Spiritual Gifts
Our
Leverage in Living and
Leading
www.lifeway.com/women • LifeWay Christian Resources
Releasing The Real You
R eality of a relationship with the Father through His Son
E xpressing our unique personality in harmony with God’s
Word
A cting upon the fruit of the Spirit
L iving out
our giftedness in life and ministry
Purpose
1. What the Bible says about Spiritual gifts
2. Consider the gifts that have been given to
us as unique individuals
3. Ways to discover or affirm ones Spiritual
gifts
4. Understanding how to effectively work in
harmony with others to impact the
Kingdom
Biblical Basis for Gifts
A. What are Spiritual Gifts?
1 Corinthians 12: 1, 4 – 11; Romans 12:1-8
Definitions:
“A special qualification, granted by the Holy Spirit,
to every believer, to empower him/her to serve
in ministry.” C. Gene Wilkes
“Individualized endowments of grace from the
Father, equipping you to play a vital role in His
plan for the redemption of the world.”
Ken Hemphill
B. The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
Ephesians 4:11 – 13
 To prepare God’s people for service
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Build up the body of Christ
Create unity of faith
Provide knowledge of Christ
Develop maturity
C. The Command to use our Gifts
“Each one should use whatever
gifts he has received to serve
others, faithfully administering
God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10
D. Key Biblical Principles
Concerning Spiritual Gifts
Each Christian has at least one gift (1Cor 12:7)
Each gift is given as the Holy Spirit directs
(1 Cor 12:11)
No one has all of the gifts (1 Cor 17:7, 12:29-30)
No gift is better than the other (1 Cor 12:21-26)
Each gift has the same purpose (Eph 4:12, Rom 12: 6-8)
God works through us when we exercise our gifts
Exercising our gifts helps us develop our spiritual
maturity (Eph 4:11,13)
Your gifts reveal God’s grace (Rom 12:4-8)
Reality Check
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
YOUR CHURCH?
The Matter of Motive
OUR Motive
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Fill a position
Accomplish a task
Keep people busy
Bring attention to ourselves
The Matter of Motive
GOD’S Motive
 Reveal Himself to us
 Reveal Himself through us
 Encourage & edify other believers
Changing Our Motive
Churches must move from a position
where people serve the structure of the
church to a position where its structure
serves the people’s needs.
C. Gene Wilkes, Jesus on Leadership
Scriptural Examples of
Spiritual Gifts
 Teaching
 Leadership
 Knowledge
 Wisdom
 Prophecy
 Discernment
 Exhortation
 Shepherding
 Faith
 Evangelism
 Apostleship
 Service
 Mercy
 Giving
The ABC’s of Gift Discovery
A. Ask the Holy Spirit for truth in your
innermost being.
• wisdom to understand yourself
• help to understand your spiritual gift(s)
• faith to accept and use your spiritual
gift(s)
• ability to see the needs of your local
body
The ABC’s of Gift Discovery (Continued)
B. Believe God’s Word when it
says that YOU are gifted.
C. Commit to move out of your
comfort zone and try new
avenues of service.
The ABC’s of Gift Discovery (Continued)
D. Discern through the affirmation
of other Christians where God is
directing you to serve.
E. Examine your motives for seeking
God’s gifts.
F. Follow the Spirit’s leading when
He reveals your passion,
your burden.
The Process of Gift Discovery
Spiritual Gift Assessment Tools
Spiritual Gifts Survey
Spiritual Gifts List
Where do you feel God leading
you to serve Him?
Using Gifts in Ministry
Strategies to assist women in finding
their place of service
1. Leadership must set an example of
Biblical service through spiritual gifts
2. Examine our motives and allow God to
give us His motive
3. Provide ongoing opportunities for Bible
study regarding spiritual gifts
4. Provide ongoing opportunities for
spiritual gifts assessment
5. Develop and implement a system
to match gifts with current ministry
opportunities.
6. Continually encourage women as
they seek to serve God through
their spiritual gifts
Strategies to assist women in finding
their place of service
Resources
 Women Reaching Women: Beginning and Building a
Growing Women’s Enrichment Ministry, Revised and
Expanded Chris Adams, LifeWay
 Transformed Lives: Taking Women’s Ministry to the Next
Level, compiled by Chris Adams, LifeWay
 www.lifeway.com/women, click Ministry, then Women’s
Ministry FAQs
 Jesus on Leadership, C. Gene Wilkes, LifeWay
 Spiritual Gifts, David Frances, LifeWay
 Unique Design: Connecting with the Christian
Community, Serendipity Life Connections Series/LifeWay
 Uniquely You in Christ, Dr. Mels Carbonell
 Yours for the Giving: Spiritual Gifts,
Barbara Joiner
Resources
 The BodyLife Journey, John S. Powers
 Network Curriculum, Willow Creek Association
 Following God: Using Your Spiritual Gifts, Eddie
Rasnake
 Gifts: Learning a Lifestyle of Service, Pursuing Spiritual
Transformation, John Ortberg
 What's So Spiritual About Your Gifts?, Blackaby
 Women Gifted for Ministry, Ruth & Elmer Towns
 Unique Design: Connecting with the Christian
Community, Serendipity House/LifeWay
 Making Love Last Forever, Gary Smalley, LifeWay