Sermon Summary

This week, Pastor Chris gave us a short word on Holy Week and the meaning of Palm Sunday. He shared the story of Jesus entering into Jerusalem and how those who welcomed and celebrated His triumphal entry were nowhere to be found a week later when he was crucified. Chris shared the sobering truth that some people desired for Jesus to save them from their circumstances rather than from their sin. Chris then continued in our sermon series with a word on the speaking gifts. He shared how we each are gifted to serve the Bride of Christ, and the question is whether or not we are using our gifts current day. Just like our lego set illustration, we are created to be connected into something bigger than ourselves.

Matthew 21:1–11 (ESV)

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

1 Corinthians 12:12–14, 17-18 (ESV)

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Supernatural abilities to glorify God through acts of service.

Doorways to Spiritual Gifts

  • If we don’t enter through the Doorway of True Worship, our gifts will be highjacked by self’s desire for personal glory. 
  • If we don’t enter through the Doorway of Love, we will use our gifts to compete with each other instead of advancing each other.
  • If we don’t enter through the Doorway of Body-Membership, our gifts will be reduced to the professional expression of our career; we will miss the prophetic expression of our ministry to Jesus’ body.
  • If we don’t enter through the Doorway of Serving the Gathering, we will eventually trivialize the Gathering and tire of attending; or we will attend merely as consumers who’ve come to receive instead of royal priests who’ve come to minister.
  • If we don’t enter through the doorway of Jesus’ Plan for a Mature Church, our gifts will become about self-actualization rather than body-actualization. Ministry becomes about ME using MY gifts, operating in MY original design, and fulfilling MY calling.

Three Categories of Spiritual Gifts: 

  1. Sign Gifts (Supernatural)
  2. Serving Gifts (Deeds)
  3. Speaking Gifts (Words)

Speaking Gifts

  1. Apostles – Manifests itself in missions, church planting, training pastors, convening conferences, building ministry platforms, and leading leaders (these are different than the “uppercase” Apostles of the Bible).

1 Corinthians 12:28 (ESV)

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles…

Ephesians 4:11 (ESV)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Do you have this gift?

1.    Do pastors and ministry leaders seek you out for wise counsel, oversight, and help?

2.    Do you have deep compassion and concern for ministry leaders and their families?

3.    Are you a spiritual entrepreneur who likes to start something or grow something?

Warning: Vanity

Ministry Areas: Missions, Evangelism, Pioneering new arenas of ministry. 

2. Teaching – The ability to understand and communicate biblical truth in a clear and relevant manner so that there is understanding and application. In such a way that others learn and apply. 

Romans 12:7 (ESV)

7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

1 Corinthians 12:28 (ESV)

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…

Do you have this gift?

1.    Do you enjoy studying and researching?

2.    Do you enjoy imparting biblical truth to others?

3.    When you teach, do people “get it”?

Warning: Impatience with people. 

Ministry Areas: Kingdom Kids, Connect Team, and Worship. 

3. Evangelism – The ability and desire to boldly and clearly communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ so that non-Christians can become Christians. 

Ephesians 4:11 (ESV)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists

Do you have this gift?

1.    Do you enjoy being with non-Christians and sharing the gospel?

2.    Do you find it easy to direct a conversation toward the topic of Jesus Christ?

3.    Does a person’s conversion bring you profound joy?

Warning: Critical of church. 

Ministry Areas: Outreach, Kingdom Kids, Connect Team. 

  1. Shepherding/Care – A pastoral gift also commonly known as shepherding or Christian counseling to protect, guide, counsel, and disciple other people. 

Ephesians 4:11 (ESV)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Do you have this gift?

1.    When you correct or instruct someone, do they feel loved & helped?

2.    Do you enjoy meeting with Christians to help them mature in their faith?

3.    Do people pursue you for wise counsel and instruction?

Warning: Messiah Complex

Ministry Areas: Life Groups, Kingdom Kids, Connect, and Hospitality. 

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever desired for Jesus to save you from your circumstances rather than from your sin?

2. Do you struggle with desiring to live independently? 

3. Pastor Chris said that when we’re a consumer rather than a giver of our gifts, we can become critical. Has this ever been true of you?

4. Did any of the speaking gifts Pastor Chris discussed this week stand out as true for you (apostle, teaching, evangelism, shepherding/care)?

Application Questions

1. Go to the app this week and fill out the “I want to Use my Gifts” form. Choose a ministry to start serving in your gifting today!

2. If you still do not know your spiritual gifts, take the Spiritual Gifts Assessment on the app this week.