GIFTED - Week 3

Variety of Gifts

September 12, 2026
GIFTED
BY THE SPIRIT
Discover. Discern. Deploy.
Explore Your Spiritual Gifts

1. Spiritual Gifts Plus - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
A free online Spiritual Gifts assessment connected to Good Shepherd!
Take the Spiritual Gifts Assessment

2. Gifts for You
A Bible study on Spiritual Gifts from Women of the ELCA.
Open the Gifts for You Bible Study

Variety of Gifts
September 13, 2026
Scripture

Romans 12:1–8
Luke 6:12–16
Matthew 10:1–4

The Big Idea
“Jesus cultivated unity of purpose, but diversity of gifts.”
Don't Play “The Clump”

A team where everyone tries to do the same thing isn't very effective.

Neither is a church where everyone is the same

God never intended for every person to think alike, serve alike, or possess the same gifts.

Jesus' Dream Team

Jesus did not call like-minded people.

Among the disciples were Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot—people whose political and ideological worlds were radically different.

Jesus didn't call them by accident. He called them on purpose.”

One Mission. Different People.

“The mission of God always transcends the ideologies of the world.”

Jesus formed people with different backgrounds, perspectives, personalities, and gifts into one community centered around God's mission.

From Comparison to Complement

“God doesn’t give us gifts to compare, but to complement.”

Another person's gift does not diminish yours.

Their gift may be exactly what the Body needs because you do not have it.

“You are essential.
You are not an afterthought to God.”
What Gets in the Way?

1. Undervaluing, comparing, or dismissing the gifts of others

2. Not using our gifts

3. Not knowing our gifts

4. Not knowing how to use our gifts

DISCOVER. DISCERN. DEPLOY.

DISCOVER
Talk about your spiritual gifts with others. What gifts do you already know? What gifts do others see in you?

DISCERN
Pray: God, why have you given me this gift? This passion? Where do you want me to use it?

DEPLOY
Step out in faith. Use the gifts God has given you.

Reflect

What gifts do you already recognize in yourself?

What gifts do you see in someone else?

Where might your gifts and passions meet God's purpose and the world's needs?

Every person matters.
Every gift matters.

Uniquely different.
Moving as one in mission.