4th Sunday - 2022.7.24Part 2 (Public Version)

Romans 12:4–8 (NIV)

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying (perceiving), then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Prophecy / Perceiving

Is committed to truth. If it is right and God has said it, the prophet is committed to go regardless of whether anybody follows.

Takes initiative and enjoys things that are new. Does a terrible job of maintaining things.

Processes quickly. Has an opinion on everything and is quick to share it.

Judges and evaluates everything, even situations that do not directly impact him.

Cannot tolerate having no options.

Shifts gears quickly from one direction to another. Can be here and then there.

Major Weaknesses

Judgmental. Critical toward others and even more critical of themselves.

Unforgiving. Not willing to overlook the failures and weaknesses of others.

Bitterness. The enduring battlefield for the prophet. Can have an unforgiving spirit that is destructive.

Caricature : of Peter

Serving / Ministry / Helps

Is a team player. Is relatively free from the desire to build his own kingdom.

Is very practical. Is committed to the present moment to meet present needs.

Has difficulty saying "no" to competing demands. Usually overcommitted in scheduling.

Finds it hard to accept excellence in his work, to affirm himself, or to receive affirmation from

Is totally trustworthy and reliable.

Attracts dishonor, especially in the home. Tends to be the one who is talked down to and has jokes made about them. A servant seems to allow this to happen.

Has purity of motive. Is straight-forward, honest and can be trusted.

Prefers not to be visible. Does not desire the spotlight.

Desires to empower others to achieve their best. Greatest fulfillment comes in knowing he enables somebody else to do their work. Is drawn to pray for leadership and make them successful.

Weaknesses

Battle for self-worth. Doesn't see his innate value and doesn't believe God's truth about himself or his call.

Worry/anxiety. Takes on other people's problems and worries about the problem.

Does a task instead of teaching others to do it and releasing it to them.

Caricature: Esther

Teacher

Needs to validate truth for himself. It is at the core of who he is. Loves knowledge.

Does not receive new things immediately. Looks at things from different angles.

Wants first-hand details. Values precision in sharing details. Sometimes overkill of details.

Processes and makes decisions slowly. Can slow down impulsive people who jump to conclusions.

Is a very safe person emotionally and is sometimes confused with the gift of mercy.

The teacher tends to be led by their head and mercy to be led by their heart.

Tends to be the last one to speak in a group. He will listen and observe, seeing things from all angles, then summarize the whole picture.

Prefers the old, established, validated ways. Preserves history.

His natural tendency is to explain, reason and put forth truth, expecting or hoping the other person will pick up the truth and act on it voluntarily.

Needs to validate truth for himself. It is at the core of who he is. Loves knowledge.

Tends toward selective responsibility. Can be extremely responsible and reliable in one area, but does not carry that same behavior over to other areas.

His natural tendency is to explain, reason and put forth truth, expecting or hoping the other person will pick up the truth and act on it voluntarily.

Weaknesses

Passive. Unwilling to impose responsibility on others. Can be soft on sin and too patient with people who are doing wrong.

Wants to live by sight, not by faith. Wants to know the end of a process before he begins.

Intimacy and prayer may be a major battle for the teacher. Tends to pursue a doctrinal system rather than intimacy with his Father.

Encouraging / Exhorting

Has the ability to cross every kind of barrier (social, racial, economic, religious) and relate to people wherever they are.

Is horizontal in his focus and intensely people-oriented. Has never met a stranger.

Is capable of having disagreements without alienating others.

Enjoys being around people. Is extroverted, outgoing, a party looking for someplace to happen.

Does teamwork well. Is a great networker.

Is a visionary. Tends to see a broader picture, the largest number, etc.

Is tactful and able to speak to people in a gracious way to bring them along.

Is concerned with communicating God to people. Gets to know who God is, then communicates Him to people.

The immature exhorter is unwilling to confront sin. A righteous exhorter will hold a high standard of holiness and bring those around him to that same standard.

Works hard and is intensely busy. Functions on little sleep. Is involved in many projects.

Weaknesses

People-pleasing. Unwilling to confront because of fear of rejection.

Poor time management. Tends to take on too much.

Compromise. May settle for doing what is good, instead of God's best.

Caricature: Paul

Giving

Has a generational worldview. Is focused on trying to prepare the way for his family and others after him.

IS very independent. Stands alone. Does not look to other people for help and sometimes not even to God.

Resists being conned, manipulated, or guilt-tripped into action. Tendency to feel manipulated when others withhold information from him.

Is able to relate to a wide range of people.

Desires to empower other people's productivity.

Desires to keep his own life private.

Is keen at finding unseen options, solutions, and resources.

Is opportunistic in seizing an available moment.

Finds favor in terms of money. Resources flow to him.

Gives well and wisely, not impulsively.

May tend to see money as a source of security.

Lives in the present and future. Tends not to learn from the past. Does not like to be confronted that are more than a week old.

Is a natural networker. Has an ability to bring people together and persuade them to do things.

Is pragmatic and practical.

Is involved in a diversity of projects, interests, and activities. Is multi-focused.

Can birth, nurture, and protect new things and new ideas. New things arise and grow at a greater pace than other gifts.

Administration / Ruling

Thrives under pressure and puts the people around him under the same pressure. This can be motivational or abusive.

skilled at time management. Controls his time and gets the job done.

Does not ask "why" questions.

Can value loyalty more than competence per se.

Takes a vision and puts together an effective plan. Is an implementer, not a visionary.

Is not easily distracted from a task.

Involved in all kinds of projects. Enjoys diversity.

Does not need the affirmation of other people when he has made up his mind.

Can do a disproportionate amount of work with the given resources.

Can withstand strong opposition.

Weaknesses

Insensitivity. Since he is goal-oriented, he may fail to nurture those around him and may apply. pressure without moderation.

Ethics and integrity. The end justifies the means.

Compromise. Settling for his agenda instead of God's agenda.

Caricature: Nehemiah

Mercy

Gets along with everybody easily. Rarely has enemies. Is admired and respected.

Is a safe person for those who are wounded. Can make everyone feel safe sharing their hurts. Can be approached by complete strangers.

Can take initiative toward wounded ones. Knows who is feeling rejected or wounded.

Has a huge number of acquaintances and people who enjoy him but only a few who are close friends. Shares everything with intimate friends.

Craves intimacy of soul and physical touch. Desires hugs and physical contact.

Hears from God but has difficulty explaining the "why." Operates on subjective and intuitive feelings.

Makes decisions based on his heart.

Does not like to choose sides between two people. Does not want to say one is right and one is wrong.

Weaknesses

Impurity. Desire for intimacy and physical touch may lead to impurity. Enabling. Wants to protect others from pain.

Compromise. Willing to live with mixture of holy and unholy without calling people to do what is right.

Non-confrontational. May tolerate abuse and exploitation because he is willing to allow injustice to continue.

Caricature -John

“the beloved”

laid in the breast of Jesus