Grace Given (JICC)

Key Passage: Romans 12:3-8
Matthew 25:14-30

Spiritual Gifts …
Are gifts and not rewards
Are to be received and not earned
Are to be stewarded and not buried.

χάρις (charis) — grace
χάρισμα (charisma) — gift

"A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church." — Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology

"A spiritual gift is a God-given unique capacity which is given to each believer for the purpose of releasing a Holy Spirit empowered ministry either in a situation or to be repeated again and again." — Robert Clinton, Unlocking Your Giftedness

• Fear of failure — What if I try and I’m not good at it? What if I get it wrong? What if I’m not received? 
• Fear of inadequacy and comparison — I don’t have enough to offer. I’m not as gifted as other people.
• Fear of commitment and losing control — Serving may disrupt my schedule, comfort, money, reputation, or preferred way of life. If I acknowledge that God has gifted me, then I’m responsible to do something with it. Sometimes ignorance feels safer.
• Fear of presumption — Who am I to say God could use me? It can sound like humility, but it may actually be false humility—refusing to receive what God has graciously given.
• Fear of spiritual messiness or disorder— Especially with supernatural power gifts: What if something weird happens? What if I’m wrong? What if I’m manipulated?
• Fear of man — Fear of what other people will think, say, or do.

 

Monday: Leviticus 16, 2 Corinthians 8
Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 9-10
Wednesday: Deuteronomy 32, 2 Corinthians 11
Thursday: 2 Corinthians 12
Friday: Leviticus 22:26-23:44, 2 Corinthians 13, Galatians 1
Saturday: Psalm 106, Proverbs 24
Sunday: Jeremiah 30-37

3DQ - 3 discipleship questions to ask each other: What is God saying to you? What are you going to do about it? How can I help?

1. What is God saying to you about who He is and what He does?
2. What is God saying to you about who you are and what you should do?