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Discussion on matters of general mainstream evangelical Christian theology that do not fit within Theology 201. Have some spiritual gifts ceased today? Is the KJV the only viable translation for the church today? In what sense are the books of the bible inspired and what are those books? Church government? Modern day prophets and apostles?

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Spiritual Gifts

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  • #31
    Originally posted by Sparko View Post
    Give us a list of the spiritual gifts.
    Romans 12
    exhortation
    giving
    leadership
    mercy
    prophecy
    service
    teaching

    1 Corinthians 12
    administration
    apostle
    discernment
    faith
    healings
    helps
    knowledge
    miracles
    prophecy
    teaching
    tongues
    tongues interpretation
    wisdom

    Ephesians 4
    apostle
    evangelism
    pastor
    prophecy
    teaching

    Misc. Passages
    celibacy
    hospitality
    martyrdom
    missionary
    voluntary poverty
    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

    Comment


    • #32
      I hate those tests that used to be prevalent, maybe still are, that are supposed to help you figure out what your spiritual gifts are. None of them ever fit me.


      Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

      Comment


      • #33
        Originally posted by mossrose View Post
        I hate those tests that used to be prevalent, maybe still are, that are supposed to help you figure out what your spiritual gifts are. None of them ever fit me.
        I have found a few that were useful as part of an overall teaching on Gifts..... but, yeah, part of my problem was that I know the answer I should give if I want a certain outcome, and it's hard just to 'blurt out' my first impression.
        The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

        Comment


        • #34
          I don't really know for sure, but I think mine is discernment. I tend to read people pretty well most of the time, and can spot a scammer a mile away, especially a religious one. Or maybe I am just paranoid and suspicious.

          Comment


          • #35
            Originally posted by Sparko View Post
            I don't really know for sure, but I think mine is discernment. I tend to read people pretty well most of the time, and can spot a scammer a mile away, especially a religious one. Or maybe I am just paranoid and suspicious.
            One of my wife's gifts is discernment - I tend to "like everybody" and just assume that, because I like them, they're good people and they like me too. She nailed it several times when she tried to caution me about some individuals I trusted. It took me a couple times of her being right, and me being stung, to realize that's her spiritual gift, and I need to honor it.
            The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

            Comment


            • #36
              Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
              So, I think that somebody 'forcing a particular gift on themselves', rather than relying on the Holy Spirit to assign that gift, is part of the problem. The gift is not so much for the individual as it is for the Body.
              I can think of situations where somebody is serving in a position in which he/she has no gift. Teaching is a gift, but I have been in Sunday School classes where the person teaching definitely was not gifted. Teaching wild conspiracy theories, clearly misunderstanding Scripture, etc., an inability to control the class when the conversation strays off topic.

              Then there's the choir. I have been blessed with the gift of singing bass in the choir, but on several occasions through the decades where there have been individuals in church choirs that simply should not be there, and the choir director is too nice to remove them from the choir.

              I jokingly tell people that at one church we had a five part choir: soprano, alto, tenor, bass and Becky.
              When I Survey....

              Comment


              • #37
                Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                I don't really know for sure, but I think mine is discernment. I tend to read people pretty well most of the time, and can spot a scammer a mile away, especially a religious one. Or maybe I am just paranoid and suspicious.
                But this is an example I use about how Church committees, for example, should not be comprised of people because of their particular line of work, but because of their giftedness.

                Example -- Church benevolence committee that has members who have the gift of mercy --- they'd give away the farm! If the committee were made up of bankers, they'd probably be tight as bark on a willow. There needs to be at least one person on that committee with the gift of discernment, etc.
                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                Comment


                • #38
                  Originally posted by Faber View Post
                  I can think of situations where somebody is serving in a position in which he/she has no gift. Teaching is a gift, but I have been in Sunday School classes where the person teaching definitely was not gifted. Teaching wild conspiracy theories, clearly misunderstanding Scripture, etc., an inability to control the class when the conversation strays off topic.
                  EGGzackly. And just because they're a professor at Absorbine Junior College doesn't mean they'd be gifted to teach Sunday School!

                  Then there's the choir. I have been blessed with the gift of singing bass in the choir, but on several occasions through the decades where there have been individuals in church choirs that simply should not be there, and the choir director is too nice to remove them from the choir.
                  That's a tough one, and reminds me of Porter Wagoner's song about Brother Ira.

                  I jokingly tell people that at one church we had a five part choir: soprano, alto, tenor, bass and Becky.
                  OK, true story....

                  We had a guy in church, an older fella, who was fired up about being a Christian. He wanted to "sing a special" in Church, and kept bugging me about when he could do it. I kept promising that I'd schedule it, but to be perfectly honest, he couldn't carry a tune in a bushel basket if it was taped inside.

                  Long story short, Memorial Day weekend was coming, and I was expecting a low attendance. GREAT time for brother Chester to sing.

                  As it turned out, it was a stormy weekend, and picnics were canceled, trips were postponed, and church that Sunday morning was packed!

                  When it came time for Chester to sing, he stood in the podium, nodded to the pianist, who played the intro, then Chester began to sing, off key and in a bellowing voice, "So precious is Jesus my Savior and...." and Chester got all choked up and started crying, and said, "I'm sorry folks, this song is very emotional to me", then he cleared his throat, nodded to the pianist, and off again ... "So precious is Jesus My Savior and King...." again, he broke down crying, apologized, and asked to try one more time.

                  This time, in an off key voice, with tears streaming down his face, he sang the song...

                  So precious is Jesus, my Savior, my King,
                  His praise all the day long with rapture I sing;
                  To Him in my weakness for strength I can cling,
                  For He is so precious to me.

                  For He is so precious to me, (so precious to me,)
                  For He is so precious to me; (so precious to me;)
                  'Tis heaven below, my Redeemer to know,
                  For He is so precious to me.

                  He stood at my heart's door in sunshine and rain
                  And patiently waited an entrance to gain;
                  What shame that so long He entreated in vain,
                  For He is so precious to me. [Chorus]

                  I praise Him because He appointed a place
                  Where, someday, through faith in His wonderful grace,
                  I know I shall see Him, shall look on His face,
                  For He is so precious to me. [Chorus]

                  When he was finished, there wasn't a dry eye in the Church. The Spirit of God was powerfully evident. I didn't even preach -- I just opened the altar for 'altar call', and many many people came forward to rededicate their lives, 2 for salvation, and others just to kneel and pray.

                  It was one of the most awesome "presence of the Spirit" moments I've ever experienced.
                  The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    I have been told that I have the gift of discernment, which I didn't recognize in myself until then, and I also believe I have the gift of administration.

                    It seems to me to be better when someone else sees a particular gift in another than to try to figure it out on one's own.

                    But I do know that I definitely do not have the gift of hospitality!


                    Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                      I have been told that I have the gift of discernment, which I didn't recognize in myself until then, and I also believe I have the gift of administration.

                      It seems to me to be better when someone else sees a particular gift in another than to try to figure it out on one's own.

                      But I do know that I definitely do not have the gift of hospitality!
                      So, yeah, first I teach on the gifts, and sometimes we do one of those tests just to familiarize people with the gifts and how the operate, then I ask them - over the next few months - to ask God to reveal to them what their gift(s) is/are. I do mention to be aware of what other people observe and tell you.

                      I was amazed at how many people would tell me, "you know, when I did [ ], people would tell me "it really blesses me when you do [ ].

                      And when there's the "spiritual confirmation" coming from "2 or 3 witnesses", that really seems to seal the deal.
                      The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                        I don't really know for sure, but I think mine is discernment. I tend to read people pretty well most of the time, and can spot a scammer a mile away, especially a religious one. Or maybe I am just paranoid and suspicious.
                        One of the things I have encouraged people to do is -- if you believe your spiritual gift is [whatever], practice operating in that gift, and see if it feels natural, and if people seem blessed by it.
                        The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                          I have been told that I have the gift of discernment, which I didn't recognize in myself until then, and I also believe I have the gift of administration.

                          It seems to me to be better when someone else sees a particular gift in another than to try to figure it out on one's own.
                          Agree.

                          But I do know that I definitely do not have the gift of hospitality!


                          I am also wondering how many will volunteer that they have the gift of giving!

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            Originally posted by Cow Poke View Post
                            But this is an example I use about how Church committees, for example, should not be comprised of people because of their particular line of work, but because of their giftedness.

                            Example -- Church benevolence committee that has members who have the gift of mercy --- they'd give away the farm! If the committee were made up of bankers, they'd probably be tight as bark on a willow. There needs to be at least one person on that committee with the gift of discernment, etc.
                            My mom and brother used to hate to watch TV or movies with me because I would find and point out all the plot holes and tell her who-dun-it ten minutes into the film or TV show.

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Originally posted by Sparko View Post
                              My mom and brother used to hate to watch TV or movies with me because I would find and point out all the plot holes and tell her who-dun-it ten minutes into the film or TV show.
                              Yup... but my wife has gotten as good at that as me --- sometimes even better. Sometimes, I'll announce the culprit, and she'll say "yeah, that's what they WANT you to think, but I think it's [whoever]"
                              The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                Originally posted by Esther View Post
                                I am also wondering how many will volunteer that they have the gift of giving!
                                I don't.

                                I give because I'm supposed to, and I know God blesses it, but it's not my gift. I DO have a very generous man in my church who most certainly has the gift of giving, along with the resources to give. I can always spot a "cheerful giver", in that they care more about giving, and ZERO about getting credit for it, or people knowing that they give, and ZERO attempts to control or guide where that gift is applied.
                                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                                Comment

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