Page 154 - Discipleship Ministries Student E-Book

Study Section 21: A Disciple needs to Discover His Spiritual Gift(s)

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

21.1 Connect

I like to build things. I built my own home. I create cuckoo
clocks that are really neat (see picture)! People say I have a
real talent for woodworking.

The Bible says that when we believe in Christ as our Savior, we receive
the Holy Spirit. And along with Him comes a special gift he brings into
our lives. Do you supposed he brought into my life the gift of making
cuckoo clocks? No! That is just a learned but somewhat natural
ability. Some people can sing well, others can’t. Some can grow
things, others can’t. These are natural talents. But when the Holy
Spirit indwells a believer, He brings to them a special GIFT which is
designed to be a blessing to other believers.

The Bible lists these gifts, specifically. The questions that every disciple of Christ must ask are, “What is
my special gift? How can I determine what God plans to do with my gift?” Every believer needs to know
what his gift or gifts are, and how he can develop them and use them for service to the Lord. That’s
what we want to learn today…

21.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe the various spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to
believers to serve the body of Christ.

2. The student should be able to explain the difference between natural talents and the gifts of
the Holy Spirit.

3. The student should be able to explain how a believer can discover what his spiritual gift is.

4. The student should be able to describe how the various spiritual gifts are given to each believer.

21.3 Jesus’s Methods in Teaching

The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers.
When the Holy Spirit enters a believer’s life, He brings to that believer a special gift to
enhance ministry or service to others. Four key passages describe spiritual gifts: Romans
12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Peter 4:10, 11. Spiritual gifts are God-given
abilities to serve. The Greek word for spiritual gift (charisma) is a form of the word “grace.”
So these special abilities are privileges. God graciously enables all believers to serve in spiritual ministry.

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