20 May W1 | Discovering Our Spiritual Gifts

Posted at 14:27h in June, Topics 2025 by

REFERENCE BIBLE VERSES

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV) | Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV) | As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV) | If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

OBJECTIVE

To discover how God has empowered each of us to love others well and to fulfill our unique roles and responsibilities in ministry and beyond.

CONTENT

(Optional: Before sharing, we recommend allowing members to take the 5-min spiritual gifts test by going to spiritualgiftstest.com)

UNDERSTANDING OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS

  • Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit gives us supernatural graces and capacities that enable us to serve and build up the church. Each of us embodies a unique set of spiritual gifts. Examples include faith, knowledge, discernment, healing, prophesying, teaching, exhortation, service, tongues, mercy, giving, evangelism, and leadership (Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 12:8-10; 28-30, Eph. 4:11). The Lord distributes them as He wills from the one and same Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11), opening up a diverse array of divine manifestations that when deeply united, effectively glorifies Him.
  • Although certain inclinations may overlap, spiritual gifts are not natural talents. Talents are inborn abilities that are either inherited genetically or developed over time. Believers and non-believers alike possess them--they aren’t inherently spiritual. However, when one turns to the faith and surrender them to Him, God can transform these talents into strengths that equip the new believer for ministry and beyond.
  • God never intended for these differing endowments to be a cause for division. Rather, our gifts complement those of others in the body to help wherever we may lack. Ultimately, we are blessed with these gifts to bring about impact in the body of Christ. The Lord has promised that those who come to believe in Him will do even greater works (John 14:12)! With such industrious verve in the faith as a collective, our faith would be made complete (Jam. 22:2) and grow stronger with use.

USING SPIRITUAL GIFTS WITH A SERVANT HEART

  • Since we are blessed with gifts, tools, and resources from God, we are called to continue His missionary work by using and developing these gifts to become His hands and feet on earth. Staying rooted in Scripture and connected with our brothers and sisters in Christ ensure your gifts are used with truth, love, and wisdom. It takes community to affirm that your gifts are aligned with God’s purpose, as it can get self-promotional easily in our present-day digital era.
  • All will be in vain when we reserve the application of our spiritual gifts for personal benefit. For what does having a boatload of possessions do if we don’t use it to love and to serve (1 Cor 13:1-3)? Before Jesus went hellbound during the Last Supper, He knew the exact ways His disciples is going to betray Him. Yet, He still washed their feet. It was an exceptional act of service despite being cursed with knowledge--He chose to bless others in that He acts on His divine nature displayed in human form. He exemplified what His words when He said: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mat 20:26)
  • Above all, humility and generosity are key. Serving with a humble heart reflects God’s own character. True giving comes from joy and love, not obligation, and mirror God’s divine nature that encompasses the immensity of God’s love for those who believe in Him. Though His graces are varied and some are more prominent than the other, take heart--every role matters to God... especially the small and unseen acts, which often bring about the greates impact in the body of Christ.

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • How are you currently using your spiritual gifts to serve others?
  • Have you ever had someone else affirm a gift in you that you didn’t realize you had?
  • What challenges or fears have kept you from fully using your spiritual gifts?

REFERENCES