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Apr 26, 2020

Originally Presented: July 6th, 2008

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:3-8

There are four main passages in the New Testament in which spiritual gifts are mentioned:  Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Peter 4:10,11.  A  spiritual gift is a God-given ability to be used for service to Him in the church.  (Note: all natural abilities, e.g. physical strength, musical aptitude, verbal skills, are also God-given, but are to be distinguished from these gifts of God's Spirit, given expressly for service in Christ's church.)

The purpose for spiritual gifts is twofold: (1) to bring glory to God (1 Pet 4:11), and (2) to build up the church (1 Cor 12:7; Eph 4:12-16).  Although probably not meant to be exhaustive, the list of spiritual gifts in Romans 12 is the fullest list we have in the New Testament regarding service gifts to be used in the church.

The gift of prophecy in this passage is probably not prophecy in the technical sense of receiving a direct word from God, like Isaiah or Jeremiah.  It may be the ability to proclaim and apply the word of God to a specific situation, like the Old Testament prophets did.  Service is a special sensitivity to the needs of others.

Teaching is the ability to explain the Scripture.  Exhortation is the capacity to see how the truth applies to life and the ability both to confront someone and to comfort someone.  Giving is the urge to share from one's own resources for the benefit of others.

Leadership is the capacity to establish a vision and to make wise decisions in governing in the church.  Mercy is special care for the sick, the poor, the aged, the disabled, etc.

Many different needs exist in a church, requiring many different kinds of people with differing talents to produce the environment in which everyone is growing in Christlikeness.