I recently preached on true service in the church. The sermon from 1 Corinthians 12 focused on serving through spiritual gifts in the local church and included two parts. You can access those sermons here: Spiritual gifts, part 1 and Spiritual Gifts, part 2. In accordance with the text I focused on the purpose, power, and operation of spiritual gifts. I did not talk about how one discovers spiritual gifts.
A spiritual gift, simply defined, is a manifestation of God’s grace in a person’s life intended to serve the good of God’s people in the local church. They often align with, but are not limited to, natural gifts and abilities. The Bible doesn’t give explicit direction for “how to discover” a spiritual gift, other than to exhort one to serve. Discovering your spiritual gift(s) begins with acknowledging God’s grace in salvation, Jesus’ Lordship over your life and Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in life. Spiritual gifts mark a tangible recognition of God’s Trinitarian presence in the life of a Christian.
My purpose in this blog is to provide some basic instruction to discover your gifts and put them into service. I begin with six reminders, three simple steps to discovery, and some counsel to put them into service.
Six reminders regarding spiritual gifts.
Reminder #1: Serving focuses on meeting needs (getting stuff done) in the church. In the church, the most important “stuff” to get done, or the highest need to meet, is people. Serving grows and matures people through a real-time, real-life disciple-making model; all serving to meet the needs of each one, and each one serving to meet the needs of all. Christians serve through spiritual gifts to grow and mature the body.
Reminder #2: Serving in the church begins with what God has given to you, both naturally and redemptively, and exercising it for the common good. Spiritual gifts are Biblical and godly, but inventories and assessments are not “holy writ”. Assessments and inventories provide a tool to aid you, not an inscription to define you.
Reminder #3: Be careful not to dismiss any gift identified in the inventory. You will likely discover new gifts through the assessment. Ultimately, spiritual gifts cannot be confirmed until first they have been exercised among the body of a local church. The whole point of spiritual gifts is to build up the body. If your gift isn’t applied to build up the body, it holds no spiritual significance for you.
Reminder #4: Spiritual gifts are not possessions to hold, but grace to bestow on others through serving to meets needs. Therefore, knowing your spiritual gift becomes meaningful only when it is applied for the body. Spiritual gifts become most meaningful when we experience the benefit it produces in the lives of others.
Reminder #5: Don’t limit your serving based on how you think your gift should operate. There are a variety of gifts, assignments and activities. This means there are limitless combinations for how God can and will use you in the church. Realize that your gift profile is like a recipe. God strengthens some elements and lessens others as He chooses to use you for the good of the body.
One great example of this came to light with one of our Children’s ministry leaders who scored highest in hospitality. One might ask, “how can hospitality possibly help in children’s ministry, by serving the snacks?” No. The Biblical essence of hospitality focuses on love for the stranger. Imagine the influence that leader can exert to create an environment for children to feel welcome, especially those that are new to the ministry. That’s a score for the church!
Reminder #6: Spiritual gifts are not your identity, but they are a tangible expression of how you value your new identity in Christ. The way you exercise your gifts among the body demonstrates the power of God’s grace for you, the Lordship of Jesus over you and the presence and active work of Holy Spirit in you. Spiritual gifts are a powerful demonstration of a Christian working out our salvation as our Trinitarian God works in us. (Phil 2:12-13)
Three simple steps to identify and discover your spiritual gifts.
Step 1: Pray. Ask God to show you your gift, and how He wants you to use it in the church. Do not stop praying throughout the process.
Step 2: Read Romans 12:1-8, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:1-16, and 1 Peter 4:1-11. Make a list of every gift you see identified in these passages. Circle any that seem familiar to you, that you feel you might be strong in expressing, or that you most desire to use in ministry.
Step 3: Complete a Spiritual Gifts Inventory. There are many good inventories available. This one is from LifeWay Resources and will serve you well.
Finally, prepare to put your gift into service.
Now that you have an idea about your gifts, you need to pursue a specific ministry assignment. The best way to pursue an assignment is to sit down with a leader in your church. Talk to them about needs and opportunities to serve. Listen for what strikes your interest most, or where you most desire to serve. Be careful not to dismiss an opportunity only because you don’t see how your gift might serve in that role. Finally, consider what you are able to do. Then, ask yourself “what sacrifice is the Lord Jesus leading me to make to serve?”
Discovering your spiritual gift to serve in the church is exciting. God wants to do a great work in your heart in this process. Know that He desires to use you in powerful ways in ministry. I leave you with one final encouragement as you prepare to move forward. Serving that doesn’t challenge you will not change you. Ministry that cost you nothing doesn’t reflect the way Jesus served people, and will be worth little in your life. God’s eternal reward for faithful service is always greater than any sacrifice that serving may demand from you. Now, #ServeOn.