Generous With Our Gifts

Introduction

Who am I

Joe Farage

Pastor Blake’s brother-in-law

Went to the same youth group for a while

Youth Pastor in Kansas City for almost 7 years before moving back to Buffalo

Before I get started, I want to get to know you a little, let’s go around quick and share your name and your favorite activity

I’ll start, Joe and favorite activity would be playing games like 4 square, SPUD, stuff like that.

<< Go around and get students to share, ask Pastor Blake at the end >>

What questions do you have about me?

Opening

Last week you talked about being Generous in Forgiveness right?

What does “generous” mean?

giving in abundance or ample proportions

characterized by a noble or kindly spirit

willingly giving of something (money/time/etc)

How does it differ from just “giving”?

giving is giving something, but not always in abundance or with a positive attitude

generosity is marked by an attitude of wanting others to benefit. It is giving, but giving with an attitude that wants to go above and beyond to help

so there’s giving << hand down low >> and then there’s generosity <<raise hand up to a higher level>>

Tonight we’re going to talk about being generous with our gifts

What is a spiritual gift? (Charismata)

The phrase “spiritual gift” isn’t in the NT. There’s “gifts”, “spiritual things”, “ministries”, “workings”, and other phrases, but “spiritual gifts” is a more modern phrase that kinda covers a broad range of meanings.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS are ministries or abilities that the Holy Spirit gives to Christians for the edification of the Church.

Now what are these “gifts” we’re talking about?

Talking about the spiritual gifts, like wisdom, service, teaching, and even about the fruits of the Spirit like joy, patience, gentleness

Do you know anyone who’s just always happy? Like no matter what happens, they find a reason to have joy? That’s a gift!

To start, I want to look at a verse Pastor Blake talked about last week

Matthew 9:37–10:1 CSB

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.

Jesus tells the disciples to pray for the harvest, then tells them to go and be the first people sent out to do the harvest.

What does “harvest” mean?

farming, gathering the crops in

spiritually what does it mean?

Matthew 10:7–8 CSB

As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

Point 1: YOUR gifts are important

1 Cor 12:4-11 “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.”

What are some of the gifts Paul lists here? (wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretations)

May think, “those are all really “spiritual” gifts, I don’t know what those are”

That’s a great question and this is just a high level sampling of gifts, let’s keep going and I’ll show you what I mean.

How do you get these gifts?

The Holy Spirit gives them to you. You already have gifts, talents, and skills God has given you.

1 Corinthians 12:27–28 (CSB)

Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.

Comparing verses 8-10 with verse 28, what additional gifts are mentioned? (apostles, teachers, helping, leading)

An apostle is someone who goes out to tell people about Jesus, basically a missionary.

But teachers, helping, leading - now we’re getting a lot less “spiritual”

Think about your gifts, your talents, what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at.

They don’t need to involve preaching, praying, or prophesying in order for God to use them.

God has given you interests and skills for a reason. He has given you ability and activities for a purpose.

YOUR gifts are important, even if they don’t seem “religious” enough.

That’s the first thing I want you to remember. I’m going to say this again because it’s so important.

YOUR gifts are important, even if they don’t seem “religious” enough.

Point 2: YOUR gifts have a place

Romans 12:4-8 “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.”

These verses again list both “religious” and “non-religious” gifts together. All gifts are needed.

If you’re one of Pastor Blake’s minions (I MEAN, YOUTH LEADERS) here, would you raise your hand?

Students, look around at your leaders, they’re here because they love Jesus, and they love you, and they want you to know Jesus.

What if they all demanded to teach every week?

(you’d have no one doing sound or setting up or cleaning up, no one to lead worship or give vision for the group)

or if they all wanted more of a background role and just did room set up, but no one actually taught?

Each leader is here because they want to show you Jesus, and they’re each generous with their gifts. And each do that in different ways. Some teach, some play, some organize, some set up or clean up. But they all love Jesus and they all love you.

It’s the same with each of you. Your interests and talents are different than other people. You may have a lot in common with people, but you’re a unique mix of what God’s put in your heart and mind.

Hook

We need you to share your gifts to fill the place that we can’t.

So, what are your gifts?

List your interests, skills, talents, what you’re really good at, or interested in becoming good at.

It doesn’t have to be something “religious”, just be real with who you are.

So how can you be generous with your gifts?

Talk to your leaders, talk to me after, we want to help you find how to be generous with your gifts.

In Youth Group

sound

worship

cleaning/setting up

planning games

bible study

encouraging others

saying hi to new students or students by themselves

praying for people

At school/work

pray for people

sit with/talk to new people or those by themselves

tutor/teach others about something you’re good at

get involved in clubs/sports/activities, use them to show people good sportsmanship, give the Glory to God

Closing

Before I close, any questions? thoughts? add-ins?

I want to close with what Paul said to Timothy in 1 Tim 4:12

“Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”

I encourage you to set an example. Be generous with your gifts, show us how it’s done!

YOUR gifts are important

YOUR gifts have a place

Let’s pray