Class Lesson January 17, 2016

Priceless: Finding Your Value In God

 

This week's lesson is the last in our series on "How can I know my value to God?" It is entitled: Cherished In God's Eyes. Have you ever looked up into the night sky and taken in the majesty and awesomeness of our Creator and then considered this question: What is mankind that You are mindful of them?

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Most people instantly recognize the great value of gold. But what about aluminum?


Randall Lawrence inherited an old desk when his father, a former employee of the Denver Mint, passed away. Because he wasn’t interested in the few coins his dad had left in the desk, Lawrence sold them to a local coin dealer. Those coins included a 1974-D penny cast from aluminum—one of the rarest coins in the world.

Later, the dealer called Lawrence and offered to split the proceeds from the sale of this one penny. Its value? $250,000! It would have been sad if such a rare treasure had been overlooked or cast aside. Yet, tragically, something far more valuable than an aluminum penny gets cast aside every day: people. Children, the elderly, the weak, and the helpless too often become victims in a society that places too little value on human life.

As we explore Psalm 8, we’ll see that God has an entirely different perspective regarding the value of human life.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Psalm 8:1-8 (NIV)
1 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 

 

Stronghold (v. 2)—The Hebrew term gives the meaning of power and strength in this context of God overcoming and silencing all His enemies.

Human beings (v. 4)—The phrase is used in common Hebrew parallelism, where the same idea is repeated using different wording. What is stated with mankind in the first line of the verse is restated using human beings in the second line for emphasis.

Psalm 8:1-2

Do you remember the first time you saw a mountain rising majestically from the horizon? Or the first time you stood on the beach and saw nothing but ocean expanding before you? Experiences like that arrest our attention. They make us want to shout with David in verse 1: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

That’s because the greatness of creation reflects the greatness of the Creator. God is magnificent, and His magnificence is not hidden. The planet we live on shouts this truth in a million wondrous ways. David wrote of the One who created all we see and sustains it by His will—by His majestic power.

“You have set your glory in the heavens” (v. 1). The more we learn about the universe, the more we realize how it shouts of God’s glory. Our Milky Way galaxy has hundreds of billions of stars, and scientists now consider it to be one of the smallest systems in the whole universe. The miniscule things in our universe also point to Him. Your DNA is made up of four chemicals, abbreviated by the letters A, T, G, and C. These “chemical letters” are arranged in each human cell something like this: GTATTGACTGAC. Each cell in your body knows what to do because of the order of those chemicals. Oh, and that code happens to be three billion letters long—in each cell. The presence of something that massive and detailed in something so small shouts of God’s majesty.

In his psalm, David mentioned “children and infants” (v. 2). Though small and often dismissed by others as being of little value, they point to God’s glory. We might think of them as the weakest in all humanity, but their weakness in human eyes diminishes neither their strength nor their great worth in God’s view. Even the tiniest infant, incapable of coherent speech, is “a stronghold” who speaks mightily of God “to silence the foe and the avenger” (v. 2).

Unfortunately, these are also the people among us that are the most easily dismissed. Abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia are attacks on God’s glory and creation.

Around the world, more than 40 million abortions occur annually. That means that while you are in your Bible study, more than 5,000 unborn babies will die.

God can do great things through those people the world calls weak, helpless, or unnecessary. Indeed, God has chosen the weak things of the world to defeat the mighty (see 1 Cor. 1:27). Since the unborn, the weak, and the helpless are a part of His creation, He has made them for His glory, too.

Psalm 8:3-8
After establishing the magnificence of God’s glory, David contrasted that with the relative insignificance of humanity. Yet God bestows honor and dignity on each person He creates.

Since God is so majestic, “what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (v. 4). David may have felt small and insignificant as He observed the universe, but David knew he was not insignificant at all in God’s eyes. “You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor” (v. 5).

We are not equal with God or the angels, but neither are we simply on the same level with animals. Indeed, God crowned humans “with glory and honor.”

In our position over animals and “the works of your hands” (v. 6)—all that God has made—we have been given dominion. God said at creation, “They may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (Gen. 1:26). God has crowned us with His glory, and we are to display that glory as we rule the earth.

Does an emphasis on the sanctity of human life really matter? Yes. I’ve seen the difference we can make when we value people as God does:

1. A pregnant, single woman decided to have an abortion. Her neighbor had another idea. If the woman would not abort, the neighbor would help raise her child and provide for both of them. She kept her promise. As a result of receiving that help, the woman gave birth, raised multiple children, and brought them to church every Sunday. I am their pastor, and I have personally seen these children confess their faith in Jesus.

2. A woman found herself pregnant, unmarried, and scared. Her boyfriend wanted her to have an abortion. She was upset and decided to attend church. She had no way of knowing that morning was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. After hearing the message that day, she chose not to have an abortion; instead, she put her baby boy up for adoption. I had the privilege of holding this child who was adopted by a young pastor and his wife.

Many women carry the guilt of a past abortion. Statistics tell us that one out of three women will have an abortion by age 45. So, even as we hold high the sanctity of all human life, we must also proclaim the grace of God that is greater than all our sin. God’s grace extends to those who have encouraged or participated in an abortion, for He deeply loves and values them, as well. 

There is hope and life for all of us in Christ. He created all of us to display His glory.

LIVE IT OUT

What will you do to show your belief in the value of human life? Consider the following options for this week:

• Memorize. Commit Psalm 8:3-4 to memory in the days to come. Share this verse with others and tell them how much God values them as His creation.

• Give. There are many organizations that help mothers avoid an abortion by providing needed resources—financial, practical, emotional, and so on. Consider giving your own resources to advance the cause of these organizations in your community.

• Get involved. Make a list of practical ways you can be a light in your community regarding the sanctity of human life. Work with your Bible study group to carry out one of those ideas.

Aluminum is rarely valuable. Gold is often valuable. But human beings are always priceless. Praise God that He values and cares for even the weakest among us!

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This week's Lesson:

 Click Here to Watch

CHERISHED IN GOD’S EYES

God values and cares for even the weakest among us.

Tim Tebow’s desire to reach out to “the least of these,” launched an initiative called Night to Shine, a prom event sponsored by local churches for adults with special needs to experience God’s love for them: “This past February, this nationwide event took place simultaneously at 44 churches in 26 states and 3 countries. Each prom included special elements such as a red carpet entrance with paparazzi, limousine rides, hair and makeup beauty stations, shoe shines, a dance floor, food and much more. Over 7,000 honored guests were celebrated by more than 15,000 dedicated volunteers in their communities on this incredible Night to Shine.”



When have you stood up for someone smaller and weaker than you? When did someone stand up for you?



Obama’s State of The Union Address: The Empty Chair

• During the State of the Union on Tuesday night, President Obama left a seat open in the First Lady’s box to remember victims of gun violence “who no longer have a voice,” the White House announced this week.
• Where is the voice to the other tragic “people” that get cast aside every day: Children, the elderly, the weak, and the helpless too often become victims in a society that places too little value on human life?
• Violence, abuse, oppression, human trafficking, children, elderly, disabled

Why is it easy for our culture to overlook those with special needs/disabilities, particularly when they become adults?

• Children with disabilities are one of the most marginalized and excluded groups of children, experiencing widespread violations of their rights. Discrimination arises not as a result of the intrinsic nature of children’s disability, but rather, as a consequence of lack of understanding and knowledge of its causes and implications, fear of difference, fear of contagion or contamination, or negative religious or cultural views of disability. It is further compounded by poverty, social isolation, humanitarian emergencies, lack of services and support, and a hostile and inaccessible environment. Too often, children with disabilities are defined and judged by what they lack rather than what they have. Their exclusion and invisibility serves to render them uniquely vulnerable, denying them respect for their dignity, their individuality, even their right to life itself.

Do you think that an event like Tebow’s is glorifying to God? Why?



Is there a connection between this event and the Sanctity of Life?



What does it mean to believe in the Sanctity of Life?

• People are made in God’s image, human life has an inherently sacred attribute that should be protected and respected at all times.
• Humanity is more sacred than the rest of creation.

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Two astronauts—Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin—spent just under a day on the moon. Before leaving, they left behind messages from 73 world leaders recorded on a silicone disc. One of those selected to write a message was Pope Paul VI. His message was Psalm 8 which is our lesson today.

• Psalm 8 looks at creation and contemplates the Creator. It considers our place in the vast universe.
• In Psalm 8, God has an entirely different perspective regarding the value of human life.
• Psalm 8 shows us we all have incredible worth and value, even those to whom society assigns little or no value. You are of great value to God.

I. God Enables Even the Weak to Declare His Glory

Psalm 8:1-2

1 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.



Have you ever witnessed God’s glory in an infant or a child? Explain.



How is the glory of God connected to the sanctity of human life?

• Do you remember the first time you realized how beautiful creation was? Was it a mountain imposing itself on the horizon or a panoramic ocean view? Experiences like these grab your attention, because they reflect the greatness of the Creator. God’s magnificence is not hidden; the planet we live on shouts this in a million mind-blowing ways. The more we learn about the universe, the more we realize how it shouts of God’s glory. Our Milky Way galaxy with its hundreds of billions of stars is thought to be one of the smallest systems in the whole universe. Our best telescopes can detect objects incredibly far away, but even so, we’ll never fully grasp the greatness of the heavens—or of the One who created them.
• Even your own DNA code shouts God’s majesty. Your DNA is made up of four chemicals, abbreviated by the letters A, T, G, and C. These “chemical letters” are arranged in each human cell something like this: GTATTGACTGAC. Each cell in your body knows what to do because of the order of those chemicals. Oh, and that code happens to be three billion letters long—in each cell. The presence of something that massive and detailed in something so small shouts of God’s majesty.
• Psalm 139 reveals the relationship between the glory of God and the sanctity of life by showing how we are known by God, created by God, and judged by God. If God is the author of life, then it changes how we understand issues related to the sanctity of life like abortion. Conclusion: Because we are known, shaped & judged by God, the sanctity of life matters.

What does it say about God’s view of the weak that He triumphs over the enemy through the praise of “children and infants”?

• In his psalm, David mentioned children and infants. We might think of them as weaker members of humanity, but where our eyes see weakness, God’s eyes see eternal value. Every human—whether unborn or elderly, special needs or special gifts—is a vital part of God’s creation and plan, and they each bring glory to God. And yet, so many people are easily dismissed. For example, around the world, millions of abortions occur each year.
• God has chosen the weak things of the world to defeat the mighty. Since the unborn, the weak, and the helpless are a part of His creation, He has made them for His glory too. Around the world, more than 40 million abortions occur annually. That means that while you are in your Bible study, more than 5,000 unborn babies will die.
• So what has God done to silence such opposition and to provide a relief for His faithful ones? He has established a stronghold. The Hebrew term for stronghold has the meaning of power and strength, in this context of God overcoming and silencing all His enemies. Jeremiah used this same word to refer to God as his strength and refuge (Jer. 16:19, emphasis added). How has God done this? The answer may seem strange to our Western minds. When we seek help, we tend to look for the strongest, the richest, the smartest, and the most powerful one to deliver us. God does just the opposite. He uses the ones we would consider the weakest (see 1 Cor. 1:27). David said that God uses the mouths of children and nursing infants. How can such powerless persons provide strength and security?
• From David’s view, young children represented more evidence of God’s glory as Creator and Lord. The sounds of small children can remind anyone of the reality of God’s limitless power and love. Who else could create such beautiful and amazing creatures?
• Infants and children are not encumbered by haughty self-deifying pride. Children are able to trust and praise God without doubts or reservations. As we become older – for many this becomes more difficult to do. Ask God to give you a “Childlike Faith.”
• At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. — Matthew 18:1-5
• “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." — Matthew 18:10
• An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” — Luke 9:46-47 (also Mark 9:35-37)
• In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. – Isaiah 11:6

II. God Crowns Us with His Glory

Psalm 8:3-8

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.



When was the last time you were humbled by God’s glory? How did you respond?



How does a person’s view of God contribute to his or her view of human life?

• David may have felt small and insignificant while He observed the universe, but David knew he was not insignificant in God’s eyes. In fact, it stunned him. We are not equal with God or the angels, but we are not on the same level with animals either. God has crowned humans with glory and honor. In our position over animals—and everything else that God has made—we have been given authority. At creation, God crowned us with His glory, and we are to display His glory as we rule the earth.

How can our words and actions reflect that we are crowned with God’s glory and honor?

• Because of God’s glory and worth, He is to be glorified by His created beings. When we glorify God, we draw attention to His greatness by our words and actions.
• Psalm 8 is a psalm that focuses upon God’s glory as revealed in all creation. David, the writer of this psalm and many others, was a man who took time to reflect upon God’s glory all around him (see Psalm 19:1–6). David saw God’s glory in His Word (Psalm 19:7–11). And in response to that glory, he worshiped the Lord his God. The ultimate purpose of your existence is tied up in the glory of God. Indeed, God being glorified is the central issue, the premier purpose of the universe and all that has been done in it. We exist to acknowledge Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:6). We exist to know Him, and enjoy Him, and worship Him forever. We were designed and created to reflect His glory.

Why do you think the world fails to see the value in things that God has given great worth?

• David went on to describe man’s position as that of glory and honor. God made human beings with that divine image so that they would reflect His glory. However, when a person is spiritually reborn, that individual is also able to reflect the likeness of Christ (see 2 Cor. 3:18). Sadly, daily events in our world demonstrate a flagrant disregard for the elevated status God has given to His highest creation. Examples include the abuse of children, human trafficking, prostitution, pornography, drug abuse, genocide, slavery, abortion, physician-assisted suicide, terrorism, and on and on. If we’re not careful, we can become numb to the daily reports of such atrocities. As a contrast, God’s ideal is for all people to marvel, as David did, at the glorious status God has given to every single human being.

What are some things God may be asking our group to do in order to protect the unborn?

• What happens when we emphasize the sanctity of human life? Believers act.
• One woman promised to help raise her neighbor’s children if she wouldn’t abort. The woman raised her children, and brought them to church every Sunday. I am their pastor and have seen these children confess their faith in Jesus.
• A pregnant, unmarried woman had a boyfriend who was pressing her to have an abortion. She decided to attend church on the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. After hearing the message that day, she chose to have her baby boy. I had the privilege of holding this child who was adopted by a young pastor and his wife.

As the church of Jesus Christ, we value the unborn, their mothers, and those too weak to fight for themselves. We value these people because God has crowned them with His glory and created them to display His glory.



Close: For several lessons now we have been reminded how much value the Lord places on humankind. He did not create humanity on a whim without any forethought. He had a plan and a purpose, which, if accomplished, would bring praise and glory to His name.



God does not have a hierarchy of importance. Everyone is important to Him, cherished by Him, and valuable to Him. That applies even to the weakest of human beings, babies and infants, the born and yet to be born, and even the infirmed and aged. Compared to the majesty of the universe, we may seem small or insignificant; nevertheless, in the plan of God we demonstrate our worth by service to Him that brings Him praise and glory.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, my lips too sing out, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth!” Amen.


Hope to see you this Sunday!


In His Love,

David & Susan

Class Lesson January 10, 2016

Priceless: Finding Your Value In God

 

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THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

“It’s the thought that counts.” That’s what our parents taught us when we received a gift that was ugly or “unique.” The giver may have meant well, but you knew never in a million years would you use it, wear it, or display it.

We’ve all been guilty of giving those kinds of gifts. It typically happens in situations where social convention requires us to give a gift, but we just don’t know what to buy. So, we search the aisles until we finally find something decent—and then hope for the best.

God gives gifts, too, but He knows exactly what you need. You may not know it at the time, but the gifts He gives—what we refer to as spiritual gifts—are perfect for you. You might wonder at first how you’ll use those gifts. But as we’ll see in this session, God has a plan for both you and your gifts.

And He expects you to use them.


Gifts from last week's lesson:

• Wisdom, knowledge

• Faith, healing

• Miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues

We approach our work and daily tasks with different motivations. Some people choose work that interests them; others choose a career based on income or prestige. Some people engage in work or accept a task simply because it is something that must be done. The service we do as followers of Christ is grounded in a different motivation. The Bible calls us to serve out of love for others and our desire to glorify God. Moreover, we are to serve the Lord because that is what He expects of us.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul emphasized that the diversity of spiritual gifts among the members was not to become an occasion for boasting by those who considered they had been given the superior gifts. Neither were those with what they might have regarded as lesser gifts to complain or grumble about what they had been given. Every gift had value because it was from the Spirit and could be beneficial to others. Similarly, in 1 Peter 4:9-11, Peter urged those to whom he wrote to use their gifts in godly service that would bring glory to God.

 


WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

1 Cor. 12:12-16,21-22; 1 Pet. 4:9-11 (NIV)

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

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21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.

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9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Given the one Spirit to drink (1 Cor. 12:13)—Paul was probably alluding to the words of Jesus found in John 7:37‑39. When an individual trusts Jesus as Lord and Savior, Jesus satisfies his or her deepest thirst by sending the Holy Spirit into that person’s life. All believers are able to drink from these “rivers of living water” (John 7:38).

1 Corinthians 12:12-16

 
When you look at a woman, you don’t see her as a collection of hands, feet, facial features, and kneecaps. Instead, you see her as a complete person. Jesus is the same way with His followers. When He looks at us, He sees us as a collection of individuals who make up a single body: the church.

Paul wanted to make it clear that all believers—regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender—are part of Christ’s body, the church. Racial and social diversity does exists in the church, which is why he said “whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free.” But we all have the same Holy Spirit.

Still, our differences can become a source of conflict. That’s a subject Paul continued to deal with in his letter to the Corinthians. We saw in the previous session that the church in Corinth had separated into different factions (see 1 Cor. 1:10-13). Sadly, it seems even their approach to spiritual gifts caused conflict. When some people became proud and arrogant about their abilities, it made others feel inferior—which caused disunity.

Ever feel like a nobody? Sometimes people thrust that feeling on us through their boastfulness. Other times we invite that feeling ourselves when we choose to play the comparison game. After all, when we take the time to look around, we can always find someone who’s better than we are in some way. It’s all too easy to compare yourself with others and feel like you’re less than you ought to be.

Frankly, it’s especially sad when we play the comparison game inside the church. Paul wanted to correct that in verses 15-16: “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.”

Your role in the body of Christ may not be as visible as others, but it’s no less important. Your spiritual gifts are important, and the way you use them in the body of Christ is important. The bottom line: inferiority has no place in the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit that lives in your pastor is the same Holy Spirit that lives in you. No one has cornered the market on His presence or His gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:21-22

We shouldn’t feel inferior about ourselves in the church; neither should we feel superior. Paul focused his attention on those who boast about their gifts, but both extremes are harmful. We’re not to question our value or the value of others.

Don’t be proud of your gifts, thinking they raise your value or importance in the church. Your effectiveness has nothing to do with you, but it has everything to do with the One who gave you that gift! God has planned and gifted every one of us to bring the greatest glory to Himself and the greatest good to the body of Christ. Of course, some Christians in the church are more visible than others. But those who are more private or who like to work behind the scenes are every bit as essential.

When was the last time you made a big deal about your big toe? Probably the last time you stubbed it. Even though we don’t think about it very often, the big toe is crucial to the human body. The first toe is known as the hallux and is responsible for 40 percent of the foot’s heavy lifting when we walk. Our big toes keep us balanced. Believe it or not, a recruit who is missing a big toe will be disqualified from the military, and someone who loses a big toe typically has to learn to walk again.

That’s Paul’s point in verse 22: “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” What’s true for the human body is true for the church. We may not think it’s important to be the “big toe” in the church, but Paul says otherwise.

Maybe it’s time we “toot the horn” of those who serve without much notice. The church should give special honor to its members who do not attract attention to themselves. We can do this to remind them—and all of us—that every member of the church is vitally important for it to function as God intended.

 

1 Peter 4:9-11

We find some brief instructions in 1 Peter about how to use our gifts. We can sum up the main idea like this: serve others as Jesus would serve them and speak to others as He would speak to them. Everything we do must be immersed in an attitude of love.

Hospitality is a very tangible expression of love, which is why Peter wrote, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (v. 9). Even among non-Christians in the first century, hospitality was simply a common courtesy. God’s people don’t welcome others out of duty; rather, we do it cheerfully, without complaining. That speaks of a joyous and loving attitude.

Love is expressed in whatever spiritual gift we use. We receive our spiritual gifts by the grace of God. So when we use our gifts in a loving manner—doing so in a way that extends grace to others—we point to the One who has extended grace to us. In Peter’s words, we use our gifts “so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (v. 11).

No two people will serve in exactly the same way, but each of us will serve with the gifts God has given us and wherever He’s placed us. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (v. 10). I like that word various. It means “multi-colored.” When you serve and I serve—each in our different ways, as God has gifted us—together we bring glory to God like a beautiful rainbow!

LIVE IT OUT

How will you actively use your spiritual gifts this week? Consider the following options:

• Just do it. Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of waiting for circumstances to be “just right” before you use the gifts God has given you. Make a plan right now to take action and do something in service to God’s kingdom.

• Find help. Using your spiritual gifts doesn’t have to be a solo operation. Find someone to join you in serving God and serving others through your spiritual gifts. (Doing so will provide the added value of accountability.)

• Encourage others. Find a way to encourage someone who is struggling with his or her sense of value in the church. Send a note or seek out a tangible way to remind that person of his or her value in the body of Christ.

We’ve all received gifts that left us unsatisfied. But your spiritual gifts from God need never drift into that dreaded territory of “it’s the thought that counts.” Your spiritual gifts are both useful and valuable in your context. The next step is up to you.

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Our Lesson this week:

Click Here to Watch

Have you opened your gift?

What’s one of the more useless gifts you’ve received?

“It’s the thought that counts.”

That’s what our parents taught us when we received a gift that was ugly or “unique.” The giver may have meant well, but you aren’t ever going to use it, wear it, or display it.

• Suppose you have a friend that lives miles away from you. Every Christmas you go to great effort to select, wrap, and send a gift to this friend. One day comes when you are able to go and see your friend at their home. Y’all talk just like old times and as you look around the home, you don’t see any of your gifts on display. When your friend goes to another room, you peek into the front closest, and what do you see? There, after all these years, are all the gifts you had sent, still wrapped and unused. How would you feel?

Well, God gives gifts, too and He feels the same way when we don’t use them.



The gifts He gives us—we call them spiritual gifts. You might wonder at first how you will use His gifts, but God has a plan for both you and your gifts. And He expects you to use them.


A couple of review questions from last week:



1. What is a spiritual gift?

A spiritual gift is an ability that enables each believer to perform a function in the body of Christ with ease and effectiveness.



2. Who gives the spiritual gifts?

God’s Holy Spirit is the empowerment behind the spiritual gifts. They are given according to His will and His purpose. We don’t need to pray, plan, plead, or wait for our gift. We should be wary of anyone who teaches that we can acquire spiritual gifts through and self-effort. God gives His gifts as an act of grace. That means that we do not own them, nor did we earn them.



3. Do all Christians have spiritual gifts?

Every Christian, without exception, has at least one spiritual gift. Paul emphasized that “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit” (v. 7); “the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills” (v. 11). Each believer has a gift and some may have more than one. Our giftedness is part of how God wired us.



4. Why are there a variety of gifts?

In this variety there is unity. And, this unity is enhanced by diversity. Most often we humans seek unity through conformity. The many gifts remind us that unity can be found in the church through each believer’s use of their unique gifts. God has given each church incredible potential—individually and corporately—in terms of its life and ministry. No limit exists to what the church could be if it really began to maximize the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. These spiritual gifts are not means for our own personal benefit. We are gifted by God’s Holy Spirit for the sake of the whole body of Christ. That’s why each gift is important and each gift is needed.




Spiritual Gifts: There was a man named Yates that ran a sheep ranch in Texas. Yates and his wife struggled to even keep food on the table; they did all they could to survive. One day, a geological crew from a large oil company came knocking. They wanted to drill a wildcat well on Yates’ property, promising him a large portion of the profits if they struck oil. At 1100 feet they tapped into one of the richest oil reserves in Texas. Overnight, Yates and his family became millionaires. Here was a man who all along had the potential to make millions and yet, was living on welfare. If you think about it, many Christians are just like him. We struggle along at the spiritual poverty level, unaware of the vast power and resources God has given us in the Holy Spirit and His spiritual gifts.



Last week you looked at 9 gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11:



The spiritual gifts listed below are found in three passages: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 28-30, and Ephesians 4:11

· Administration, Apostleship, Discernment, Evangelism, Exhortation, Faith, Giving, Healing, Interpretation of Tongues, Knowledge, Leadership, Mercy, Miracles, Pastor/Shepherd, Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Tongues, Wisdom

Take the Test

http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/adult

 

USED IN GOD’S SERVICE

God’s expects us to use the gifts He has given us.

As we continue in 1 Corinthians today, Paul emphasizes that the diversity of spiritual gifts. He goes on to emphasize that these gifts are not for boasting, complaining about, or being jealous of. Every gift has a value because it is from the Spirit and is beneficial to others. And in 1 Peter 4:9-11, we’ll see that all of our abilities should be used in serving others; none of these are supposed to be for our own exclusive enjoyment.



I. Your Spiritual Gift is Essential to the Body


1 Corinthians 12:12-16

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.



In what way is the church similar to the human body?

• When you look at a woman, you don’t see her as a collection of hands, feet, facial features, and kneecaps. Instead, you see her as a complete person. Jesus is the same way with His followers. When He looks at us, He sees us as a collection of individuals who make up a single body: the church.
• The church is the body of Christ made up of believers who have differing but compatible functions.

In what ways are believers bound together regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender as one?

• Paul wanted to make it clear that all believers—regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender—are part of Christ’s body, the church. Racial and social diversity does exist in the church, which is why he said “whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free.” We all have the same Holy Spirit. Though diverse in composition, the church is made one in the Spirit.

In our lesson today, Paul has to deal with differences in the Corinthian church because they had become a source of conflict. Some people became proud and arrogant about their abilities (spiritual gifts), and it made others feel inferior—which caused disunity in the church.



Why are we often tempted to compare ourselves to others?

• It’s especially sad when we play the comparison game inside the church. Paul wanted to correct that in verses 15-16: “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.”
• Your role in the body of Christ may not be as visible as others, but it’s no less important. Your spiritual gifts are important, and the way you use them in the body of Christ is important. The bottom line: inferiority has no place in the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit that lives in your pastor is the same Holy Spirit that lives in you. No one has cornered the market on His presence or His gifts. Instead of comparing ourselves to one another, we should use our different gifts, together, to spread the Good News of salvation. Despite our differences, all believers have one thing in common – faith in Christ. As members of God’s family, we may have different interests and gifts, but we have a common goal.
• Thinking that your gift is more important than someone else’s is an expression of spiritual pride. We should not look down on those who seem unimportant, and we should not be jealous of others who have impressive gifts. Instead, we should use the gifts we have been given and encourage others to use theirs. If we don’t, the body of believers will be less effective.

2 important points Paul makes:

1. We are to live as one. (vv. 12-13)

Paul appealed to the one body and the one Spirit as a basis for unity in the church. Though the body has many members, the church is still one. And, though the church is made of many people from various backgrounds it exists as one. Paul’s teaching, in fact, his very happiness was dependent on believers coming together as one. Paul is not asking for uniformity. Uniformity comes from without. He is not asking for unanimity. We will never agree on everything. In fact sometimes, we must agree to disagree. He is calling for unity that comes from within, a matter of the heart. He is calling for harmony of relationships, mutual concern and love for one another, a caring for the quality of fellowship in order that Christ may perform His ministry through the body.



2. Recognize your differences as good thing. (vv. 14-16)

The body needs all the parts to function effectively. Take any part away and disaster strikes. The differences keep the body balanced. The variety of spiritual gifts keeps the church moving in many directions, meeting various needs, touching many lives, and safeguarding against extremes.



The differences allows for shared ministry that prevents from a few being overburdened and overworked. Too often ministries collapse from a few doing everything. They become exhausted, stressed, and burnout. Everyone working together, utilizing their gifts allows for everyone to shoulder the weight of ministry and maintains health. When believers work together using their gifts, the focus is on the Giver of the gifts not the individual gifts. When Christ is glorified people are drawn to Him.



Consider an orchestra. A good orchestra is not made up of just trombone players. Rather, they have a brass section, a woodwind section, a string section, and a percussion section. Each of these has a variety of instruments. Not all of them play at the same time. But they all are needed. Likewise, the church needs an enormous amount of diversity.





II. No One’s Spiritual Gift is Unimportant

1 Corinthians 12:21-22

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.



What’s Paul’s main point here? Understand that each gift is necessary. (vv. 21-22)

• The various gifts, however small and insignificant, and however large and important, are necessary for the church to function properly. A football team requires players of varying size, speed, agility, and type. If every player was sleek as a wide receiver or as large as an offensive lineman, no matter how good they were, the team would not be successful. Likewise, the church requires and needs each member with their varying gifts. Each is necessary and valuable to the functioning of the body.

Why are all the parts of the body necessary?

• Paul likes to compare the body of Christ to the human body, each part having a specific function that’s necessary to the body as a whole. The parts are different for a purpose, and in their differences they must work together.

As Christians, Paul says we must avoid two common errors:

1. Being too proud of our abilities.

2. And thinking we have nothing to offer.




There is no room for inferiority or superiority in the church.

• Both extremes are harmful. We’re not to question our value or the value of others.

What is wrong with being proud of your spiritual gifts?

• Don’t be proud of your gifts, thinking they raise your value or importance in the church.
• Your effectiveness has nothing to do with you, but it has everything to do with the One who gave you that gift! God has planned and gifted every one of us to bring the greatest glory to Himself and the greatest good to the body of Christ. Some Christians in the church are more visible than others. But those who are more private or who like to work behind the scenes are every bit as essential.
• When was the last time you made a big deal about your big toe? Even though we don’t think about it very often, the big toe is crucial to the human body. The first toe is responsible for 40 percent of the foot’s heavy lifting when we walk. Our big toes keep us balanced. Believe it or not, a recruit who is missing a big toe will be disqualified from the military, and someone who loses a big toe typically has to learn to walk again. That’s Paul’s point in verse 22: “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” What’s true for the human body is true for the church. We may not think it’s important to be the “big toe” in the church, but Paul says otherwise.

How do these verses help you understand your place within the church?





III. Using Our Spiritual Gifts Serves Others and Brings Glory to God

1 Peter 4:9-11

9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.


How can we ensure that we use our gifts in a way that glorifies God instead of ourselves?

• Serve as Jesus would serve and speak as He would speak to them. Everything we do must be in an attitude of love. Hospitality is a tangible expression of love, which is why Peter wrote, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (v. 9). Even among non-Christians in the first century, hospitality was simply a common courtesy. God’s people don’t welcome others out of duty; rather, we do it cheerfully, without complaining. That speaks of a joyous and loving attitude.
• Love is expressed in whatever spiritual gift we use. We receive our spiritual gifts by the grace of God. So when we use our gifts in a loving manner—doing so in a way that extends grace to others—we point to the One who has extended grace to us. In Peter’s words, we use our gifts “so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (v. 11).
• Peter recognized what we need to recognize that God has gifted us with gifts to be put to use in serving one another. Believers have a spiritual responsibility to use the gifts to serve others. We serve because it is good stewardship. Spiritual gifts like the money we possess has been given to us by God. They are not ours. Our responsibility is to employ those gifts in service to others. A failure to do so would result in poor stewardship.
• No two people will serve in exactly the same way, but each of us will serve with the gifts God has given us and wherever He’s placed us. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (v. 10)

What are some practical ways to appreciate and celebrate the spiritual gifts of others?





Conclusion: Technically speaking, David Ring was born dead. Quick acting medical personnel were able to get him breathing, but oxygen deprivation left him with cerebral palsy. He suffers from a speech impediment, hands that don’t cooperate and a limp. As a young teenager, David surrendered his life to God and came to see his disability as a gift. Once he began to see his circumstances as being chosen for him by God, he began moving forward. Today he is married, has four beautiful children, drives a car and speaks to more than 250 audiences a year. At his speaking engagements he sells T-shirts bearing the slogan, “Don’t whine…SHINE." Now tell me this…what is your excuse for not putting your spiritual gift to use?

Click Here to Watch

We’ve all received gifts that left us unsatisfied. But your spiritual gifts from God need never drift into that dreaded territory of “it’s the thought that counts.” Your spiritual gifts are both useful and valuable in your context. The next step is up to you.

Prayer of Commitment

Father, I commit myself to serving You, using faithfully the gift You have given me for Your glory. Amen.


Hope to see you this Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan