Ephesians 4 - Spiritual Gifts

Our Youth Sunday School classes are studying in Ephesians, and Sunday’s lesson was 4:7-16. No, I won’t place the entire lesson here, it covers much more than I wish to address today. I only want to touch upon spiritual gifts.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:7-8 KJV)

Our Youth Pastor passed out a questionnaire Sunday from Ephesians Four Ministries. There are several websites that have such an analysis available for those who seek to best know their gift for serving God. Over the years I’ve taken many such quizzes in the business world. Almost all have told me I’m detail-oriented, that I enjoy research/reporting and I do well in administrating. The jobs I’ve had attest to that.

The Bible shows a number of such gifts, with a few listed here:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:11 KJV)

This is a fulfillment of David’s writings:

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. (Psalms 68:18 KJV)

The analysis has 108 questions That means quite a few answers to give, but it is an interesting array of information. There are three possible answers for each one: Almost Always, Occasionally, Not Very Often. There are no absolutes, for we are not, ourselves.

When you complete the quiz, your name and e-mail address is requested so that you might receive about a five-page printout with your results, an explanation of the results and a comparison with others who have taken the quiz. Here’s the short list of gifts listed – in alphabetical order, not importance: Administration, Discernment, Evangelism, Exhortation, Faith, Giving, Hospitality, Knowledge, Leadership, Mercy, Helps, Teaching, Wisdom.

Why look at these? Why not simply do what comes to mind when a need is recognized? The purpose of these gifts is to be a blessing and work together with the body of Christ and that body functions when the gifts are being used. Each member fulfilling a purpose builds a strong foundation for a church.

Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus, where bickering and fighting were evident. He was being the mature Christian discipling (teaching, training) the new Christians. Without such discipling to aid in Christian growth, we remain as children, prone to bickering when we misunderstand or are misunderstood.

There were two areas that popped to the top in my results: Teaching and evangelism. As you have read through my blog, do you think their results fit:

"As a teacher you are one who communicates knowledge, guides, makes known or relays facts. You are likely more in-depth than the average Sunday school teacher. You have the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by making clear the truth of God's Word with accuracy. As a teacher you live to learn and teach (or perhaps write if you teach through the written medium)."

What’s your gift?