We Are Accountable to the Lord

WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LORD

Attitudes in using spiritual gifts

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1. Goal

Church members will have the right attitude when exercising their spiritual gifts.

2. Introduction

On the last day every Christian must give an account to God on how they lived, including how they use their spiritual gifts. Our motives and attitudes are as important when using our spiritual gifts.

Besides fully using our spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ, our attitudes in using them must be biblical. God looks at our hearts, not just our outward actions.

3. Question

What attitudes should we have when using our gifts?

4. Content

These are the right attitudes we should have when using spiritual gifts:

A. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

We must use them with sincere love.

B. 1 Corinthians 14:12, 26 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

Our desire is to build one another up and to edify God’s church.

C. Romans 12:3-6 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. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

We use them in proportion to the level of faith that God gives us.

D. 1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

We want to honor and glorify God.

5. Discussion Questions

A. In the past, what attitudes did you have when you exercised your gifts?

B. From the four attitudes you have just studied, which attitudes do you need to develop? How?

C. Share your experience of seeing the blessings when your brothers or sisters used their gifts with the right motive and attitude.

D. Please share the blessings of last Sunday’s sermon?

6. Memory Verse

1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

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