Sermon (June 12) - Gifts for All (Pastor Cheryl Foulk)

There is an old folk tale called Stone Soup. Strangers come to a village and are hungry but no one wants to feed them. In fact, the villagers have hidden their food away. The strangers then announce that they would like to make stone soup. This stirs the curiosity of the villagers. The visitors to the village say that if they only had a large pot and some water, they could make the stone soup. The cauldron was filled with water and three stones were put inside. A fire was built. The strangers tasted the broth and said that the soup was ok but it would be better if they could have a few carrots.  A woman brought some carrots and they were added. Then they said if we only had some cabbage...some beef...some potatoes..some barley...some milk. If these were added, what a fine stone soup it would be! Each villager brings out what they have to share. At the end, they have a wonderful stew with plenty for the strangers and for the whole village. It was delicious because everyone had a part. Imagine, and all from three stones!

God has brought us together as a church family and has designed our community so that we need each other and the gifts that we each have. We become a wonderful spirit soup together.  Everything that we need to be God's faithful energized people is  here.

On this day of Pentecost it is exciting to  to consider our spiritual gifts. In the N.T. Paul, in several of his letters, mentions spiritual gifts that persons (who are part of the church family) have received.  A spiritual gift is  an unique ability given by God so that we can serve in love. The gifts are given to us  to help strengthen the church itself and to reach out to the world. References to gifts of the Spirit can be found in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, I Corinthians 12, and I Peter 4.  If the gifts that Paul mentions are compiled, you usually get a list of around 20. If you consider all the ways that the Spirit has empowered people in the Scriptures, the list would be even more extensive.  There are many ways that God's Spirit is being expressed in our lives. You may have read through these passages in the past and  thought:”That doesn't sound like me,  I'm not an apostle, or a prophet.” I would like for you to reconsider: Each one of us has been given at least one gift. You have been given something of value- unique, expressed as only you can express it with your personality, your abilities, your history. We are given the tools necessary to build the Kingdom.

It is as if God wants something to be done on this earth, and you have been chosen to see that it happens. I want to emphasize this: you have a key role in  God's plans.

In considering Paul's lists,I want to mention some of the 20 gifts just by name and then define some of the others. Do you recognize your abilities as I read them?

Administration,Apostle,Discernment, Evangelism,Healing, Knowledge, Missionary, Music,Shepherding, Prophecy, Teaching.

Let's  look at some of the other gifts more closely.  All of these gifts are vital for our  church family and ministry.

Gift of encouragement:  To stand by, urge onward, to comfort, to support

Gift of faith: Looks to God for great things regardless of circumstances- has hope for the future

Gift of craftsmanship: Praises God and encourages belief through creativity, the arts,

construction, crafts,etc.

Gift of giving: to share liberally with joy.

We were introduced to a young girl at Annual Conference,Kara Russell,  of Lima, Ohio, 5^th. grader.  She has been supporting Grace Children's Hospital in Haiti since she was a preschooler. {Grace Children's Hospital (begun in 1967) treats children with TB, Aids, malnutrition}  The hospital was heavily damaged in the hurricane last year. This child raises money throughout the year by making Christmas ornaments and chocolate lollipops. ( I bought two to show you but they were melting so I had to eat them!) At Conference,she is on stage in front of several thousand people

holding zip-lock bags full of bills and change. She apologizes that she didn't get to raise as much money this year because her family went through a move. She announced that she had earned over $1000 thru her projects for Grace Children's Hospital.

I would say that she  certainly has the gift of giving;  there are no age barriers on having spiritual gifts. Children can express their gifts as well as those in nursing facilities. I have known people who were confined to bed and still expressed their gifts of encouragement, intercession, faith.

Gift of hospitality: To warmly welcome the stranger

Gift of intercession- To pray consistently, passionately, often for others

Gift of leadership: (may not be the official chair of a group)  to motivate,

to accomplish goals, to have vision

Gift of mercy:  to have compassion and concern for those hurting

Gift of serving/helping:  To help/ assist / do whatever is needed

Gift of wisdom: To have insight, to be able to see a situation and its solution  

Let me tell you about a time where the gift of wisdom was evident in the midst of decision making.

In a church that I served , at the Administrative Board, we were meeting to discuss memorial monies that had not been designated. What were we to do with the money? This involved a long discussion, Would we use it for capital improvements? We were struggling to focus. A suggestion was then made that we put up a flagpole, bricks underneath that would have the names of persons to be memorialized.  This led to a longer discussion. How tall would the flagpole be, where it would be located. It was getting later. A woman had been listening to the entire discussion. She reminded us that there had been a plea some time earlier by the Bishop of the Methodist church in the Congo that there was a great need there for housing for pastors and their families. They were building adobe parsonages.  They could build one house for about the exact amount we were discussing! A family would have a home.  She felt that this was the direction that we should go.  The Holy Spirit flowed through her- we were all in agreement- yes, this is what the money should be used for. We had unity/ peace about the decision.  She had the gift of wisdom and it was helpful on many occasions as it was that night.

Reminder: each one of us has at least one gift, and I believe that most of us have a blend of several.

Spiritual gifts can be expressed in many different venues- limitless. A husband and wife both had the gift of evangelism. He used his gift at a Bible study in a local prison; he enjoyed the challenges and the discussion with the men. She would have felt uncomfortable in that setting, but used her gift as she interacted with her friends daily  at work.

Do you know what your gifts are?

I think that it is very helpful if you can identify your  spiritual strengths.

Galatians 6:4 “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given and sink yourself into that.” (from the Message paraphrase)  To know your gifts helps give you  an understanding of possible ways that your gift can be used.  You don 't have to do everything. You also don't have to feel guilty that you can't do everything! You can be yourself and have joy in what you do. To identify your gifts is a way of honoring God.

Elizabeth O'Connor said “ We cannot be ourselves unless we are true to our gifts.”

How do you know what your gifts are? You can take an inventory, and there are several tools for doing that. (New members here  at First UMC take an assessment led by Pam George)  When I have taken inventories in the past, shepherding and mercy are usually my strengths (which I feel is fairly accurate)  These inventories can be helpful in your exploration.

 You can also discover  your gifts by trying a variety of ministries and see what fits. Step out and try new things. You may discover an area of ministry that was made for you!

You can also ask a friend (who knows you well )what your gifts are.

A young woman was searching for  her niche. She tried working with church kids club ( not a good fit); she tried  ushering (also not her passion.) But when she saw the flower beds around the church building and began gardening, she felt right at home. Her gifts of creativity, order, detail, craftsmanship all came together as she planted and weeded.

What do you love to do?  What do you look forward to being a part of?

How would you finish this statement:  “Here at First UMC, I just love to___________.”

Find your sweet spot here within our church family as we minister together.

Three important things to remember:

 1.Spiritual gifts are meant to be shared within your church, in the world. In other words,

If you have been singing in the shower for years, now is the  time to join the choir!

2.God gives us the power to express our gift- we are always dependent upon the Lord.

I cannot do what I do without the Spirit. And neither can you. Don't be afraid.

3.Spiritual gifts  when used will glorify God!

Look around you.

Who among us has the gift of apostleship and can work to strengthen  our church?

Who can prophesy and speak the truth?

Who can be a tender shepherd?

Who can be a helper, a servant?

Who explains the faith so simply as they teach?

Who here is an evangelist who loves to invite others to meet Jesus?

Who gives extravagantly?

Who has the gift of leadership and administration to guide us?

Who are the merciful? Who are the healers who bring comfort?

Who go as missionaries to those of other cultures?

Who are our lovers of prayer?

Who has faith that is like a rock?

Who welcomes and finds a place for the stranger?

Who witnesses in art, music, drama?

Who discerns God's purpose and has wisdom?

Those persons are all here in this place.

We are blessed with amazing, needed gifts from God.

10 years ago we cleaned out my parent's home getting it ready for sale. Going through the items in their bedroom,we emptied  my father's chest of drawers. Inside were a collection of gifts still in the plastic wrappings. New socks, dress shirts, pajamas, handkerchiefs. All gifts for him, and not used. Being frugal,  I think my father was saving them for a rainy day. He wanted to hold on to them for a later time.

With our spiritual gifts, we don't want to let them go unused.  Our church and our world need our gifts to be expressed.

Have you found the opportunity to do what you do best? There is a sweetness when you are using your gift and you also know that God is enabling you to do what you are doing. There is nothing better that that!

I hope that you have experienced this joy.

Paul wrote to his friend Timothy: Rekindle the gift of God that is within you.

On this Pentecost Day,

What an appropriate day to celebrate the gifts that you have been given.

What an excellent day to ask God to show you what your gift is and how it can be used.

What a day of realization that perhaps you have not used your gifts as you should, but you want that to change.

A rabbi named Zeke died and went to stand before the judgment seat of God. As he waited for God to appear, he grew nervous thinking about his life and how little he had done. He began to imagine that God was going to ask him  “ Why weren't you Moses or why weren't you Soloman or why weren't you King David ?”  But when God appeared, the rabbi was surprised. God simply asked “Why weren't you Zeke?”

Be yourself. Thank God each day for your gifts. Share those gifts with others.

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