The Spiritual Gifts

01 - Giving & Hospitality

July 21, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

Inasmuch as the spiritual gifts are graces from God meant for the edification of the Church, they have also been, and continue to be, the source of controversy. Sadly, far too many churches stand divided over the practice and purpose of the spiritual gifts. In addition to theological confusion, some Christians admit to being uninformed, if not insecure, about their own God-given talents. As a result, they find it challenging to know where and how to plug-in to their local assembly. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

02 - Leadership & Administration

July 28, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

The success of the local church and all its various ministries rises and falls with its leadership and administration and those whom God has gifted. The more skillful, humble, and effective the leadership and the more organized the administration the better the organization will run and the more potential it will have for growth. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

03 - Wisdom & Knowledge

August 4, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

God has given all Christians spiritual gifts so that we can learn to submit ourselves and our resources to the good the church. That is to say, the Holy Spirit has not gifted believers for the purposes of self-realization, self-actualization, or self-expression. Rather, He’s gifted each believer, without exception and without distinction, for the common good of the church, both local and universal. And two of the more important but often underrated gifts are wisdom and knowledge. But what distinguishes these gifts from each other? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

04 - Service & Helps

August 11, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

Every Christian has been given a spiritual gift, the purpose of which is to build up the Body of Christ. Among the 24 gifts given to the church indiscriminately by the Holy Spirit are the gifts of service and helps--to gifts that often go hand-in-hand with one another. But what exactly is the difference between the two? In short, the gift of service tends to be more practical in manifestation whereas the gift of helps is more spiritual. But what exactly does that mean in terms of application? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

05 - Pastoring & Teaching

September 1, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

We define the gift of pastoring as the ability to spiritually care for, protect, guide, feed, counsel, and disciple a group of believers who have been entrusted to our care and oversight. The spiritual gift of teaching, however, has everything to do with the God-given ability to understand and communicate biblical truth in a clear and relevant manner so that there is understanding and application in the Christian life. The two gifts, though often associated with one another, are not one and the same. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

06 - Discernment & Exhortation

September 8, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

As with all spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit gives the gift of discernment to build up the Body of Christ and to minister to others. The gift is given to certain believers in the church to enable them to be on guard against the shenanigans of Satan, standing watch like a watchman waits for the dawn (cf. Psa. 130:6). Similarly, the gift of exhortation is synonymous with encouragement. It simply means to come alongside someone with words of comfort, consolation, and counsel to help them be all God wants them to be. It involves motivating, inspiring, and reassuring others in ways that help them to mature in their walk with Christ. Do these gifts describe your spiritual talents? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

07 - Faith & Mercy

September 15, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

Faith, or faithfulness, is the gift of God as well as a fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a believer (cf. Gal. 5:22-23). Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ does so simply because they have been gifted by God to do so. Yet, we also learn that there is in fact a difference between the gift of saving faith and the spiritual gift of practical, day-to-day living faith. Moreover, those with the spiritual gift of mercy are quick to roll up their sleeves, out of sympathy and empathy, to comfort someone in crisis. Do these gift seem especially relevant to you? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

08 - Apostleship & Missionary

September 22, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

The Great Commission is a command to bring unbelievers throughout the world to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. So when a sinner becomes a believer, he therefore becomes Christ’s disciple. And when he becomes Christ’s disciple, he therefore becomes his instrument for making disciples of all nations. And two spiritual gifts that God has given His church to accomplish this task are the gifts of apostleship and missionary. But what exactly does that mean in the day in age in which we live where the apostolic office no longer exists? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

09 - Evangelism & Prophecy

September 29, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

In the same way that God has given gifts of apostleship and missionary to certain believers in the Church (so that the Church can fulfill her Great Commission) so God has also given the gifts of Evangelism & Prophecy to the Church to supplement the work of an apostle and missionary. Biblically, to evangelize means to "bring the good news" and "prophecy" implies the proclamation of God's Word (foretelling or forth-telling)--two gifts essential to the growth of the Church. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

10 - Celibacy & Singleness

October 6, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

To be celibate means to abstain from sex. And to be single means to abstain from marriage. Therefore, the gift(s) of celibacy and singleness is the God-given ability to abstain from sexual impulses (so as to live a life without distraction in full service to the Lord) and the God-given ability to willingly, knowingly, and voluntarily remain unmarried without regret. Do these gifts apply to you? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

11 Tongues & Interpretation

October 13, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

The debate today concerning speaking in tongues has morphed over the years. Early on, it was about salvation vs. demon possession. (One side argued that you had to speak in tongues to get saved while the other side argued that anyone who spoke in tongues was demon-possessed). Today, the debate around speaking in tongues is about scholarship vs. experience. It’s scholasticism vs. esotericism. And at the center of the debate are three questions: (1) What is the gift of speaking in tongues? (2) What is its purpose? And (3) Does it still exist today? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

12 - Miracles & Healing

October 20, 2013 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

In Reformed theology the belief in miracles is based on the conviction that God sovereignly and freely controls His world. However, when it comes to miracle-working and tongue-talking, well-meaning Christians have disagreed, and continue to disagree, on whether or not God still gives these gifts today. While there is universal agreement behind their purpose (i.e. to prove that the gospel was true and that the apostles were truly God’s messengers), disagreements abound today concerning their relevance. So, what does the Bible say about it? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann seeks to depose the mysteries, as well as expose the controversies and explore the purpose, behind each of the twenty-four spiritual gifts.

BridgeWay Christian Church

Discovering Your God-Given Talents