Saved to Serve Saved to Serve Discovering your

Saved to Serve

Saved to Serve Discovering your Role in the Body of Christ

Discovering your Role in the Body of Christ PERSONALITY TALENTS SPIRITUAL GIFTS PASSION

Part 1: Discovering your PERSONALITY Active D Questioning Accepting Thoughtful Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Type D Personality D = Dominance Does not get discouraged easily. Intolerant of mistakes Decisive The end justifies the means Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Part 1: Discovering your PERSONALITY Active Let’s get it done! D i Questioning Accepting Thoughtful Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Type i Personality i = Influence Optimistic Expressive Inspiring Impulsive Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Part 1: Discovering your PERSONALITY Active Let’s get it done! Let’s have fun! D i Questioning Accepting S Thoughtful Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Type S Personality S = Steadiness Patient & Tolerant Humble Constant Trustworthy Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Part 1: Discovering your PERSONALITY Active Let’s get it done! Let’s have fun! D i Questioning Accepting C S Let’s get along! Thoughtful Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Type C Personality C = Compliance / Creative Analytical / Calculated Planner / Strategic Insecure Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Part 1: Discovering your PERSONALITY Active Let’s get it done! Let’s have fun! D i Questioning Accepting C S Let’s get along! Let’s get it right! Thoughtful Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

Moses Exodus 32: 11 -14 Exodus 18: 25 -26 Exodus 3: 10 -11 Exodus 4: 1 C Barnabas Acts 9: 26 -28 Acts 4: 36 -37 Acts 15: 37 -39 Galatians 2: 11 -13 ACTIVITY S Paul D Acts 14: 19 -21 Acts 13: 45 Acts 15: 37 -38 Acts 9: 1 Acts 16: 9 -10 Peter i John 18: 10 Acts 2: 1 -11 Matthew 14: 28 Matthew 16: 16 Matthew 16: 22 -23

What about you? Visit www. discpersonalitytesting. com

How does my personality influence my decisions? D C i You are strong-willed. You like to make decisions for others, because you generally make good decisions. You do not flinch at obstacles, which allows you to be risky. You need to learn a little from the “C’s. ” Your will is not particularly strong. You like new ideas, but sometimes lack the follow-through to make them happen. Your intentions are good, but you must learn to stick to past decisions when the going gets tough. Being a calculated person, you typically resist taking risks. You have the ability to analyze future or potential obstacles, which can be helpful, but you must not let them keep you from moving forward. Allow the “D’s” to spur you into action. Decision-making is not your strength. You do not like to battle (or self-advocate), so you often settle for what others decide for you. Learn to avoid the path of least resistance. Find trustworthy “C’s” and “D’s” to guide you. S

How does my personality influence how I relate to others? D i Relationships can be problematic. You can often unintentionally disrespect others. You tend to be impatient, and you resist saying you are sorry. You can make a great leader if these weaknesses are overcome. You tend to have high quality relationships, but not high quantity. You tend to see people’s faults easily, which can cause you to write people off too quickly. You should seek to learn how to ‘love the sinner, but not the sin’ so to speak. C Relationships come easily for you. You accept people where they are at. You are tender, comforting and compassionate, but sometimes unwilling to confront out of fear that it will damage the relationship. You have a stabilizing influence on your acquaintances. People feel relaxed around you. You often will study people when you should be interacting with them. S

Discovering your Role in the Body of Christ PERSONALITY TALENTS SPIRITUAL GIFTS PASSION

Part 2: Discovering your TALENTS

1 Corinthians 12 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Paul’s Analogy of the Body 1. The Body requires people with diverse talents. (v. 12 -14)

1 Corinthians 12 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, ” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, ” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

Paul’s Analogy of the Body 1. The body requires people with diverse talents. (v. 12 -14) 2. Every part is dependent upon the others. None can survive alone. (v. 15 -17)

1 Corinthians 12 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Paul’s Analogy of the Body 1. The body requires people with diverse talents. (v. 12 -14) 2. Every part is dependent upon the others. None can survive alone. (v. 15 -17) 3. Every person, along with his talents, was designed by God to make up the whole Body. (v. 18 -20)

1 Corinthians 12 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.

Paul’s Analogy of the Body 1. The body requires people with diverse talents. (v. 12 -14) 2. Every part is dependent upon the others. None can survive alone. (v. 15 -17) 3. Every person, along with his talents, was designed by God to make up the whole body. (v. 18 -20) 4. The ‘weaker’ roles are just as important as the more ‘honorable’ roles. Each is indispensible. (v. 21 -23 a)

1 Corinthians 12 And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Paul’s Analogy of the Body 1. The body requires people with diverse talents. (v. 12 -14) 2. Every part is dependent upon the others. None can survive alone. (v. 15 -17) 3. Every person, along with his talents, was designed by God to make up the whole body. (v. 18 -20) 4. The ‘weaker’ roles are just as important as the more ‘honorable’ roles. Each is indispensible. (v. 21 -23 a) 5. As such, we should be without division. We suffer as one body and we are honored as one body. (v. 23 b-26)

Part 2: Discovering your TALENTS *The Formula: Tx. I=S (a natural way of thinking, feeling or behaving) Talent X Investment Strength (time spent practicing, developing your skill, building you knowledge base) (the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance) *Taken from Strengths Finder 2. 0 by Tom Rath

Part 2: Discovering your TALENTS *The Formula: Tx. I=S Talent X Investment Strength 1 ---2 ---3 ---4 ---5 ---6 ---7 ---8 ---9 ---10 16/100 That’s not a strength, but it could be. . . with better technique and more practice. *Taken from Strengths Finder 2. 0 by Tom Rath

Part 2: Discovering your TALENTS *The Formula: Tx. I=S Talent X Investment Strength 1 ---2 ---3 ---4 ---5 ---6 ---7 ---8 ---9 ---10 30/100 That’s not a strength either, and should we choose to improve in this area, we still shouldn’t make it an area of focus. *Taken from Strengths Finder 2. 0 by Tom Rath

Which man should strive to be a jockey, and which man should strive to play basketball?

What is the Body of Christ called to do? Matthew 28: 19 -20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. ”

What kinds of skills are necessary to complete that? Now imagine a church that completely lacks any one of these skill sets. Leadership skills Anarchy Strategic skills Directionless Organizational skills Chaotic Analytical skills Unevolving, never changing Communication skills Unattended, ineffective Social skills Empty. Who would come? Manual / Physical skills There’d be no building! Artistic skills Boring. Misrepresenting God’s beauty.

What about you? How do you discover your talents? T x. I What do you like to do? What have you done well? What do others say you do well? What would interest you enough to try it out? What can you do to improve in these skills? Strengths S

What kinds of skills are necessary to complete that? Do I possess the raw talent to develop any of these? Leadership skills Strategic skills Am I persuasive? Do people follow me or imitate me? Am I decisive? Do my gut instincts serve me well? Am I a problem solver? Do I weigh out every option? Am I an objective thinker? Do I have a philosophy for everything? Organizational skills Analytical skills Do I have a personal budget that I follow? Do I put systems in place so that my life is organized? etc. Can I spot future problems before they happen? Can I figure them out afterwards? Communication skills Social skills Do people like to hear me speak? Do I capture people’s attention easily? Do they laugh, cry, etc. ? Am I a people magnet? Do people tend to confide in me? Do I know how not to offend people I meet? Manual / Physical skills Artistic skills Am I good at constuction? sports? arts? etc. Am I physically strong? Am I coordinated? etc. Can I read/sing/play music? Do I have an eye for beauty? Am I creative?

Discovering your Role in the Body of Christ PERSONALITY TALENTS SPIRITUAL GIFTS PASSION

Part 3: Discovering your SPIRITUAL GIFTS

What’s the difference between a Spiritual Gift and a Natural Talent? A spiritual gift is like a present that just needs to be opened and utilized. . . whereas a natural talent is like a muscle that needs to be developed and exercised.

There are 3 Biblical Passages that list the Spiritual Gifts. Romans 12: 6 -8 1 Corinthians 12: 7 -11 Ephesians 4: 11 -13

Romans 12 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

There are 3 Biblical Passages that list the Spiritual Gifts. Romans 12: 6 -8 Prophecy Serving Teaching Encouraging Giving Leading Mercy 1 Corinthians 12: 7 -11 Ephesians 4: 11 -13

1 Corinthians 12 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

There are 3 Biblical Passages that list the Spiritual Gifts. Romans 12: 6 -8 Prophecy Serving Teaching Encouraging Giving Leading Wisdom Mercy Knowledge Faith Healing Miracles 1 Corinthians 12: 7 -11 Ephesians 4: 11 -13 Prophecy Distinguishing Spirits Tongues Interpretation

Ephesians 4 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

There are 3 Biblical Passages that list the Spiritual Gifts. Romans 12: 6 -8 Prophecy Serving Teaching Encouraging Giving Leading Wisdom 1 Corinthians 12: 7 -11 Knowledge Faith Healing Miracles Apostles Ephesians 4: 11 -13 Prophets Evangelists Pastor/teachers Prophecy Distinguishing Spirits Tongues Interpretation

Observations from the 3 Biblical Passages 1. No two lists are alike, suggesting that neither list was intended to be exhaustive. 2. All gifts are given by God, which distinguishes them from natural talents. 3. Only 1 Corinthians mentions the “supernatural” gifts. *1 Corinthians is a transitional book, written just as the supernatural gifts (or “sign gifts”) were beginning to fade away. *In Chapter 13, Paul warns them that certain gifts were about to cease.

1 Corinthians 13 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

Observations from the 3 Biblical Passages 1. No two lists are alike, suggesting that neither list was intended to be exhaustive. 2. All gifts are given by God, which distinguishes them from natural talents. 3. Only 1 Corinthians mentions the “supernatural” gifts. 4. The goal of all gifts was to serve the common good.

What about you? How do you discover your gifts? 1. Start by serving! *God never tells us how to discover our gifts. As we serve, they will become evident. After all, they are “manifestations” of the Holy Spirit. 2. Explore the options! *Use three biblical lists to get you going. Look for opportunities to try them out. 3. Evaluate your giftedness! *As you serve, and as you explore the options, evaluate your success. Be teachable and allow others to give you honest feedback. We are all gifted, but sometimes not in the areas we think or wish we were.

Discovering your Role in the Body of Christ PERSONALITY TALENTS SPIRITUAL GIFTS PASSION

Part 4: Discovering your PASSION

Part 4: Discovering your PASSION pas. sion (pash 1 n) e an ardent desire that provokes a strong emotional response upon ponderance

Part 4: Discovering your PASSION Are our desires trustworthy? Should we trust them?

Ephesians 4 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

1 Timothy 3: 1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (KJV)

Psalm 37: 4 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Part 4: Discovering your PASSION So, before we follow our passions, we need to do some soul-searching. We must make sure our passions are driven by God, and not by our selfish human nature.

Discerning the Validity of our Desires Is it sinful? Filter #1 Is it right? Filter #2 Filter #3 Deceitful Desires Divine Desires

James 4: 17 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Discerning the Validity of our Desires Is it sinful? Filter #1 Is it right? Is it harmful? Filter #2 Is it beneficial? Filter #3 Deceitful Desires Divine Desires

1 Corinthians 10 23 “I have the right to do anything, ” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Discerning the Validity of our Desires Is it sinful? Filter #1 Is it right? Is it harmful? Filter #2 Is it beneficial? Will it slow me down spiritually? Filter #3 Is it wise? Deceitful Desires Divine Desires

Hebrews 12: 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Discerning the Validity of our Desires Is it sinful? Pornograph Filter y #1 Is it right? Is it harmful? Filter #2 Is it beneficial? Will it slow me down spiritually? Filter #3 Is it wise? Deceitful Desires Divine Desires

Discerning the Validity of our Desires Is it sinful? Unhealthy Filter Food#1 Is it right? Is it harmful? Filter #2 Is it beneficial? Will it slow me down spiritually? Filter #3 Is it wise? Let’s assume that it has become a habit. Deceitful Desires Divine Desires

Discerning the Validity of our Desires Is it sinful? Watch TV Filter #1 Is it right? Is it harmful? Filter #2 Is it beneficial? Will it slow me down spiritually? Filter #3 Is it wise? Let’s assume that it is decent programming. Deceitful Desires Divine Desires

Discerning the Validity of our Desires Is it sinful? Bible Filter #1 College? Is it right? Is it harmful? Filter #2 Is it beneficial? Will it slow me down spiritually? Bible Filter #3 College? Is it wise? Deceitful Desires Divine Desires

Discerning the Validity of our Desires Before we follow our passions, we need to do some soulsearching. We must make sure our passions are driven by God, and not by our own selfish human nature. Dave Graef - Author of This Course

1 Chronicles 28: 9 And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Jeremiah 17: 10 I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.

Psalm 139 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

What about you? What passions has God given you? 1. What are you passionate about? 2. Are these passions valid? Do they come from God or from your own selfish desires? 3. How could God use these passions? Consider the story of Moses in Exodus 3 -4. Don’t let your inabilities dampen your passion. God is able!

Discovering your Role in the Body of Christ PERSONALITY TALENTS SPIRITUAL GIFTS PASSION