“What are You Living For?” (Intro to Spiritual Gifts)

UNGAINLY ORCHESTRA

•     ridiculous to force instruments to play against design

CONTEXT: SUFFERING IN A STUMBLING, SIN-PRONE SOCIETY

•    insults, abuse endured on account of Christian beliefs
•    aliens compared to the disobedient who stumble in darkness, driven by desires

ENOUGH TIME LIVING FOR EVIL DESIRES

•    debauchery, lust, drunkenness etc. a waste of life
•    sinful living says ‘give me all you’ve got’ without regard for future
•    Bible definite in predicting we’ll have to give an account at judgment

LEAKING CHRIST: ABSORPTIVE GRACIOUS LOVE

•    arm yourself with same attitude as suffering Jesus - be done with sin
•    live for God’s will: need clear mind to pray
•    ‘stretchy’ love covers a multitude of sins: absorptive, forgiving

ENERGETIC SHARING OF GOD’S GIFTS

•    good stewards of God’s manifold grace share love by exercising our spiritual gifts
•    hospitality - being friendly to stangers
•    speak as though sharing God’s words: teaching, encouraging; no unwholesome talk
•    serve / help: gifts don’t need to be sensational to be supernatural