InPerspective

Ephesians 4:1-16

Children don't want just one present under the Christmas tree – they want to see a diverse assortment of gifts to enjoy. Our heavenly Father has given His children a diversity of spiritual gifts to build up and strengthen the body of Christ. When we exercise God's diverse assortment of spiritual gifts in service to one another, we manifest authentic Christian love and unity.

Ephesians 4:1-16

A football team will lose every game if everyone wants to play quarterback or catch passes, and nobody wants to block or play defense. They can only win if they come together and fulfill the unique roles and responsibilities that the coach has assigned to each player. We must recognize and embrace the unity AND diversity in the Body of Christ, and in the development and exercise of our spiritual gifts.

Ephesians 4:1-16

God's Word urges us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” – but many Christians try to walk in a manner worthy to be called. Our acceptance with God is not based on how worthy a life we live, but on the absolute worthiness and perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrificial atoning death on our behalf.

Ephesians 4:1-16

You would not expect to see presents under your Christmas tree from a complete stranger. You typically receive gifts from people you know – and the same is true of spiritual gifts. God only gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit to those who belong to Him – those who know the Lord Jesus Christ and have spiritual union with Him by grace through faith.

Romans 12:1-8

Every year we see star athletes hold out from training camp unless they get a better contract. Well, every believer has been uniquely gifted by the Lord – and yet, so many of us “hold out” and refuse to get in the game by exercising our unique spiritual gifts in and through the church. Do you serve and honor the Lord according to how He has gifted you – or are you holding out?

Revelation 20

Satan and his kingdom have been defeated – but not yet destroyed. Join Dr. Harry Reeder on InPerspective as he examines how this defeated enemy still exerts his influence and activity in the world and against God's people.

Romans 12:1-8

Every set of fingerprints is unique, and finding them at a crime scene gives police enough evidence to arrest a criminal. Spiritual gifts are like fingerprints – every Christian has them, they are unique to every believer, and deploying them in service to God gives evidence to a watching world of the Lord's work in your life.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Your stomach cannot pump blood through your body if your heart stops, and you cannot see with your toes if your eyes go blind. You cannot function unless every part of your body fulfills its unique and essential purpose. The body of Christ cannot function properly if its members fail to identify and exercise our particular spiritual gifts, serve one another, and work together with unity in love.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

The church in Corinth was seeking answers from the Apostle Paul about spiritual gifts – and he did not disappoint them. A closer look at Paul's teaching reveals that spiritual gifts are the ability God provides to every believer, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, whereby He empowers us to work in partnership with God to spread the Gospel and nurture the saints for His glory.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus, but children can forget this by focusing on their presents and comparing them with their friends' gifts. Well, the Corinthians compared spiritual gifts among themselves and boasted about the ones they received. But the Holy Spirit does not want us to focus our attention on spiritual gifts, but rather to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13

Christians believe in one God in three persons … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit … the Holy Trinity. Join Dr. Harry Reeder on InPerspective as he reveals the identity of the unholy trinity from Revelation chapter 13.

1 Corinthians 12:1-6

If you received a set of paints and brushes as a gift, you might set it aside and never use it – but the more you use your gift, the more you will improve as an artist. When the Lord gives you your spiritual gift, He expects you to use it for His glory. Spiritual gifts are our God-given resources to accomplish our God-given mission as Christ’s church.

1 Corinthians 12:1-6

When we consider spiritual gifts we naturally tend to focus on the work of the Holy Spirit – but actually, spiritual gifts are a work of the Triune God with a decidedly Trinitarian dynamic. The Father directs the effects of your spiritual gifts, Jesus designs ministries whereby our gifts function, and the Holy Spirit delivers to us the spiritual gifts that we are to discover, develop, and deploy.

1 Corinthians 12:1-6

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed." Sadly, after 2000 years many Christians are still uninformed about this important subject, leading to much confusion, misunderstanding, and incorrect teaching. What does God’s Word teach us about understanding, discovering, developing and deploying our spiritual gifts?

1 Corinthians 12:1-6

What kinds of churches emphasize the importance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Many people may tend to immediately think of Pentecostals and charismatics – but actually, it is vitally important for every believer, church, and denomination to understand how to discover, develop and deploy our spiritual gifts.

1 Peter 4:7-11

John F. Kennedy famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Well, as you develop a heart of servanthood and stewardship for Jesus Christ, you learn to ask not what the church can do for you, but what you can do for the church – and this involves how we discover, develop and deploy our spiritual gifts.

Revelation 20:11-15

Revelation chapter 20 speaks of the Book of Life and cautions us that anyone's name not written in it will be cast into the lake of fire. Join Dr. Harry Reeder on InPerspective as he confront us with this vitally important question – Is YOUR name written in heaven, in God's Book of Life?

1 Peter 4:7-11

If you think you are a Christian who is not particularly gifted in any way – think again. Every Christian has received a spiritual gift by God’s grace, every Christian is responsible to discover, develop and deploy their spiritual gift, and every Christian is called to be a good steward of God's varied grace, according to how He has uniquely gifted and blessed each one of us.