Category Archives: Spiritual Gifts – Fit in Ministry

Sometimes in serving we compare ourselves to others and feel either insignificant as though our gift doesn’t matter or proud as though what we do is more important than others. We all, however, have significance because of grace.

1 Peter 4:10 teaches that spiritual gifts are expressions of God’s grace. We also find in Scripture that God gives spiritual gifts on the basis of grace. Consequently, we have significance in ministry because of God’s grace, not the spiritual gift.

Significant Enough for God to Command Us to Use Our Spiritual Gifts

Using our gift, whatever it might be, isn’t an option. The NIV doesn’t do justice to the original language in wording it as “you should use whatever gift.” God isn’t saying it’s something we ought to do but rather that we should definitely do it. What God commands must be important. And, He will hold us accountable for using our gift to serve others as seen in in the qualification that we use our gift “as faithful stewards” — the topic of the next post.

Significance Because You are Needed

There’s a practical side to God commanding us to use our gift which makes each one of our contributions significant. As previously noted, each person, doing their part using their spiritual gift(s), adds in to a more complete understanding of God’s grace. We need each other, no matter what our gift may be. We find this concept in God’s analogy of the Church to the human body. He says, “As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 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!'” (1 Cor. 12:20-21)

Significance Based on God’s Grace Means No Comparing or Competing

Because of God’s grace we don’t have to compare or compete with others in ministry. They have been given spiritual gifts to serve based on God’s grace and so have you. Whether a leader or a secretary, whether a teacher or a teacher’s helper, whether a youth pastor or a nursery worker, whether paid staff or a lay person, everyone’s contribution matters.

You might find the following articles helpful if you struggle with significance in ministry, saying “I’m just a …

• Church Secretary
• Teacher’s Helper
• Nursery Worker
• Lay Person

Grace, by its very definition or essence, demands impartiality.

• Grace is a free gift, meaning God provides it unconditionally, doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves.
• Grace is the unmerited favor of God, meaning it’s not based on us earning or deserving it.

If, as 1 Peter 4:10 teaches, spiritual gifts are expressions of God’s grace, given on the basis of grace (Rom. 12:6), then He gives them without partiality.

What the Impartiality of God’s Grace in Distributing Spiritual Gifts Means

“Each of you” has at least one gift to be used to serve others. — “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Cor. 12:7) Here we see the all-inclusive nature of God’s grace.

We don’t have to live up to a certain standard or spiritual status in order to receive a gift. Factors like our achievements, gender, race, or age don’t move God to give us gifts. He distributes spiritual gifts on the basis of grace, not merit or any other quality within us. The gift(s) we have doesn’t mean we deserve it more than other people or vice versa.

What the Impartiality of God’s Grace Does Not Mean

“Whatever gift you have received” suggests we have varying gifts. Gifts distributed on the basis of grace does not mean without discernment. — “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them just as He wanted them to be.” (1 Cor. 12:18) “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Cor. 12:11) “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” (1 Cor. 12:18)

We can trust God to know best. Whether given one gift or several, He enables us to serve in ways He deems best. It doesn’t make us better or worse than the person with less or more gifts. “Whatever” the gift, its use is significant in adding into the big picture of God’s grace — the topic of the next post.

God saves us because of His grace (Eph. 2:8-9). And, His grace proves sufficient in trials (2 Cor. 12:8-10) and temptations (Titus 2:11-12) to enable us to rise above. As beneficiaries of God’s grace, we in turn administer that grace to others “in its various forms” (1 Pet. 4:10).

Many Facets of God’s Grace

God’s grace far exceeds our ability to fully comprehend it. Yet, we find expressions of God’s grace as we use our spiritual gifts to serve others. Each of the spiritual gifts provides a different facet of His grace. Don’t take my word on this but rather see what God says in the context of these passages on spiritual gifting:

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. (Rom. 12:6)

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. (Eph. 4:7)

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Pet. 4:10)

Spiritual Gifts are Expressions of the Many Facets of God’s Grace

When we use our spiritual gifts we express God’s grace to others.

Notice how 1 Peter 4:10 equates using spiritual gifts with stewarding God’s grace — “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.” Also note that the Greek word for spiritual gifts, charisma, used in many passages, like 1 Peter 4:10, comes from the root word (charis) for grace. Finally, the gift is something we have “received” not earned or developed within ourselves — the very essence of God’s grace.

Consequently, when we all use our gifts to serve others, we begin to see a more complete picture of His grace. That’s one of the reasons churches should seek teach about and function in accordance with spiritual gifting. Note these truths from 1 Peter 4:10 —

1. “Each of you” should serve using the spiritual gift(s) given to you.
2. Each should view their gift as significant, “whatever gift” it might be, so we get a more complete picture of God’s grace.
3. Each should serve faithfully “as faithful stewards of God’s grace.”

We’ll look at each of the above points in upcoming posts.

Within the Church we need people who believe God can move mountains, that He can do that which is seemingly impossible. These people spur others on to trusting God for great things, often taking us out of our comfort zones and shaking up our status quo. They often have one of the following gifts. Click on the gifts to learn where these gifts are listed in Scripture and possible definitions. (Use the browser’s back button to return to this post.)

faith
healings
miracles

These gifts come with a persuasion that God is all-powerful. Consequently, people with the above spiritual gifts usually spend much time in prayer asking God to accomplish that which He is able to do. These gifts are therefore being grouped together as intercessory types of spiritual gifts.

The Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use describes how the focus of their prayers is what tends to distinguish these gifts from each other. The resource also look at the other gifts listed in Scripture and helps you determine the different ministries for which the gifts may be best suited.

For Help Using Intercessory Types of Spiritual Gifts:

• Resources for Prayer Ministry

At times we need a little more depth or insight when it comes to truth. Suggesting that the following gifts provide spiritual insight is not meant in the mystical sense but rather providing that which is based upon or filtered through the Word of God. Click on the gifts to learn where these gifts are listed in Scripture and possible definitions. (Use the browser’s back button to return to this post.)

discernment
knowledge
wisdom

While each of these gifts provides insight based on the Truth of God’s Word, the way they handle truth differs.

You’ll find the distinction between how these different gifts handle truth in the Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use. That resource also looks at other gifts listed in the Bible as well as suggesting gifting best suited for 16 broad ministry areas and 27 specific tasks.

These insightful types of spiritual gifts help to keep the Body of Christ on track and could help make the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Colossians a reality for any church. —

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God … (Col. 1:9-10)