Gifted for the Kingdom
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1Corinthians 12:7
What’s your spiritual gift?
Everybody gets one. When they use it, God is revealed. They are showing off the power of God living inside them. We use our gifts not for our aggrandizement, but for the common good. God gives us gifts to build His Kingdom. He reveals Himself through us so that folks will be drawn to Him– His goodness, His power, His love.
Ignorance is not an excuse. If you don’t know your gift, you need to deliberately spend some time in discernment. The best way to figure out your gift is to get with some people who know you well (your Restoration small group is a great place to start) and ask them. What do you notice about me? When do I ‘come alive’? What do I seem passionate about? When do you notice Christ in me or at work through me? These answers are great catalysts for prayer. Pray by yourself. Pray with others. Ask your Father in heaven: how have you gifted me? How do you manifest yourself through me?
Once you know, you can direct more of your energy towards opportunities to use that gift– for the common good and the building of God’s Kingdom.
I’m not sure of my gift. Can you help me get the conversation started?
Sure.
Read over the various ‘gift lists’ in the New Testament. Remember they aren’t intended to be exhaustive, just illustrative of the myriad ways God can manifest Himself.
- 1 Corinthians 12 (especially verses 8-11, 27-31)
- Romans 12 (specifically verses 3-8)
For some of you, taking a ‘spiritual gifts inventory’ might help prime the pump. These tests are useful to get you thinking, to give you categories to think about, and to give you data to bring to prayer and conversations with friends. They are only a tool and they are best used in conjunction with community discernment. Here are a few that are on-line:
MinTools.com (Focusing primarily on Romans 12 gifts)
a little bit longer one from the ELCA
I hope the message and the tests inspire lots of prayer and great conversations. That’s where the gift becomes clear.