Spiritual gifts are given to us by God. They can’t be earned or learned through training like talents or abilities.  God wants to fill us with His Spirit so we will use our gifts for His glory. Think about the ways you could use your spiritual gifts for God’s work in the world.

 Here are some biblical foundations for understanding spiritual gifts and their importance to the church.

 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served.  There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service.  The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in every person for the good of all.”

 Romans 12:4-8, “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.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

 By learning about spiritual gifts, you can find God’s direction for your life and increase your sense of meaning and purpose.

 After discovering your spiritual gifts using a spiritual gifts inventory, keep in mind that they are a starting point for prayer and experimentation.  Do not regard these inventories as final.

 In some ways, relying on spiritual assessments can hinder God’s call.  ”Being pushed outside our areas of gifting can be a good thing, even a God thing. …sole focus on a person’s gifting often transforms into a focus on what makes that person happy or fulfilled-rather than what it takes to meet the needs of those we’re serving. … Spiritual gifts aren’t about self-fulfillment, but about self-sacrificing service.”(Jennifer Hooks)  God has a tendency to call us to do new things or things we cannot do on our own or with our own resources.  Sometimes we need to depend on God rather than a person’s gift.

 Give thanks regularly and frequently for God’s abundant gifts.  In response to the grace of God revealed in the cross of Jesus Christ, consider it a joy and privilege to use your God-given spiritual gifts to share in the building of our church community, the missions and ministries of Faith UMC and wherever God is calling you to serve.