Romans 12: Use Your Gifts

Romans 12: Use Your Gifts

Romans 12:4-11 NLT

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 9 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

1. We are many parts of one body.

• Each part has a special function.

Function - an activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing.

Functionality - the quality of being suited to serve a purpose well; practicality. (Practical, useful, plain, simple, serviceable, effective, operative.)

Dysfunctional - not operating normally or properly.

(Broken, debilitated, decayed, defective, deteriorated, inhibited, maladjusted, malfunctioned, sick, undermined, unfit, wounded.)

Romans 12:6

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

• You must define the gift that God has given to you for the body of Christ.

• Nobody is gift-less.

Romans 12:7-8

If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

2. Serving, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, Leading, Kindness.

• Serving – (diakonia) which means attendance as a servant, minister, assistant/administrator, which is where we get the word deacon.

  
  

• Teaching – (didasko) To impart instruction, to explain or expound, to hold discourse with others to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses.

  
  

• Encouraging – (parakaleō) Comfort, exhort, pray, to encourage, strengthen.

  
  

• Giving – (metadidōmi) to give over, share: —give, impart. (Generously – bountiful with liberty)

  
  

• Leading – (proistēmi) to stand before, (in rank) to preside, or (by implication) to practice: —maintain, be over, rule, to care for.

  
  

• Kindness/Showing Mercy – (eleeō) to help one afflicted or seeking aid to help the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched.

Romans 12:9-11

Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

3. Don’t be a Pretender.

Pretend – unfeigned, undisguised, sincere-without dissimulation. (Hypocrisy)

• Being a person of character and integrity means you are what you proclaim to be, this is why Paul says, never be lazy but work hard!

Serve the Lord enthusiastically!

• Another word is fervently – (zeō) Zeal for what is good.