Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
The Speaking Gifts
Week of Sunday, May 1, 2005
This Week’s Scripture Reading
Romans 12:7-8
7If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. 8If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
1 Corinthians 12:8, 28
8To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge.
28Here is a list of some of the members that God has placed in the body of Christ:
first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who can get others to work together, those who speak in unknown languages.
Prayers for the Week:
Sunday |
Heavenly Father, as we gather to worship You today as a local body of Your Son, Jesus, I pray that You will pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us that we may glorify You with our praises, and be renewed to serve You this week! In Jesus’ name Amen. |
Monday |
Heavenly Father, I pray that You will pour out Your Spirit anew on all at New Life to whom You have entrusted the speaking gifts. Encourage them and empower them to glorify You in all they think, say, and do. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Tuesday |
Heavenly Father, as I go about this day, I pray that You will make my spiritual gifts clear to me, and that most of all Your Holy Spirit will live and work in me that everything I am and do will advance Your Kingdom’s work! In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Wednesday |
Heavenly Father, I pray for all the teachers at New Life today, those who lead Discipleship Essentials groups, those who teach in Son-Life or Kid’s Community, ALL who lead or teach in any way. Empower them through Your Holy Spirit! Amen. |
Thursday |
Heavenly Father, I pray for those who have the gift of encouragement today. Encourage them to keep encouraging us that we may persevere in love and good works to the glory of You and Your coming Kingdom, in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Friday |
Heavenly Father, I pray for all this day with the gifts of wisdom and knowledge, that they may use those gifts to offer wise council for the future of New Life, and of our efforts to share the new life of Jesus Christ with the world—one person at a time. Amen. |
Saturday |
Heavenly Father, fill me anew with Your Holy Spirit that I may serve you today, and glorify You in my life. Prepare me for tomorrow’s worship with my brothers and sisters through Jesus, and let each of us work together to your glory! Amen. |
Background on the Text
The speaking gifts mentioned in Paul’s letters to the Romans include teaching, encouragement, wisdom and knowledge. They are called “speaking gifts” for the obvious reason that the people with these gifts share them with the body through the spoken word. Each of these gifts builds up the body by informing, inspiring and inviting others to participate in the vital and abundant life that only Jesus can offer us. If you have one of these gifts, using them will deepen and extend the life of Jesus to others. For those of us who are on the receiving end of the speaking gifts, we may be challenged, encouraged, informed, convicted, inspired, but always we will know that God desires for us to not only know about Him and His ways, but also to KNOW HIM! The speaking gifts may be more obvious than some of the other gifts, and for that reason sometimes folks may elevate these gifts above the service or support gifts, but let’s remember that each and every gift the Holy Spirit gives is vital—no gift is more or less important to the body of Jesus. Thus, we are called to discern and share our gifts faithfully that Jesus work may be extended, His body built up, and the unity and maturity of the faith made more complete!
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