1. Think Of Yourself Soberly**
Romans 12:3 (NASB), “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”
• “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.” - Thomas Merton
• An authentic church is free of a disease called, “comparisonitis” – measuring our worth by comparing ourselves to others.
**2. Function in the Church Interdependently **
Romans 12:4, “For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.”
• Michael Bird, “It is important that we remember that we are part of a larger organism. We are not just a group of individuals each doing our own thing.”
**3. Use Your Gifts Properly **
Romans 12:6, “However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
• “Properly” captures the context of this whole passage (Romans 12:1-8)
• First, we receive God’s Mercies.
• Then, then we get God’s Mind.
• Then, we know God’s Will.
• Then we use our gifts properly, with humility (not pridefully).
• Dysfunction in the church happens when gifts come before grace, when talent comes without transformation, and when works come without worship.
CONCLUSION: How do I find my Spiritual Gift?
Answer: The Romans 12:1-8 way:
1. Receive the mercies of God in the Gospel.
2. Offer our bodies to God as living sacrifices. 12:1
3. Renew our minds and know God’s will. 12:2
4. Think of ourselves soberly. 12:3
5. Function in the church interdependently. 12:3-4
6. Begin using our gifts properly. 12:6-8
7. Find our gifts, or our gifts will find us!
One final word:
“For those who are spiritually gifted, it is vital that they nurture humility in themselves. Otherwise their giftedness is not an offering to God or a tool for growing the church; instead, it becomes an idol to the cult of self.” - Michael Bird
