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1 Corinthians 12:1-11
By Judy Kelly

Having just returned from the annual conference session, I was reflecting on the amazing talent of Mark Miller, the music leader, and the beautiful bowls and pitchers done by the two potters who worked throughout a session. Their musical and artistic talents are gifts from God. But the perfection with which they practiced these gifts was something I?m sure they have worked at for years.

Not all of us are exceptionally talented in music or art. However, we all have been blessed with gifts ? gifts from the Holy Spirit. I started wondering just how our lives, our church and our world could be changed if each of us put as much effort into developing our spiritual gifts as we do our skills and talents.

Paul?s letter to the Corinthians outlines some of the gifts of the Spirit, and many others are found throughout Scripture. We are familiar with some gifts, such as teaching and serving; but others, like discernment, encouraging and prophesy, are not as well known.

It?s not difficult to determine one?s spiritual gifts. There are a multitude of gift assessments that have been developed over the years. Which one I use doesn?t seem to matter. I?ve found, after taking seven or eight of them over the years, that the outcomes are pretty consistent. Gift surveys can be taken individually or, more helpfully, in a group setting that can go deeper into the uses and development of gifts.

Some of the outcomes are amazing. In one class I led, a participant started jumping up and down at her seat exclaiming, 'So that?s what it is!'

She had been called to use her gift for years, but since it was not culturally 'accepted' she tried to ignore it. On another occasion, a small-group member investigating spiritual gifts was able to so well define her gifts that she changed her career.

Use of our spiritual gifts is not a solitary task. Paul advises that we are to lovingly and joyfully put our gifts together with others and their gifts to uplift the Body of Christ, specifically in our congregations, but also in our communities and among all to whom we are called to minister.

God endows each of us with gifts to equip and empower the whole Body of Christ and to accomplish what God wants done in the world. Once we have discovered our strengths and powers from God, we need to remember that they are not ours to keep, but ours to give away, to use for service.

To get started, check out the resources on Spiritual Gifts online or through Christian booksellers. Three very good programs are 'Spirit Gifts' by Patricia D. Brown; 'Discovering God?s Vision for Your Life' by Kenneth C. Haugk (through Stephen Ministries), and 'Serving From the Heart' from Abingdon Press.

Judy Kelly is pastor of Tom?s Creek UMC in Emmitsburg.

Spiritual Gifts:
Administration
Apostleship
Compassion
Discernment
Evangelism
Exhortation
Faith
Giving
Healing
Helping
Knowledge
Leadership
Miracles
Prophecy
Servanthood
Shepherding
Teaching
Tongues
Wisdom

Devotional

Celebrate: In a circle prayer time, either in a small group or even during worship this week, encourage disciples to offer prayers of thanksgiving for the gifts they see manifested in the lives of other disciples. Sing a rousing hymn of thanks as you close this time of prayer.

Develop: Find out why the Corinthian church was arguing over gifts. Compare the dispute in the Corinthian church with a dispute among the faithful of your congregation. What are the similarities? How might you encourage healing, based on Paul?s advice and care for the Corinthians?

Serve: Use your gifts!

Share: Share with a new believer how God has invited you to use your gifts and how you feel when you answer the invitation.