Comments on: How do I discover my spiritual gift? http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/ Thu, 23 May 2013 23:33:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Herbie http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-5309 Herbie Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:47:24 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-5309 This is an interesting post! Seems the focus here is on the "what" and not the "who" if you're searching . . . looking for a gift. Not bad in and of itself but shouldn't we focus on the giver! I know many of us, includeded, misrepresent the "fruit of the spirit" as actual qualities Christian's should possess when in fact they are not. Again, focused on something besides the giver. God gives "spiritual gifts". Isn't it rational to think He'd put them where HE wanted them and when versus me looking for my gift and then using it where and when I want! Show yourself approved through Bible study, Prayer, and unleashed action and God will show Himself in your gift! I've never received a Christmas gift without first going to the tree . . . where the GIVER put it! This is an interesting post! Seems the focus here is on the "what" and not the "who" if you're searching . . . looking for a gift. Not bad in and of itself but shouldn't we focus on the giver! I know many of us, includeded, misrepresent the "fruit of the spirit" as actual qualities Christian's should possess when in fact they are not. Again, focused on something besides the giver. God gives "spiritual gifts". Isn't it rational to think He'd put them where HE wanted them and when versus me looking for my gift and then using it where and when I want!

Show yourself approved through Bible study, Prayer, and unleashed action and God will show Himself in your gift! I've never received a Christmas gift without first going to the tree . . . where the GIVER put it!

]]> By: “What is My Spiritual Gift?” The Wrong Question to Ask by Juan Sanchez « Jared Moore http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-3245 “What is My Spiritual Gift?” The Wrong Question to Ask by Juan Sanchez « Jared Moore Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:49:22 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-3245 [...] can read the rest of Sanchez’s article here.  To summarize, if you really want to know and understand what your spritual gift is, get off your [...] [...] can read the rest of Sanchez’s article here.  To summarize, if you really want to know and understand what your spritual gift is, get off your [...]

]]> By: Serving Outside of Your Spiritual Gifts | TOTALLY FREE CHRISTIAN DATING SITES http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-3158 Serving Outside of Your Spiritual Gifts | TOTALLY FREE CHRISTIAN DATING SITES Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:00:15 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-3158 [...] Juan Sanchez at The Gospel Coalition. Sanchez writes that the question we should be focusing on is “How can I serve the body?” rather than “What are my spiritual gifts?” His point is that once we know what our [...] [...] Juan Sanchez at The Gospel Coalition. Sanchez writes that the question we should be focusing on is “How can I serve the body?” rather than “What are my spiritual gifts?” His point is that once we know what our [...]

]]> By: How Does One Discover His/Her Spiritual Gift « Chap's Blog for the Shepherds of New Cov http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-2941 How Does One Discover His/Her Spiritual Gift « Chap's Blog for the Shepherds of New Cov Thu, 20 May 2010 19:58:11 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-2941 [...] May 20, 2010 · Leave a Comment From the Gospel Coalition [...] [...] May 20, 2010 · Leave a Comment From the Gospel Coalition [...]

]]> By: Latest Links | blog of dan http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-2863 Latest Links | blog of dan Tue, 11 May 2010 19:54:20 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-2863 [...] How do I discover my spiritual gift? [...] [...] How do I discover my spiritual gift? [...]

]]> By: Saturday Links — DashHouse.com http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-2845 Saturday Links — DashHouse.com Sat, 08 May 2010 09:03:02 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-2845 [...] “How do I discover my spiritual gift?” may be the wrong question [...] [...] “How do I discover my spiritual gift?” may be the wrong question [...]

]]> By: Andrew Faris http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-2842 Andrew Faris Fri, 07 May 2010 22:41:31 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-2842 Josh, I actually agree with everything you've said. Yes- worship through serving! Yes- serve the body! Those are clearly biblical. My suggestion is that these point us to a different theology of gifts altogether. We think of spiritual gifts as internal spiritual <i>abilities</i>, but I'd say the Bible actually identifies the gift as the <i>ministry</i> itself- not the ability to do the ministry. The thing is, if I do have an internal spiritual ability, then why shouldn't I want to know what it is? Even if the Bible doesn't tell us how to figure them out, if I have that kind of power, shouldn't I want to know how to use it? So yes, you've emphasized here the Biblical concept in one way. Follow that thought back to its textual foundations (a good way to start is by checking out those links I gave) and rethink what a spiritual gift actually <i>is</i>. Andrew Faris <a href="http://www.christiansincontext.org" rel="nofollow">Christians in Context</a> Josh,

I actually agree with everything you've said. Yes- worship through serving! Yes- serve the body! Those are clearly biblical.

My suggestion is that these point us to a different theology of gifts altogether. We think of spiritual gifts as internal spiritual abilities, but I'd say the Bible actually identifies the gift as the ministry itself- not the ability to do the ministry.

The thing is, if I do have an internal spiritual ability, then why shouldn't I want to know what it is? Even if the Bible doesn't tell us how to figure them out, if I have that kind of power, shouldn't I want to know how to use it?

So yes, you've emphasized here the Biblical concept in one way. Follow that thought back to its textual foundations (a good way to start is by checking out those links I gave) and rethink what a spiritual gift actually is.

Andrew Faris
Christians in Context

]]> By: Josh Harpole http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-2841 Josh Harpole Fri, 07 May 2010 21:38:50 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-2841 Brother Andrew, Though you do have a valid point...that we should seek to find out what The Holy Spirit has gifted us with. I don't see how serving the body without knowing what your gift IS, is the wrong reason? Maybe I'm miss understanding you ? Sorry if I am. Isn't the purpose of the gifts for the building up of the body for the glory of Christ the head? If this is the case, than knowing it isn't actual reason, worship in service is! I have not found a test of spiritual gifts in the scriptures yet, and if knowing them was as important as serving the body (all over in the scriptures)I am sure one of the apostles would have gladly included it...maybe in 1Corinthians. Seeking out our spiritual gifts can easily become self worship! Many time distracting us from our very purpose of which the Gift from God was given! I would have to agree with Brother Sanchez on this one. Maybe I've missed the point here, Sorry if I did! In Christ ,Josh Brother Andrew, Though you do have a valid point...that we should seek to find out what The Holy Spirit has gifted us with. I don't see how serving the body without knowing what your gift IS, is the wrong reason? Maybe I'm miss understanding you ? Sorry if I am. Isn't the purpose of the gifts for the building up of the body for the glory of Christ the head? If this is the case, than knowing it isn't actual reason, worship in service is! I have not found a test of spiritual gifts in the scriptures yet, and if knowing them was as important as serving the body (all over in the scriptures)I am sure one of the apostles would have gladly included it...maybe in 1Corinthians.

Seeking out our spiritual gifts can easily become self worship! Many time distracting us from our very purpose of which the Gift from God was given!

I would have to agree with Brother Sanchez on this one. Maybe I've missed the point here, Sorry if I did!

In Christ ,Josh

]]> By: Andrew Faris http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-2837 Andrew Faris Fri, 07 May 2010 00:30:11 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-2837 The problem here is that given the normal understanding of what a spiritual gift actually is, there is no reason we ought not try to discover them, through tests or whatever other method. If a spiritual gift is something like a spiritual superpower (and I do think that's a fair summary of the standard gifts theology), shouldn't I want to know what mine is? The better approach is to rethink the nature of a spiritual gift in general. Ken Berding (whom I interviewed <a href="http://www.christiansincontext.org/2009/01/interview-with-ken-berding-about-what.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, though pardon the messed-up spacing) has argued in his <i>What Are Spiritual Gifts?</i> (which I've reviewed <a href="http://www.christiansincontext.org/2009/01/review-of-ken-berdings-what-are.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>) that we should actually think of a gift not as the <i>ability</i> to do ministry, but as the ministry itself. And I totally agree with him. I would suggest that the biblical case for this is locked down by Berding- it's honestly one of the most bullet-proof books about Bible interpretation I've ever read. Consider, for one thing, that the contemporary understanding of spiritual gifts didn't even rear its ceaselessly introspective head until the 1970's or so. So back to the original point of the post, even considering the practical issues that you mention, if I have some kind of spiritual ability given by the Holy Spirit, why would I not want to know what it is and serve out of it? That logical connection is one that really is difficult to disprove. Does it really seem right to tell everyone that they have spiritual gifts but that they shouldn't try to find out what they are? It's quite a bit like saying to your kids at Christmas: "Here's a present kids- but don't unwrap it. Just know you have it and enjoy the other stuff you have already." Funny thing is, if Berding is right, then the advice you give here actually turns out to be the right advice for the wrong reasons. Andrew Faris <a href="http://www.christiansincontext.org" rel="nofollow">Christians in Context</a> The problem here is that given the normal understanding of what a spiritual gift actually is, there is no reason we ought not try to discover them, through tests or whatever other method. If a spiritual gift is something like a spiritual superpower (and I do think that's a fair summary of the standard gifts theology), shouldn't I want to know what mine is?

The better approach is to rethink the nature of a spiritual gift in general. Ken Berding (whom I interviewed here, though pardon the messed-up spacing) has argued in his What Are Spiritual Gifts? (which I've reviewed here) that we should actually think of a gift not as the ability to do ministry, but as the ministry itself. And I totally agree with him.

I would suggest that the biblical case for this is locked down by Berding- it's honestly one of the most bullet-proof books about Bible interpretation I've ever read. Consider, for one thing, that the contemporary understanding of spiritual gifts didn't even rear its ceaselessly introspective head until the 1970's or so.

So back to the original point of the post, even considering the practical issues that you mention, if I have some kind of spiritual ability given by the Holy Spirit, why would I not want to know what it is and serve out of it? That logical connection is one that really is difficult to disprove. Does it really seem right to tell everyone that they have spiritual gifts but that they shouldn't try to find out what they are? It's quite a bit like saying to your kids at Christmas: "Here's a present kids- but don't unwrap it. Just know you have it and enjoy the other stuff you have already."

Funny thing is, if Berding is right, then the advice you give here actually turns out to be the right advice for the wrong reasons.

Andrew Faris
Christians in Context

]]> By: Russ http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/05/06/how-do-i-discover-my-spiritual-gift/#comment-2836 Russ Thu, 06 May 2010 22:49:54 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=2590#comment-2836 Great post! I am so glad you told us to start by looking at what the church needs and not with looking for something that looks fun. Thanks. Great post! I am so glad you told us to start by looking at what the church needs and not with looking for something that looks fun. Thanks.

]]>