Serving the Lord – Spiritual Gifts (Part 2)

This sermon continues from Part 1 on spiritual gifts, focusing on two main questions: what are spiritual gifts for, and how can believers discover their spiritual gifts. The Apostle Paul lists approximately 20 different gifts across three passages — Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 — which can be summarized into two categories according to 1 Peter 4:10-11: gifts of speaking and sharing God's Word, and gifts of serving in God's work. Importantly, no one possesses all the gifts, and no single gift is given to everyone, so that all believers in the church need and depend on one another.

The sermon emphasizes the inseparable relationship between spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit. In all three passages, Paul first lays a foundation of spiritual character before listing the gifts, stressing humility, love, gentleness, and unity. Theologian Millard Erickson affirms that the fruit of the Spirit is in many respects more important than spiritual gifts, as it is the true evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in a believer's life. The pastor warns that possessing gifts without the fruit of the Spirit can lead to pride, conflict, and division within the church.

The purpose of spiritual gifts is to serve and build up the church, not for personal consumption or self-glory. The church is compared to God's temple, where every believer is a living stone, and to the body of Christ, where every believer is a member. Paul makes clear in Ephesians 4:12 that those gifted in teaching are to equip the saints so that every believer can serve, highlighting the distinction between a serving Christian and a consuming Christian. The sermon also clarifies that many commands — such as witnessing, giving, and encouraging one another — are the responsibility of all believers, not only those with special gifts.

Regarding miraculous gifts such as miracles, healing, tongues, and interpretation of tongues, the sermon presents the view that if gifts are understood as something all or most churches receive, these four gifts appear to be no longer in widespread operation today. However, this does not mean the Holy Spirit cannot grant these gifts in specific places or churches to demonstrate God's power. The apostolic office in its original sense has ceased, as it required eyewitness experience of the Lord Jesus Christ and a role in laying the foundation of the early church.

The sermon concludes with four practical steps for discovering spiritual gifts: pay attention to the needs and ministries of the church that require help; pray and ask God to show you how your existing abilities, however small or limited, can contribute to the work of the church; participate and serve wholeheartedly in the areas God directs; and take note of sincere and specific encouragement from fellow believers as confirmation and motivation for continued growth. The pastor encourages the congregation to understand that the Holy Spirit typically transforms and uses a believer's existing abilities as they willingly step into service.