The topic of this book is spiritual gifts, but gifts should never be studied in a vacuum as if they are a curious phenomenon to be discussed, debated, and then dissected and discarded. The topic of gifts should never frighten the believer since our Father can only give good gifts. But gifts should never be sought with selfish desire for self-aggrandizement as if they are evidence of spiritual ascendancy. While there is a great deal of interest—both fascination and fear—concerning spiritual gifts, they are not an end in themselves. We are to seek the Giver and not the gift.

Gifts are not given to people for their amusement or for the amazement of their friends and neighbors.

Gifts prove nothing about the spirituality of the believer but everything about the graciousness of the Giver.

Gifts have a singular purpose. They enable us to participate in the advancement of God’s kingdom to the ends of the earth in preparation for the return of the King.

Spiritual gifts are always given and exercised in the larger context of the church. They enable us to edify other members of the body of Christ and to evangelize those still waiting to enter the kingdom.

Gifts have a singular purpose. They enable us to participate in the advancement of God’s kingdom to the ends of the earth in preparation for the return of the King.

Gifts are the manifestation of the grace of God and thus distributed by His royal design. Gifted persons are the gift of the resurrected King to His church, enabling it boldly and effectively to advance His kingdom. They are the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Helper sent by the Father, who enables us to advance the kingdom through His supernatural empowering.

Gifts are an expression of God’s love and thus are to be studied, sought, and used with His eternal purpose in mind.

The church is the chosen instrument of the King—gifted with the keys of the kingdom, empowered by the Spirit, and tasked with the discipling of the nations. Thus it is critical for us to study spiritual gifts in the context of the emerging New Testament church. We will begin with one of the earliest churches founded by Paul and move sequentially as we study the churches at Corinth, Rome, and Ephesus. I pray that you will find the study enlightening, inspirational, and transformational. This study is not intended simply to inform you concerning spiritual gifts. It is designed to help you discover and employ your gifts for the pleasure of the King.

Ken Hemphill, You Are Gifted (Nashville, TN: B&H Educational, 2009).

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