January 14, 2001
Sermon by Rev. Laurel Bobb
Athletes undergo a sports training
regimen. It involves diet, a study of the game and techniques,
and a constant workout. Did you know that there are similarities
between Christians and athletes? We need to be in spiritual gifts
training just like athletes are in training.
Like St. Paul, I could say, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to be uninformed." Paul goes on to talk about how to tell if someone is operating in the Spirit, that there are varieties of gifts, that each Christian has at least one gift, and that these gifts are to be employed for the common good. Today I’d like us to think about the spiritual gifts we have been given, how God might be calling us to use them for the common good of the Body of Christ, and the regimen and diet we need to be on to be employing our gifts effectively. The Spirit of God who gives us these gifts is made available because of Christ’s death and resurrection. These gifts are signs of his victory.
To put them to use in our lives, first, we need to discover what our gifts are. That’s like thinking about what sport someone with your body type and ability is best suited to play. Kent Hunter quotes, "C. Peter Wagner, in his book, Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow, has developed five steps toward discovering your spiritual gifts. . . . They are a five-step Christian life-style. You will find that you will be simultaneously involved in all five steps--to different degrees--for the rest of your life. . . . The five steps toward discovering your spiritual gifts are: (1) explore the possibilities; (2) experiment with as many gifts as you can; (3) examine your feelings; (4) evaluate your effectiveness; and (5) expect confirmation from the body of Christ." [Kent Hunter, Gifted for Growth. Corunna, Indiana: Church Growth Center, 1985.]
In Scripture we can find at least 27 different gifts given to the Church to build up the Body of Christ. You can find a list of these on the bottom of your outline. Having this list will enable you to do step #1, "Explore the Possibilities." Think about which of these gifts you might sense you have, or those others have mentioned concerning you. Has anyone ever said you are an organized person? Maybe your gift is administration; or has someone told you, "When you speak people listen and do what you suggest?" If so, perhaps leadership is your gift. Or maybe someone has told you how at home they feel when they are with you, then you may have the gift of hospitality. If people have mentioned how thoughtful you are, it may mean you have the gift of mercy.
Once you explore the various possibilities of gifts you might be attracted to, the next step is to experiment with as many of them as possible. Begin with the gifts you feel you have. Do you get a positive response from others or do you feel fulfilled yourself when you do this? If you do, chances are that is one of your gifts. After you know a few of the gifts you already have and use, then challenge yourself to try a new thing. Is there something you find interesting, but have never tried because you didn’t think you could do it? Why not take a risk and see what happens. You may enjoy it, which brings us to our next step.
Step #3 is to examine your feelings. If you didn’t enjoy doing that task, was it because you really didn’t like doing it or was it more that it was uncomfortable because it was new, but with time you could get used to it and even enjoy it? If it was simply challenging perhaps it may be an area that needs developing and with training and effort you could be really good at it.
While feelings should not direct our spiritual lives, they can give us important information particularly as we ask the Holy Spirit to direct that aspect of our lives. When we are doing what God has gifted us to do, there will be an underlying sense of peace and joy. That doesn’t mean we won’t also be nervous or anxious about how it will be received, however. Even though I am firmly convinced I have been called to preach, I still shake in my boots each time I think about the awesome responsibility God has given to me. You may have some ministry area about which you feel the same. Admit your anxieties, but don’t let your feelings keep you from exercising your gift.
After we have considered our feelings, we need to examine our effectiveness, which is step #4. Like a baseball player would not want to keep swinging away if he bats a hundred times and never makes contact with the ball, and it might be suggested that athlete try another sport like soccer or gymnastics or swimming which would involve different skills, so we don’t keep knocking our heads against brick ministry walls. Now we know we will not always be effective in what we do, even when it is a calling and gift of God. We are reminded that Jesus himself was not successful in converting everyone; still, there was evidence that his ministry accomplished something in some peoples’ lives. The same will be true for us, if we are doing the things God has given us gifts to do. We need to be doing those things which are accomplishing the most for the Kingdom. It’s a matter of good stewardship. We want to employ the most useful means of reaching the Kingdom goals; therefore it is important for us also to be able to admit there are those areas in which we are not gifted.
This is not to say that at times in life we won’t be called upon temporarily to take on a role that is not in our special gifts category. For example, not all of us have the gift of evangelism, but we are all called to share our faith when the opportunity presents itself. Another example is found in the role given to all parents to be teachers of righteousness for their children. Teaching may not be a special area of giftedness for us, but that is a role to which each parent is called, so each must take up the roles we have been given and do our best, as well as using the special spiritual gifts we have been given.
After we have experimented with the gifts about which we are unsure, we proceed to step #5 and seek confirmation from the Body of Christ. Was our work meaningful? Did it help another person? Did someone say, "Nice job?" Those are some ways we receive confirmation from other Christians. On the other side we also need to remember to affirm those whose ministries have touched our lives. Did that phone call or little note cheer you? Did the meeting the chairperson led cause business to be conducted efficiently and meaningfully? Was the meal you received while you were sick tasty and helpful? Then tell the person who offered you the ministry. This will affirm their gifts and cause them to want to do more for God’s Kingdom. In addition we don’t want to be the cause of people ceasing to use their talents because nobody confirmed that was their gift. We also want to remember that the praise isn’t intended to build up the other person’s ego, but to give glory to God, so we don’t have to hesitate to say positive things fearing we might be causing a person to swell with pride and be led into sin. The goal of all gifts is to edify the Body of Christ so that we may better represent and glorify God in the world. True disciples give all the honor and praise to God.
Once we have discovered and confirmed our gifts we will want to develop them so we can put them to the best use possible in the Kingdom. How does God want to use your gifts to his glory? To find this out we get on a spiritual workout regimen. We study Scripture to learn the game principles and rules, and we pray God would show us the game plan. We look to our team mates and figure out ways to work with them to score Kingdom victories.
It’s like being an athlete with natural ability. The athlete still needs to know the rules and have a game plan which requires a good coach. The athlete needs team mates who will learn how to work together to score the points. But all the ability and knowledge in the world isn’t worth much if the skills aren’t honed and practiced. It would be ludicrous to think that even though a little leaguer has a natural throwing arm, he could expect to be sent out to pitch in the world series. Rather, a coach needs to work with him step by step through the junior high and high school teams, then on to college, then to the triple A, double A, and single A farm clubs, and finally as a rookie on a major league team. Training doesn’t cease at this level either. It is something that athletes must do their whole careers. In the same way, we must be lifelong learners and exercise our spiritual gifts muscles every day , so that we can be ready for the match and be victorious when we take on Satan’s team in the world.
Copyright 2001 by Rev. Laurel Bobb