Summary

In this sermon, Kent explores the concept of the church as the body of Christ, emphasizing that every believer has been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit for the common good. Drawing from Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, he walks through a list of spiritual gifts, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, and mercy. His central point is that when any part of the body fails to operate in its God-given gifting, the entire body suffers, much like a physical body that struggles when one part stops working properly. Kent also shares a personal story of pride and spiritual burnout from his early ministry years, when He began relying on His own abilities rather than the Holy Spirit. This led him to the brink of walking away from his faith entirely, until a moment of repentance and return to Scripture restored him. He challenges the congregation to move past ego, whether rooted in fear or pride, and to step into their spiritual gifts so that God can work through them to reveal Himself to the world around them.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before you today as your body, your called-out people. We ask that you open our hearts and minds to what you want to speak to each of us individually. Help us to set aside our pride, our fear, and our distractions, and to truly hear your voice. Show us how you have uniquely gifted us, and give us the courage to step into those gifts for the good of others. May this time together draw us closer to you and to one another. In Jesus' name, amen.

Ice Breaker

What is one thing you are naturally good at that other people often come to you for help with?

Key Verses

• Romans 12:6-8
• 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Questions

• Kent described the church as the 'body of Christ' and said that when one part does not function, the whole body suffers. Have you ever experienced a time when someone stepped up in their gifting and it made a real difference in your life or community?
• Kent said that God primarily works through people who have surrendered their will to His. What does it look like practically to say 'not my will, but yours' in your everyday life?
• Looking at the list of spiritual gifts from Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, which one or two gifts do you think might describe how God has wired you? What makes you think that?
• Kent suggested that if you struggle to identify your own gifts, you should think about what the people closest to you would say about you. What do you think the people who know you best would say your greatest strengths are?
• Kent shared that ego, whether expressed as pride or fear, is the number one thing that keeps people from living out their spiritual gifts. Which of those two tendencies do you relate to more, and why?
• Kent told a story about a season when he stopped relying on the Holy Spirit and began depending on His own abilities. Have you ever experienced a season where you drifted from dependence on God? What brought you back?
• Kent made the point that salvation is the entry point into discipleship, not the end goal. How has your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus grown or changed since you first came to faith?
• What is one specific way you could begin using your spiritual gift to serve others in your church or community this week?

Life Application

This week, take some time to prayerfully reflect on how God has uniquely gifted you. Ask a trusted friend or family member what strengths they see in you, and consider how those strengths might connect to a spiritual gift. Then take one concrete step toward using that gift to serve someone else, whether that means signing up for a ministry, reaching out to someone in need, or simply making yourself available to God and saying, 'Not my will, but yours.'

Key Takeaways

• Every believer has been uniquely gifted by the Holy Spirit, and those gifts are given not for personal benefit but for the common good of the body of Christ.
• When any member of the body of Christ fails to operate in their spiritual gifts, the entire body is weakened and others pay the price.
• God primarily works in the world through surrendered followers of Jesus who say 'not my will, but yours,' making discipleship far more than just a one-time decision for salvation.
• Ego, whether rooted in pride or fear, is the primary obstacle that keeps believers from stepping into and maturing in their God-given gifts.
• Returning to dependence on God and His Word restores what pride and self-reliance take away, and it is never too late to come back to Him.

Ending Prayer

Lord, thank you for the time we have shared together today. Thank you for the reminder that you have not left us without purpose or without gifts. Forgive us for the times we have hidden those gifts out of fear, or held them back out of pride. We ask that you would stir something in each of us this week, a holy restlessness that moves us toward the role you have designed for us in your body. Help us to surrender our egos, trust your Spirit, and step boldly into the gifts you have placed within us. May our lives be a window through which others catch a glimpse of who you are. In Jesus' name, amen.