Welcome to

1
Welcome to

• Christianity 401
• Serving In Your
• God-given Ministry
• Instructor Pastor Rick Helein
• rick.helein_at_mcleanbible.org
• 703-489-7107 (cell)

McLean University McLean Bible Church
2
What are Spiritual Gifts?

• Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities given
  by the Holy Spirit and distributed to every
  believer according to Gods design and grace for
  the common good of the body of Christ.

3
Scripture Tells US

• Spiritual gifts are
• God given 1 Corinthians 1211
• - God gives at least one gift to each of His
  children when they receive the Holy Spirit at
  salvation
• - We cant choose or earn them
• Supernatural 1 Corinthians 127
• - They are special abilities or divine
  endowments from the Holy Spirit to fulfill Gods
  purposes
• Given to build up the Body of Christ 1 Peter
  410-11
• - Not meant for ourselves

4
Spiritual Gifts

• They are not talents, skills or natural
  abilities
• Natural abilities given to everyone by God at
  physical birth, spiritual gifts given only to
  believers at spiritual birth
• Sometimes our talents and abilities do enhance
  our spiritual gifts
• Only the Holy Spirit can bring about supernatural
  spiritual results in a believers life
• Spiritual gifts are often unrelated to our
  natural talents so that God will get the glory

5
Spiritual Gifts

• They are not Spiritual Disciplines
• Every believer should develop good spiritual
  habits such as prayer, bible study, fellowship
• Spiritual disciplines strengthen the individual,
  spiritual gifts strengthen others
• Spiritual discipline Spiritual gift
• Prayer ------ Faith
• Bible study ------ Knowledge
• Fasting ------ Mercy

6
Spiritual Gifts

• They are not titles or ministry positions
• Titles indicate general roles, spiritual gifts
  indicate specific functions
• Ministry Position Spiritual Gift
• Pastor ----- Teaching
• Small group leader ----- Shepherding
• Mercy team leader ----- Encouragement

7
Spiritual Gifts

• They are not THE fruit of the spirit
• Example love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
  goodness, faithfulness
• Fruits of the Spirit are inward characteristics
  of the believers heart
• Spiritual gifts are task-orientated functions
  that God has equipped us to perform in service
• Both are necessary for effective ministry

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Activity 16-18

• Group discussion
• Read 1 Corinthians 12 1-31

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Two Kinds of Gifts-20

• Permanent edifying or service gifts
• These gifts are in use today
• Temporary confirming or sign gifts
• These gifts were used by God to authenticate the
  gospel and its messengers during the early
  church. They are not in use today

10
Permanent / Edifying Gifts-19

• Serving Wisdom
• Teaching Knowledge
• Exhortation Discernment
• Giving Administration
• Leadership Evangelism
• Mercy Faith
• Pastor/Shepherd

11
Confirming / Sign Gifts -20,49

• Sign gifts
• Speaking in tongues
• Interpretation of tongues
• Works of healings and miracles
• Prophets and Apostles
• Sign gifts were not given by God to be used as
  part of normative church worship and service
• Lon Solomons tape set, Tongues, Healings, and
  Miracles

12
Gift of Being an Apostle p. 21

• Label of being called an Apostle is being
  misapplied today
• Todays missionaries are not Apostles
• Apostles were a gift to the first century church
• Apostles specifically appointed by Christ
• 
  
• Primary qualification is to have seen the risen
  Lord

13
Gift of Being an Apostle

• Apostles had unlimited authority over the entire
  early church
• Apostles were able to perform miracles
• Not everyone who claimed to be an Apostle in the
  early church passed the test
• Apostles were the foundation of the church

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Gift of Being a Prophet p.22

• Purpose of a prophet was to foretell the future
  and receive new information directly from God
  then communicate that to mankind
• God communicates to us today through His word
  not through prophets
• A prophet must be able to predict the future with
  100 accuracy, without error, EVER
• Old Testament men who claimed to be prophets who
  made even one mistake were stoned to death

15
Gift of Miracles p. 23

• Definition God setting aside His natural law to
  do whatever He pleases
• Moses parting the Red Sea
• Jesus walking on Water
• God usually works within His natural law to
  supernaturally answer our prayers
• Person with gift of miracles would need to be
  able to set aside natural law at will,
  immediately, completely and publicly

16
Gift of Miracles

• Only three times in history of the world has God
  poured out true miracles
• Time of Moses and Joshua
• Time of Elijah and Elisha
• Time of Christ and the Apostles
• God used miracles to authenticate His message and
  messengers

17
Gift of Miracles

• Miracles in the bible were performed immediately
• A person with the gift of miracles would need to
  be able to set aside Gods natural laws
  immediately, completely and publicly
• God can and does perform miracles

18
Gift of Healing-p.27-28

• Success of the healing was not determined by the
  faith of the person being healed
• Scriptural healing was done in public before
  unbelievers
• Healings were immediate, instantaneous and
  complete
• The healing was for many illnesses including
  organic diseases
• Sometimes God will have us sick for His purposes
• Jesus went to where the sick were
• Jesus could heal everyone who he encountered
• Everyone who healed could do it at any time they
  wanted to

19
Speaking in Tongues p. 24-26

• Gift of tongues is the supernatural ability to
  speak in a human language not previously known to
  the individual-chapter 13 is hyperbole used by
  Paul to admonish the Corinthians.
• Acts 26,8 is the only place in the bible where
  the gift is described in detail as to how it
  operates
• Human language was being spoken such that those
  who knew the language understood it
• No indication in scripture that tongues is an
  angelic or private prayer language

20
Speaking Tongues

• When Angels spoke anywhere in the bible they used
  human language.
• Private devotional use of tongues is not in
  keeping with spiritual gifts
• Gifts are to used for serving others, not
  yourself
• Tongues described in 1 Cor. 14 were always used
  evangelistically in a public setting
• 1 Cor. 138 says tongues will cease
• complete comes adjective - Cannon

21
Seven Motivational Gifts-17

• Since we have gifts that differ according to the
  grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them
  accordingly
• If Prophesy, according to the proportion of his
  faith
• If service helping, in his service
• Or he who teaches, in his teaching
• Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation
• He who gives, with liberality
• He who leads rules or administers, with
  diligence
• He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

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OUR INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVE

• We each have one of these gifts as our primary
  motivation and ministry (although we can have
  secondary motivational gifts)
• We must use them according to the grace we've
  been given, in faith, and with sound judgment.
• We should be secure in our gift its strengths
  and weaknesses without envy or trying to be
  like someone else with a differing gift.
• Gifts match our core motivation (what makes you
  light up!), which also match our calling (area of
  ministry)

23
The body of Christs Perspective

• Each of these seven gifts are necessary for a
  healthy church (the Body of Christ) and are to be
  vital parts of every church.
• They must be ubiquitous and allowed full
  expression in a church- and its meetings, its
  structure, its ministries, its leadership and in
  its day-to-day life as a community
• No one gift (or gifted person!) is to dominate
  over the others.
• The absence of even one gift means a crippled
  church.

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Gift Motivations Means Fruit
Prophetic Transparency change Assert what is true, Just real Vision
Teacher Understanding stability Detailed knowledge comprehension Wisdom
Helper Serving blessing Fulfill Tasks meet needs Completion
Exhorter Peace harmony Relationships Encouraging Others Cohesion
Giver Resources Creativity Generate life seize opportunities Vitality
Ruler Propriety Practicality Rules, structure Administration Order
Mercy Intimacy Grace Compassion, Kindness Empathy Acceptance
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Application

• If those with prophetic gifts are muzzled
• Your church, your meetings and your life will
  lack transparency and vision
• If the Teachers are not encouraged to explain
• Your church, your meetings and your life will
  lack understanding and wisdom
• If the helpers are not honored as they serve
• Your church, your meetings and your life will
  lack blessings and things will never reach
  completion.

26
Application

• If the exhorters are not free to reach out and
  relate
• Your church, your meetings and your life will
  lack harmony and social cohesion
• If the givers are prevented from presenting
  opportunities
• Your church, your meetings and your life will
  lack resources, vibrancy and vitality
• If those gifted at ruling are not allowed to
  administer
• Your church, your meetings and your life will
  lack decency, structure and order.

27
Application

• And if those who bring mercy are not esteemed
• Your church, your meetings and your life will
  lack intimacy and grace and will never lay hold
  of the full acceptance of the Father or each
  other which is available through Christ

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Uniquely You

• Every believer has at least one gift.
• Many have a combination called a gift mix
• Mercy encouragement hospitality
• Administration leadership wisdom
• WARNING- Gift Projection

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Next 2 Weeks

• UNWRAPPING THE GIFTS

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Welcome to Week 3

• Christianity 401
• Serving In Your
• God-given Ministry
• Instructor Pastor Rick Helein
• rick.helein_at_mcleanbible.org
• 703-489-7107 (cell)

McLean University McLean Bible Church
31
Uniquely You

• Every believer has at least one gift.
• Many have a combination called a gift mix
• Mercy encouragement hospitality
• Administration leadership wisdom
• WARNING- Gift Projection

32
Service/Helps
Supernatural ability to accomplish practical and
necessary tasks which minister to and meet the
needs of others
33
Service/Helps

• Receives great joy in meeting the needs of others
• Serves behind the scenes as needed
• Senses Gods purposes and pleasure in meeting
  everyday responsibilities
• Attaches spiritual value to practical service
• Interested in serving God by blessing others

34
Service/Helps

• Traits
• Available, selfless, willing, helpful,
  reliable, loyal, dependable, whatever-it-takes
  attitude
• Cautions
• Takes on too much
• Finds it difficult to say no
• Be a servant, not a martyr

35
Teaching
Supernatural ability to communicate biblical
truth in a way that leads to spiritual results in
peoples lives
36
Teaching

• Communicate biblical truth that inspires greater
  obedience to Gods Word
• Challenge listeners with truths of scripture
• Loves to study scripture and present what they
  discover
• Have a deep understanding of Gods truth

37
Teaching

• Traits
• Disciplined, perceptive, practical, analytical,
  articulate
• Cautions
• Needs to avoid pride that may result from
  superior bible knowledge
• Needs to remember their spirituality is not
  measured by how much they know
• Could become too detailed and fail to make life
  application

38
Encouragement/Exhortation

• Supernatural ability to strengthen, comfort, or
  urge action to those who are discouraged or
  wavering in their faith

39
Encouragement/Exhortation

• Come to the side to those who are discouraged to
  strengthen and reassure them
• Challenge, comfort or confront others to trust
  and hope in promises of God
• Motivate others to grow
• Emphasize Gods promises and have confidence in
  his will

40
Encouragement/Exhortation

• Traits
• Positive, motivating, challenging, affirming,
  reassuring, supportive, trustworthy
• Cautions
• Can sometimes be overly optimistic, simplistic,
  or flattering
• Should take time to understand where others are
  and what they really need

41
Giving
Gives time, talent, or resources in a
supernatural way for the work of God.
42
Giving

• Provide resources generously and cheerfully,
  trusting God for His provision
• Supports the work of ministry with sacrificial
  gifts to advance the Kingdom by managing their
  finances and limiting their lifestyle

43
Giving

• Traits
• Wise stewardship, responsible, resourceful,
  charitable, trust in God, disciplined
• Cautions
• Need to remember the churchs agenda is
  determined by leaders, not by the givers gift
• The power of money

44
Leadership
Supernatural ability to cast a spiritual vision,
communicate it, and then motivate people to make
that vision a reality.
45
Leadership

• Provides direction to Gods people or ministry
• Motivates others to perform to the best of their
  ability
• Able to communicate the big picture
• Able to set and motivate others to achieve goals

46
Leadership

• Traits
• Influential, diligent, visionary, trustworthy,
  persuasive, motivating
• Cautions
• Needs to focus attention on relational
  capabilities
• Needs to remember the biblical model of the
  servant leader
• Do not need to be in a leadership position to use
  this gift

47
Mercy
Supernatural ability to help those who are
suffering or in need, having compassion and a
tender heart that is moved to action
48
Mercy

• Focus on alleviating the sources of pain or
  discomfort in suffering people
• Address the needs of the lonely and forgotten
• Extend love, grace and dignity to those facing
  hardships and crisis
• Serve in difficult circumstances and do so
  cheerfully

49
Mercy

• Traits
• Empathetic, caring, responsive, kind,
  compassionate, sensitive, burden-bearing
• Cautions
• Needs to guard against feeling unappreciated
  since some people helped do not show appreciation

50
Mercy

• Cautions
• Needs to be aware that rescuing people from their
  pain can sometimes hinder Gods work in that
  person
• Repeated sin bad choices always have
  consequences
• Exercising tough love may be required at times

51
Hospitality

• Supernatural ability to care and minister to
  people by providing fellowship, food and shelter

52
Hospitality

• Seems to always be ready and willing to invite
  guests over or offer their homes for a place to
  meet
• Finds deep satisfaction in providing refreshments
  or preparing meals
• Tirelessly serves others to make them feel
  comfortable and encouraged

53
Hospitality

• Traits
• Sociable, flexible, gracious
• Cautions
• Avoid ignoring your own family and personal needs
  by constantly inviting others over to your home

54
Wisdom

• Supernatural ability to effectively apply
  spiritual truth to meet a need in a specific
  situation

55
Wisdom

• Can apply biblical truths to the circumstances of
  life
• Can focus on unseen consequences in determining
  the next steps to take
• Provides God given solutions in the midst of
  conflict and confusion

56
Wisdom

• Traits
• Sensible, insightful, practical, wise, fair,
  experienced, common sense
• Cautions
• Need to avoid having others develop a dependence
  upon them which may weaken their faith in God
• Need to be patient with others who do not have
  this gift

57
Welcome to Week 4

• Christianity 401
• Serving In Your
• God-given Ministry
• Instructor Pastor Rick Helein
• rick.helein_at_mcleanbible.org
• 703-489-7107 (cell)

McLean University McLean Bible Church
58
Knowledge
Supernatural ability to bring truth to the Body
of Christ through deep insight into the Word of
God
59
Knowledge

• Ability to search the scriptures for divine
  insight and understanding
• Can apply biblical truths to the circumstances of
  life

60
Knowledge

• Traits
• Inquisitive, responsive, observant, insightful,
  reflective, truthful, spiritually sensitive
• Cautions
• Need to be careful of this gift leading to pride,
  knowledge puffs up

61
Faith
Supernatural ability to trust in Gods
promises with confidence and unwavering belief in
Gods ability to fulfill his purposes
62
Faith

• Believe in the promises of God and inspire others
  to the same
• Act in complete confidence of Gods ability to
  overcome obstacles
• Have an attitude of trust in Gods will
• Have a deep dependence on Gods Word

63
Faith

• Traits
• Prayer warrior, optimistic, trusting, assured,
  positive, inspiring, hopeful
• Cautions
• Should remember that those who speak with reason
  and desire to plan do not necessarily lack faith

64
Discernment

• Supernatural ability to distinguish the spirit of
  truth from error.

65
Discernment

• Able to see clearly through a confusing situation
• Can detect when something or someone does not
  line up with Gods truth
• Can distinguish truth from error, right from
  wrong, pure motives from impure
• Can identify deception in others with accuracy

66
Discernment

• Traits
• Perceptive, insightful, sensitive, intuitive,
  decisive
• Cautions
• May struggle with how to express their
  perceptions and feelings
• Could be harsh when confronting others, instead
  of speaking the truth in love

67
Administration

• Supernatural ability to understand what makes an
  organization function, and the special ability to
  plan and execute
• procedures that accomplish the goals of the
  ministry

68
Administration

• Can organize people, tasks or events
• Develops strategies and plans to reach goals
• Assists ministries to become more effective and
  efficient
• Can create order out of organizational chaos

69
Administration

• Traits
• Thorough, objective, responsible, organized, goal
  oriented, efficient, conscientious
• Cautions
• Could fail to see Gods purposes being fulfilled
  in the process of meeting a goal
• Could use people simply to accomplish goals
  without being concerned for their growth in the
  process

70
Evangelism

• Supernatural ability to communicate the gospel in
  a way that results in people accepting Christ

71
Evangelism

• Communicates the message of Christ with clarity
  and conviction
• Seeks out opportunities to talk to unbelievers
  about spiritual matters
• Challenges unbelievers to faith and to become
  fully devoted followers of Christ
• Adapts the presentation of the gospel to connect
  with the individuals needs
• Seeks opportunities to build relationships with
  unbelievers

72
Evangelism

• Traits
• Sincere, candid, respected, influential,
  confident
• Cautions
• Needs to remember that the Holy Spirit, not
  guilt, is the motivator in a persons decision
  for Christ
• Needs to listen carefully because the same
  approach is not appropriate for everyone
• Should avoid becoming critical of others who do
  not have this gift

73
Pastor / Shepherd
Supernatural ability to nurture, care for and
guide people toward maturity in their spiritual
journey
74
Pastor/Shepherd

• Provides guidance and oversight to a group of
  Gods people
• Models with their life what it means to become a
  fully devoted follower of Christ
• Establishes trust, loyalty and confidence through
  long term relationships
• Leads and protects those within their span of care

75
Pastor/Shepherd

• Traits
• Nurturing, guiding, protective, supportive,
  relational
• Cautions
• Needs to be aware that the desire to feed and
  support others can make it difficult to say no

76
Pitfalls and Cautions

• Assuming we are automatically useful to God
• Apart from Me you can do nothing (John 155)
• As a reason not to do something
• All of us are to show mercy, share our faith, be
  encouraging
• Wrong view of our gift
• do not think of yourself more highly than you
  ought (Romans 123)