Use It or Lose It Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Use It or Lose It Understanding Spiritual Gifts Maximizing the Local Church Departments for Soul-Winning

Home Depot • Is a place that helps people to use talents that they already possess. • It also enables those who are dreamers to cultivate and develop their talents for effective use.

Why not use it? • After leaving a Home Depot experience each person is empowered to labor according to their own gifts and talents they desire to develop.

Romans 12: 4 -6 • Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Let us use them.

God vs. The devil • The Lord has equipped every person with at least one spiritual gift. • God’s desire is that we would grow the church using our gifts. • The enemy’s desire is that we keep them to ourselves. By keeping them to yourself you stunt your growth and the churches growth.

I Peter 4: 7 -11 • Therefore be clear minded and selfcontrolled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. • Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Purpose of the Gifts • • To build up the church To build up one another To bring souls to Jesus To help you to become excited and engaged again in ministry. • To take away the frustration of tedious and monotonous ministry.

Reason for the Gifts • The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts to believers, thus benefiting the whole church. (Acts 2: 38 and I Cor. 12: 7 -11) • The Holy Spirit provides the special power necessary to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1: 8) • We need that power!!! SDA Fundamental 27 Beliefs p. 65

Ellen White The Gifts of God are to be used for the saving of souls. Counsels to Teachers p. 256

Spiritual Gift Defined • An ability or prompting of the Holy Spirit, given to us freely, and is energized and empowered by God for His service. www. layministry. com

Gifts Vs. Talents

Ce. Ce Winans

Oprah Winfrey

Which one is spiritually gifted and which one is talented?

What are some Spiritual Gifts? • In I Corinthians 12, Paul includes: • wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophesy, • discernment, interpretation of tongues, helps and • administration • In Ephesians 4 and I Corinthians 12 Paul lists five equipping positions in the church. These are: • Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. www. layministry. com

No One is Excluded Everybody Can Do Something

Hebrews 10: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Where do you grow best? The only way for the gift to grow is in the best soil. The Church

Jesus’ Use of Gifts • • • The Savior The Coming King The Advocate The Priest The Prince of Peace The Messiah • If Jesus can use His gifts what is keeping you from maximizing the use of your gift?

What is my gift? Get ready to find out

What does your score mean? • A way to confirm these findings is to ask Godly people you know well. • 15 -13 Very dominant preference. If you are not involved in this gift you should consider it. • 12 -10 A strong desire to be involved in this gift. Ask others in the church to pray for you about this gift. Print the free spiritual gift test on Layministry. com print pp 38 -41

What does your score mean? • 9 -8 Your experience with this gift my not be that strong. However you may be called upon to use this gift from time to time. • 7 and below You may not feel this is your gift because you do not have much experience in this area. Take joy in immersing yourself in the Christian virtues. Notes and Quotes compiled from layministry. com by Ronald E. Ovitt

The Following is a Model for Mobilizing Church Departments for Soul-Winning

Participant Requirements • Each member is encouraged to take a spiritual gifts assessment test. • The person’s results will place them in their gift based assignment as opposed to the requested assignment by a committee to fill a slot. • The departments are a part of a leadership team (ministry area) and act as a group instead of individual units for church soul-winning goals.

A Model For Mobilizing Members for Ministry Holy Spirit Gifts Ministry copyright 2007 Pastor Juleun A. Johnson Souls

Holy Spirit Ministry Team Gifts Ministry Service Souls Mission Team Technology Team copyright 2007 Pastor Juleun A. Johnson Worship Team

Leadership Teams Spiritual Gifts Worship Outreach Ministry In House Mission Team Outreach Technology In House Copyright 2007 Pastor Juleun A. Johnson

Ministry Placement Leadership Teams • Ministry Team - In House Ministry – Gifts • • Administration Discernment Teaching Knowledge – Departments – Sabbath School, Children’s Ministry, Pathfinders, Adventurers, Family Ministry, Singles Ministry copyright 2007 Pastor Juleun A. Johnson

Ministry Placement Leadership Teams • Mission Team – Outreach Ministry – Gifts • • • Helps Faith Encouragement Mercy Service – Departments • AYS, Hospitality, Personal Ministry, Prison Ministry, Community Services, Health Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Disability Ministry copyright 2007 Pastor Juleun A. Johnson

Ministry Placement Leadership Teams • Technology Team – In House Ministry – Gifts • • Administration Knowledge Service Helps – Departments • Communication, Audio Visual, Media Production copyright 2007 Pastor Juleun A. Johnson

Ministry Placement • Worship Team – Outreach Ministry – Gifts • • • Giving Administration Knowledge Service Discernment Helps – Departments • Elders, Deaconess, Custodians, Music Ministry, Ushers copyright 2007 Pastor Juleun A. Johnson

Knowing is Half the Battle Exercise the Gifts God has Given to You! copyright 2007 Pastor Juleun A. Johnson