Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
The Support Gifts
Week of Sunday, April 24, 2005
This Week’s Scripture Reading
Ephesians 4:11-13
11He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.
Prayers for the Week:
Sunday |
Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to empower us to live in Your grace, and to serve in the name of Jesus in the church and in the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Monday |
Heavenly Father, I pray for those who have the “support” gives at New Life—those who serve in the role of apostleship, who speak prophetically, evangelize, pastor and teach. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit that they may glorify You. Amen. |
Tuesday |
Heavenly Father, today I pray for Pat Fecich, our Pastor of Administration. I pray that You will fill her with Your Holy Spirit that she may glorify You in all things! In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Wednesday |
Heavenly Father, today I pray for Tim Fulkerson, our Pastor, and I pray that you will fill him with Your Holy Spirit that he may glorify You in all things! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. |
Thursday |
Heavenly Father, today I pray for Chris Marshall, our senior pastor, and I pray that you will fill him with Your Holy Spirit that he may glorify You in all things! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. |
Friday |
Heavenly Father, today I pray for all our elders and deacons. I ask that You will fill them with Your Holy Spirit that they may glorify You in all things! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen |
Saturday |
Heavenly Father, again I pray that You will fill all of us with Your Holy Spirit that we may be and do all that You call us to be and do today and always. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. |
Background on the Text
Ephesians 4:11-13 has sometimes been called the “Magna Carta” of the Church, since it lays out for us how the church is to operate. Jesus gave “gifts,” and in this case we can be sure that the Apostle Paul was speaking of spiritual gifts, to the Church, and they came in the form of apostleship, prophecy, evangelism and pasturing and teaching. These gifts, which Greg Ogden calls “the support gifts,” are given so that God’s people may be equipped to do God’s work and build up the church. In effect, the Apostle Paul was saying that the support gifts are given to church leaders, so that they may equip God’s people to do the real “hands on” ministry of the church. Often in our day, local congregations operate so far from this design that it is nearly unrecognizable. The “average” person of God assumes that it is the pastor or the teacher or the evangelist, or prophet or apostle’s job to do God’s work, and they are to support the work through participation in worship and classes and with finances. The reality is unless the WHOLE people of God are being equipped to carry out the work of the church, it will never get done. The work of God is not some specialized work for a select few, but rather the general calling of every believer. As local congregations—and New Life in particular—takes this directive seriously in our daily lives—individually and as a congregation—we will see that God will do amazing things, far beyond anything that we can imagine. As you study and reflect on these few vital verses from Ephesians 4:11-13 this week, ask God to show you exactly where you fit into His work!
Monday
Observation: What does the text say?
Tuesday
Interpretation: What do these verses mean?
Wednesday
Application: How can I respond to the text’s insights and teachings?
Thursday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Encouraged and strengthened me by:
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Fallen short areas
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What will I do with these insights?
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Friday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
What did God say to me this week?
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Share insights and growth points
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Changed/transformed how?
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Saturday
Reflective Thoughts