Summit's Gifted Saints Ephesians 4:11–14

I. Why do we need gifts?

A. Each member in both bodies performs a vital task (, ).

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:18 ESV

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

B. No member in either body can be independent of the other members (, ).

1 Corinthians 12:14–17 ESV

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

1 Corinthians 12:19–24 ESV

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

C. Each member in both bodies is to rejoice and suffer with the other members (, ).

1 Corinthians 12:19–20 ESV

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

1 Corinthians 12:22–27 ESV

22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

II. What are my gifts?

1. __Administration: organize, direct, and implement plans to lead others in the various ministries of the Church. This gift is closely related to the gift of leadership, but is more goal or task oriented and is also more concerned with details and organization. They help put the Summit Plan of Work together.

2. __Apostleship: to plant new ministries and churches, go into places where the Gospel is not preached, reach across cultures to establish churches in challenging environments, raise up and develop leaders. They are our Summit Missionaries and Church planters.

3. __Discernment: to clearly recognize and distinguish between the influence of God, Satan, the world, and the flesh in each situation. The church needs those with this gift to warn believers in times of danger or keep them from being led astray by false teaching. Without them Summit will be taken over by false doctrine.

4. __Evangelism: They are burdened in their hearts for the lost and will go out of their way to share the truth with them. They are responsible for the growth at Summit.

5. __ Exhortation: strengthen and encourage those who are wavering in their faith so that the church is continually building up the body of Christ and glorifying God.

6. __ Faith: encourage and build up the church in her confidence in God by helping connect belief with action.

7. __ Giving/Benevolence: to share with others the overflow of blessings God has given them and thereby take care of those who cannot take care of themselves (widows and orphans).

8. __ Healing: compassionate toward the sick (physical and emotional) and pray for them. (Doctors; nurses; therapists; etc.).

9. __ Knowledge/Teaching/Wisdom: well-versed in the Scriptures and often has much committed to memory with a deep desire to effectively communicate the Word.

10. __ Leadership/Shepherd: care for God’s people and lead them into deeper relationship with Christ and each other. They are Summit’s Elders.

11. __ Mercy: love and assist those who are suffering, and walk with them until The Lord allows their burden to be lifted.

12. __ Serving/Ministering: fill the many gaps of ministry and meet the needs of the church as it fulfills the Great Commission. The goal is to energize the church and free up others to use their gifts to the fullest.

My top 3 Spiritual Gift is in order are: _______________

III. What am I doing with my gift?

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Matthew 25:14–16 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

Matthew 25:30 ESV

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’