November 2007 “Getting More”
Stewardship Series – “Talent Show”
Romans 12:1-8
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – November 4, 2007
Prayer Introduction: When Jen and I moved to Florida to begin Seminary we began attending various churches in order to find a church home. On four successive Sundays we attended 4 different churches that happened to be their Stewardship Sunday. Here we were, poor seminary students, and we heard 4 straight stewardship sermons. “I would love to give money, but I ain’t got any.”
Of course, God’s command that we be good stewards extends beyond just money. We are to be good stewards of the gospel of Jesus Christ, through our God-given Time, Talents and Money.
Three things
we wish we had more of: Time, Talents and Money. In November, instead of looking
at what God’s Word says about giving, we are going to look at what God’s Word
says about “Getting More: Time, Talents and Money.” This
morning we are going to look at what God’s Word says about getting more Talents
– particularly in
READ
I. Gifts & Talents (vv.1-2)
We need to begin with a brief overview of what is generally called “spiritual gifts.” This doesn’t mean your cheap out-of-town aunt who doesn’t buy you gifts, but says “I’m with you in spirit.”
Spiritual gifts are talked about extensively in 3 places in the Bible.
A. There are three different kinds of gifts:
Teaching/Leadership Gifts
Apostle; Prophet (!); Evangelist; Pastor/Teacher (!); Administration; Leadership
Faith; Knowledge; Wisdom; Exhortation/Encouraging; Discernment
Service Gifts:
Service/Helping; Giving; Mercy; Hospitality
Authentication Gifts:
Tongues; Interpretation of Tongues; Miracles; Healing (which ceased after the apostolic age, having thoroughly authenticated the teaching – though some believe these continue)
B. The Fruit of the Spirit is not Spiritual Gifts:
Spiritual Gifts also need to be differentiated from the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23):
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
All of the Fruit of the Spirit is given to all believers in redemption, and are developed as the believer grows in faith. Not all of the Spiritual Gifts are given to all believers.
Also, there is a difference between the “love, joy, peace, etc.” of the natural man (i.e. lost sinner) and that of the spiritual man (i.e. saved saint).
When most people talk about their “gifts” they are referring to their natural gifts – a.k.a. Talents.
Athletic; Musical; Artistic; Mechanical; Cooking; Organizing; Humor; Visioning; Counseling; Warrior; Teaching; Leader; Speaking; Writing
C. Natural Gifts are not Spiritual Gifts:
All “good” gifts, talents, abilities, etc. are given by God; but Natural Gifts are not given in connection with the justification and sanctification of the Holy Spirit in applying the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ. In other words: only Christians have Spiritual Gifts, everybody has Natural Gifts.
D. Spiritual Gifts are Spiritual Gifts:
And God’s Word is very clear that everyone (Christians) has them (spiritual gifts) to glorify God.
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Notice how our passage begins: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”
We are to offer our natural talents and spiritual gifts – our bodies and souls (our whole self) – to God as a spiritual act of worship. Our natural talents are often connected to our spiritual gifts. No longer are they natural gifts, they have been transformed.
Verse 2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
The person who has natural musical abilities is transformed by the Holy Spirit, and those talents become utilized in the spiritual gift of teaching, leadership or service. We have tremendous musical talent in this congregation that is beautifully sanctified to glorify God. From the organists and the choir, to the special music of both students & adults and the voices of the congregation making a joyful noise to the Lord.
Compare that to the natural musical talent that is unsanctified. The world is filled with incredible talent that is wasted, because it doesn’t know the Lord.
The world would say, “Sandy Buhler is no Brittney Spears;” but let me tell you, “Brittney Spears is no Sandy Buhler.” Amen?!
II. According to Grace (v.3,6)
The difference is in God’s grace – According to Grace. As the Apostle Paul says in verse 3, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
God’s grace spurs a humility that brings out the pure beauty of our natural talents and spiritual gifts. There are a lot of words you can use to describe professional athletes, singers, actors and other celebrities – but humility isn’t one of the words that come to mind.
There are the wonderful exceptions, and they stand out powerfully because of it.
{There have been all kinds of reports about a revival that is happening among the players for the Detroit Lions. Now that’s something to cheer about.}
Look at the first sentence of verse 6: “We have different gifts according to the grace given us.” The Greek word there for gifts is charismata – from which we get the English word “charismatic.” The Charismatic movement wrongly interprets and applies God’s Word about spiritual gifts. Some teach a form of Second-Class Christianity, where they might say, “You have Christ, but we have the Holy Spirit.”
“We have different gifts according to the grace given us.” This doesn’t mean that some people get more grace than others. It means that God’s grace is the source of God’s gifts.
Now hear it
comes. Are you ready? We are able to get more gifts and talents by growing in
grace. In
Not only does God permit us to get more gifts, he graciously commands it. Sometimes we can look at ourselves and say, “I’ll just never be as gifted as that person.” God looks at us and says, “You wanna bet?!”
God looks at us and says, “Draw near to me. Come to the throne of grace, and get more gifts; sanctify your talents.”
We can acquire new gifts and develop the gifts we already have, by growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
There are some people who are naturally gifted teachers and leaders. But even for them to be useful to the church – those natural gifts need to be transformed by the saving grace of God.
That same grace can be given to a person who was not naturally gifted – but are supernaturally gifted by they grace of God.
The best teachers I had in my church growing up were not teachers by trade. They were accountants, and assembly line workers; mothers and mechanics.
While some of the worst leaders were those who were merely natural leaders – and tried to lead the church the way they led their business. The church is not a business. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a product.
Each of us is born with some natural talents; but when we are born again by the water and the Spirit – by the grace of God through the sacrifice of Christ – we receive spiritual gifts, and our natural talents can be sanctified to glorify God and edify the church. And we can get more gifts by growing in the grace and knowledge of God.
After watching Jen’s mime program Friday night someone said, “I wish I knew the Bible like she does.” Jen & I said together, “You can.”
Growing in grace is not a passive activity. Getting more gifts comes by actively engaging in the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, worship, service, etc.
III. The Gifted Body (vv. 4-8)
And when we bring this together we see The Gifted Body of Christ. Verses 4-8 refers to the church as the body, with different parts having different gifts, but all belonging to each other.
Each one of us gets more gifts, by sharing in the gifts of others. One person has the gift of teaching, and lots of people are blessed by that gift. One person has the gift of serving, and lots of people receive the benefit of that gift. One person has the gift of giving generously, and the lots of people benefit.
What is your gift?
What are your gifts? How are you using them chiefly to glorify God and to edify
the church? Again,
The Lord has given
us everything we need – not to each of us – but to all of us, together. In
Let me close by reminding us of the old adage: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Have you ever noticed that each of us sings louder and stronger, when all of us are singing louder and stronger? That each of us serves more when all of us are serving more? That each of us gives more when all of us are giving more.
Who among us will get that ball rolling?
Get more gifts by (1) growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ – and by (2) sharing those gifts, in love, with the Body of Christ.
MAY THE TRUTH SET US FREE – AMEN!