop and you'll find in a minute
It's right back to where, it was once before".
That's good for some of us to memorise and remember:
• I would rather be a pillar in my local Church,
• Then be a caterpillar (creeping in and out).
• But there is only one person who is indispensable in this Church.
• And that is Christ, the head!
• He alone is to be pre-eminent.
• And when we realise that the Church didn’t depend on me doing everything,
• We might release others to come forward and play their part.
SECOND Mistake: we think lowlier than we ought to think.
• There are those who think:
• "I can't do anything", "There's no real role or job for me to do",
ill:
Isaiah chapter 45 verse 9:
"Woe to the man who fights with his creator,
Does the pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with him who forms it, saying,
"Stop you’re doing it all wrong" or "How clumsy your work has no handles".
• TRANSITION:
• Does that describe you? “I have no handles!”
• If only I could sing like?
• If only I could preach like?
• If only I could play piano like?
• If only I had a testimony like?
• If only I could...? Or if only......? Or?
• Listen, if that describes you,
• Then you are "a pot" arguing with its creator.
The two extremes in many churches:
• Those with a finger in every pie.
• Those who are not involved in anyway.
• So, Paul’s first bit of advice is, know yourself: “Sound / sober judgement”
(2). Accept yourself (Vs 3):
“In accordance with the measure of faith God has given you".
• The “measure of faith”: is the standard by which we correctly appraise ourselves,
• And notice it is meted out by God.
• God has given to each Christian a “measure of faith” to use for him.
• That means you are a purposeful person.
• God sees you as an important player not merely a passenger,
• You have a ministry/service to perform.
• It may be a public ministry or a private ministry, but you have one!
• And you have been gifted to do that ministry well!
• God has given each of us a gift, a role,
• In which were able to play a part.
• And you by faith are to minister in that area, or areas.
• But no one person can do it all! So, get a right evaluation!
Quote:
“God has given each believer a measure of faith with which to serve him.
This expression refers to the spiritual capacity and / or power given to each person to carry out his or her function in the church.
Whatever we have in the way of natural abilities or spiritual gifts-all should be used with humility for building up the body of Christ.
If we are proud, we cannot exercise our faith and gifts to benefit others.
And if we consider ourselves worthless, we also withhold what God intended to deliver to others through us”.
(2). Time to FUNCTION: (vs 4-8)
• Consecration as a basis (vs 1).
• And Transformation in the process (vs 2),
• And with evaluation taking place (vs 3),
• Paul goes on to describe the out working of those gifts in:
• "The body" - "The church".
• We get the theory (vs 4-5).
• We get the practice (vs 6-8)
The theory (Vs 4-5).
• In theory two things are true.
• He gives us a simple illustration/metaphor.
• One of his favourite illustrations that he uses often in his writtings.
(A). THE BODY - THERE ARE MANY MEMBERS - VARIETY.
• The emphasis here is variety; our own bodies are a great illustration of that.
• Our bodies are full of variety, many parts, performing many functions.
• i.e. fingers, Hands, arms, legs, feet, toes, torso, neck, ears, eyes, nose, mouth etc.
• Our bodies are full of variety, many parts, performing many functions.
(B). THE BODY - ALL THE MEMBERS ARE INTERRELATED - UNITY.
• But the parts of the body must work together.
• Unity!
Ill:
• I can preach even if I had no arms,
• But I would struggle for several reasons.
• I wave them around to communicate or use them descriptively.
• I need them to turn my notes to the next page etc.
• Without arms I can preach,
• But I can preach much better and easier with arms.
• TRANSITION:
• As members of the body of Christ,
• We belong to each other, we minister to each other, and we need each other!
The practice (Vs 6-8).
• God has given to his church different gifts,
• Many gifts, there might have been given, hundreds of gifts,
• Some have their definition revealed to us in the Bible,
• But I believe there are many more not mentioned.
Note:
• A spiritual gift is different to a natural talent.
• Some people are born with natural talents:
• e.g. Beethoven or Mozart when it comes to music,
• e.g. Kylian Mbappe or Ronaldo when it comes to football.
• e.g. Pavarotti or Taylor Swift when it comes to singing.
• e.g. Van Gogh or Monet when it comes to painting.
There are people in this room who were born with natural talents:
• Artistic, musical,
• Athletic, some have mental abilities.
• These talents were given us at birth,
• Genetically inherited from our parents etc
Now spiritual gifts are different to natural talents:
• They are given at our conversion by God,
• Given us independent of our parents, (you do not inherit spiritual gifts)
• e.g. I may be a preacher, but that does not mean my children will be!
• They may have a totally different spiritual gifting to me.
Quote:
“Spiritual gifts are a skill or ability that enables each Christian to perform a function in the body of Christ with ease and effectiveness”.
You have at least one:
• May be two, who knows, maybe even 7 or 8.
• But everybody has at least one.
• Listen! Nobody got missed out!
• They are given by God, and he does not make mistakes!
Now when you discover that gift:
• That is your contribution to the body of Christ, the local Church.
• Verse 6: "Let him use it"
• Quote: “Spiritual gifts are not toys to play with but tools to build with!”
NOTE: now not everyone has one of the seven mentioned here in vs 6-8.
• Gift of Prophecy.
• Gift of Serving.
• Gift of Teaching.
• Gift of Encouraging.
• Gift of Giving.
• Gift of Leadership.
• Gift of Showing mercy.
Seven gifts are mentioned in the passage,
• But there are at least 22 spiritual gifts mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament.
• There are six Bible passages that deal with spiritual gifts.
• Romans 12:6-8.
• 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.
• 1 Corinthians 12:28.
• 1 Corinthians 12:29:30.
• Ephesians 4:11.
• 1 Peter 4:11.
And these spiritual gifts fall into three natural categories:
• Support gifts (e.g. Evangelist, teacher, pastor)
• Foundational gifts that provided direction & leadership for the Church.
• Service gifts (e.g. Administration, giving, helping, serving).
• Work behind the scenes building up the body.
• Sign gifts (e.g. Miracles, tongues, word of knowledge).
• Supernatural gifts that manifested the Holy Spirit’s power,
• These gifts could not be mistaken for natural abilities.
Quote: Clive Calver in his book ‘The Holy Spirit’ lists 28 New Testament gifts:
• Discerning of spirits,
• Word of knowledge,
• Word of wisdom,
• Tongues,
• Prophecy,
• Interpretation of tongues,
• Healing,
• Faith,
• Miracles,
• Service,
• Teaching,
• Motivation,
• Encouragement,
• Giving,
• Leadership,
• Mercy,
• Apostle,
• Hospitality,
• Celibacy,
• Administration,
• Exorcisms,
• Evangelism,
• Pastoral guidance,
• Missionary service,
• Gift of martyrdom,
• Helping,
• Intercession.
There may well be many more gifts given that are not mentioned:
• But these gifts are recorded for us in scripture,
• Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift.
• May be two, who knows, maybe 7 or 8 but nobody got missed out!
Note:
• Spiritual gifts are not limiting,
• They are not exclusive to a particular ministry:
• e.g. You may not be an evangelist, but you can still do evangelism.
• e.g. You may not be a pastor, but I can still do pastoral work,
• e.g. You may not have the gift od serving, but you can still serve,
• Point: We can all do various tasks,
• But some people will do those jobs better, easier, more naturally,
• If they are gifted in that area.
Now when you discover that gift, it is your contribution to the body of Christ:
• Verse 6: "Let him use it"
• It is your responsibility to exercise your gift,
• But remember that spiritual gifts, like natural talents often need working at:
• They need to develop, to expand.
• e.g. Preaching (learn, experience, hard work, develops that gift).
• e.g. Visit the sick (mistakes & experience will again teach you in that situation).
Question: How do I discover my gift(s)?
Answer:
• That is a topic that deserves a whole session to itself.
• But I will say 4 things, 4 quick principles:
(1). BE INFORMED.
• Read up on what the Bible calls spiritual gifts from God.
• Read respected/balanced authors (lot of drivel out there) – ask for recommendations.
• Don’t have a Supermarket mentality with spiritual gifts,
• i.e. “I’ll have that one & that one”.
• Remember it is God who decides what gifts you have.
• Information helps you to look at the list and your Church and ministry and tie them up.
• Also ask other people what they think your gifting might be!
(2). BE OPEN.
• Your gift may be different from what you think or prefer.
• e.g. Les Hardwick (fainted when he preached his first sermon).
• e.g. I often meet people who tell me “I have the gift of????”
• It doesn’t take too long to discover that they do not have that gift.
• What we want may not be what we have,
• But what God has given to us will best suit us and others in the long run!
(3). BE AVAILABLE.
• Get on and serve in as many ways as you can, see what you like and enjoy doing.
• This is the best way to discover your gift.
• i.e. If you have a heart for children or young people,
• Join us on a Friday night or discover more about Sunday Explorers.
• i.e. If you have a heart for seniors,
• Phone them up, check it’s alright and pop round for a cup of tea & a chat.
• i.e. If you have a heart to serve,
• Speak to those involved in the variolous activities of the Church.
• i.e. If you have a heart for mission,
• Get some information and start praying for that organisation etc.
• The best way to discover your spiritual gift,
• Is to be active in your local Church,
• And others will soon see the gifts that God has or has not given you.
(4). BE SENSITIVE.
• To the feedback you receive from others,
• Pay attention to their responses,
• Talk it through with one or two trusted friends/leaders.
(3). Time to EXPLAIN (vs 6-8)
• A quick Look at the 7 gifts mentioned,
• Most of them are self-explanatory,
• With just the first gift needing a little explanation.
(1). THE FIRST GIFT MENTIONED IS PROPHECY (VS 6B).
“If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;”
The gift of Prophecy is a hot potato because Christians disagree as to what it is.
• Note: The New Testament gift of prophecy,
• Is different from Old Testament prophesy.
• Old Testament prophets whose prophecy was incorrect got stoned!
• (joke: I’m talking by rocks and not by smoking weed!)
• (Deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 19-22).
• Now that obviously does not happen today when wrong/false messages are given.
In my understanding of this gift:
• Prophecy was a gift essential to the early church
• Remember the early Church only has limited New Testament books,
• The New Testament was yet to be finalized,
• When disagreements arose and uncertainty as to how to do/practice Church etc,
• The Churches needed to be taught the mind of God on that issue,
• So, they needed gifted individuals who could speak with authority:
• Who could share and declare and bring clarity on a situation.
• These individuals had this gift of prophecy enabling them to do just that.
Note:
• Prophecy came with restrictions,
• The Church was not expected to simply accept anyone’s thoughts,
• We would say today, swallow the prophecy ‘hook, line & sinker’:
• Those prophesying needed to be authenticated by others.
• e.g. (1 Corinthians chapter 14 verse 29).
• “Let two or three prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.”
Question: What is the application for us today at DRC?
Answer:
• If you are a member of this Church,
• And you think God has given you a specific word for the Church,
• Come and speak to myself or Stuart and we will “evaluate what is said.”
• According to 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verse 29.
2ND GIFT MENTIONED IS SERVING (VS 7A):
" if it is serving, then serve; ".
• In other words, if your gift is serving.
• Don't wear a T. shirt with it written all over "I have the gift of serving"
• Just get on and serve, get on and do it!
Don't you find it encouraging?
• That Paul mentions this gift second on the list,
• In other words, it is just as important as what some call ‘the spectacular gifts.’
• If your role in the church is not public, ii is still important.
• e.g. Hidden organs are the most important in a body.
3RD GIFT MENTIONED IS TEACHING (VS 7B):
• The message of Christ is not only to be proclaimed,
• It also has to be explained, i.e. the first 11 chapters of Romans.
• The Christian faith is a taught faith!
Ill:
• Jesus himself as a teacher/rabbi,
• The 12 men who followed Jesus were called disciples.
• A disciple is a learner!
• TRANSITION:
• Teaching brings order to a Church and a life.
• Teaching helps us detect error and function correctly.
• Teaching feeds the soul and builds us up in our faith.
4TH GIFT MENTIONED IS ENCOURAGING (VS 8A):
"if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;"
• A gift so much needed today.
• i.e. Billy Graham “Gift of criticism”.
• Anybody can discourage and destroy,
• It is a sign of immaturity,
Ill:
• Babies and small children knock over a tower made of building blocks.
• Because they are immature that is all they can do.
• But as the grow and mature.
• They start to build and create with those same building blocks!
5TH GIFT MENTIONED IS GIVING (VS 8B):
“if it is giving, then give generously”
Sorry folks but this is not a get out clause for not having to give financially.
• Every Christian is called to give:
• But some are called to give more than others.
• He may well give you a spirit, or the gift of generosity.
ill:
• Sir John Lang (British entrepreneur, philanthropist and Christian).
• His company built the M1, the British Library, the Barbican and Coventry Cathedral.
• John Lang had this gift of generosity,
• He and his wife would set apart the money they needed to live on for the year,
• And they gave away the rest.
• Invested it into the Lang Trust which is still helping Churches and charities today.
• TRANSITION:
• The gift of giving is not just for the wealthy:
• Remember the story of the widow’s mite.
• Mark chapter 12 verse 42:
“I assure you; this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. 44For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
6TH GIFT MENTIONED IS GIVING (VS 8C):
“if it is to lead, do it diligently.”
Leadership is a gift many people want, until they get it:
• Every decision you make, please half the congregation and upsets the other half!
• Leadership is a responsibility, that eats into your leisure time,
• And cause you numerous headaches and brings very little earthly reward.
• Note: Leaders must lead and not maintain!
• We are called to lead not just be maintainers!
• Be assured of this that is what we as leaders are seeking today!
• And we hope to keep you informed with a number of planned steps forward,
• That we hope will take place in September (after the summer holidays)
7TH GIFT MENTIONED IS SHOWING MERCY (VS 8D):
“if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
• The apostle Paul is implying here that we can forgive,
• Show mercy but do it with an attitude of criticism and contempt.
Ill:
• Joseph in the book of Genesis (he who had the coat of many colours).
• When at the end of his life, he revealed his true identity to his brothers,
• We are told that first he sent the Egyptians out of the room.
• He did not want them to know about his brothers’ crimes against him.
• He protected them - that’s real forgiveness!
• As far as he was concerned the issue was over with,
• He need not share his hardships with other people,
• So that they would think less of his brothers.
ill:
• We need to remember the words of George Whitfield:
• . Who said, as he saw a criminal walk past him to the gallows,
• "There but for the grace of God go I".
• Real forgiveness is based on love
• And never on superiority.
Final application:
• As you read the New Testament.
• You will notice that there is no gift of prayer and no gift of worship.
• Prayer is a discipline.
• Worship is an act of gratitude.
• So, when you get the chance to do – seize it!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=XkA5sGpxlLG00H2Opavj2AQPCzq8fA5D
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/sagFGdaOAn4
