All the gifts of the Spirit, then, are supernatural, and the illustrations are limitless. The difference between a talent and a gift of the Holy Spirit is found in one’s attitude.
Do I, in recognizing my talents, see a need beyond my own abilities? And, do I then regularly commit these specific abilities to God? If so, in practice I will soon begin to see the distinction.
Like Paul, a believer may have more than one gift. Consequently the believer bears more responsibility.
But all in the church have a minimum of one gift. 1 Peter 4:10 states:
“As each has received a gift…”
Ephesians 4:7 states:
“But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
I Corinthians 12:7 states:
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Every true member of the local church has a minimum of one gift, and most people have many. Since no one has every gift, and everyone has at least one, there exists an interdependence among the members of the church.
Scripture teaches, in I Corinthians 12:22-25, that the less spectacular gifts are more necessary than the showy ones. In other words, the church can go a long time without a miracle. But, let it try to exist without acts of mercy or contributions!
Yet, if any part of me ceases to function, the total me experiences pain or limitations in some way. How disabled the body of Christ has become because our primary purpose for church attendance has been to hear one man or woman exercise his or her gifts, rather than to prepare all the people to develop their gifts for ministry, not only within the church but also to society.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about? Or, what will you preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon? David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions. We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
