Gifts

Info

Series: Romans

Title: 15. Gifts Romans 12:3-8 #spiritual_gifts

Preached:

  • 2007-10-06: Atlanta
  • 2007-10-13: Linden
  • 2016-12-03: White Rock Lake

Songs:

  1. 343: “I Will Sing of My Redeemer”
  2. 363: “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service”

Scripture: Romans 12:4-8

  1. Introduction1
  2. Romans 12:3-5: We’re not called to be rugged individualists; we’re called to be a unit
    1. v.3: sober judgment—God has given each of us a place
    2. v.4: There is no universal ministry that everyone is called to
    3. Instead, God has given us different roles, and we aren’t at liberty to neglect them
  3. Spiritual Gifts
    1. v.6: prophesying
      1. Having to do with functioning as a prophet
      2. See 1 Samuel 10:5, 6: The term is also used sometimes to refer to praising God—perhaps musically
    2. v.7: Serving
    3. v.7: Teaching
    4. v.8: Encouraging (ESV: exhorting2)
      1. Greek παρακαλέω
        1. Gloss (Source)
          1. to ask, beg, plead
          2. to comfort, encourage, exhort, urge
          3. to call, invite
        2. Related to παράκλητος
          1. A legal advocate, or, when used of the Holy Spirit, a comforter or helper3
        3. This gift is particularly related to the work of the Holy Spirit in John 16:7-11
    5. v.8: Contributing
    6. v.8: Leadership
    7. v.8: Mercy—caring for those in need4
  4. Equipping gifts vs. serving gifts
    1. The point is, we’re called to use our gifts, whatever they may be

Footnotes

  1. WRL added Christmas information from the intro to When God Gives ↩

  2. Dictionary: exhort: “to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings” ↩

  3. See Bible Hub for some great details, particulary Thayer’s lexicon. See also NET Bible note on John 14:16, where NET renders it Advocate: “Or “Helper” or “Counselor”; Grk “Paraclete,” from the Greek word παράκλητος. Finding an appropriate English translation for παράκλητος is a very difficult task. No single English word has exactly the same range of meaning as the Greek word. “Comforter,” used by some of the older English versions, appears to be as old as Wycliffe. But today it suggests a quilt or a sympathetic mourner at a funeral. “Counselor” is adequate, but too broad, in contexts like “marriage counselor” or “camp counselor.” “Helper” or “Assistant” could also be used, but could suggest a subordinate rank. “Advocate,” the word chosen for this translation, has more forensic overtones than the Greek word does, although in John 16:5-11 a forensic context is certainly present. Because an “advocate” is someone who “advocates” or supports a position or viewpoint and since this is what the Paraclete will do for the preaching of the disciples, it was selected in spite of the drawbacks.” ↩

  4. Dictionary: mercy, def 4: “an act of kindness, compassion, or favor” ↩