Temple Baptist Church - 4-1-2026
Romans 12:3-8
Introduction: I will not spend much more time on the passing sign gifts as they are not relevant to our day. Why the partial or passing gifts? To verify that these men, who did not have a completed Bible, were God sent and preaching God’s truth. God used miracles to show divine approval. We have the perfect “measuring stick” in our hands by which we verify the preaching of men. They were gone by the end of the Apostolic Age. Tonight, I want to look at the service gifts that remain.
A. In our context, Paul moves from personal sanctification to unity of purpose. Here, we find the importance of each member of the local church. When our Lord went back to heaven, He gave the church gifts: some passing sign gifts and some permanent service gifts. These are individual gifts. Every gift of the Spirit is vital to the welfare and edification of the local assembly, and these three are extremely important! When our Lord ascended back to heaven, He did not leave the church helpless, confused, or floundering.
Ephesians 4:7-8 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
B. God loves the church, both the body and local assemblies, as Christ died for it. Should we love it less?
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
C. During the Transitional Period of the Apostolic Church, the Lord made sure that believers would have all the necessary tools for a healthy, mature body of believers.
D. Thus, the service gifts are mentioned in several places in the Pauline Epistles or Church Epistles. Again, some of these service gifts passed away, but most remain permanent gifts we still have today.
E. It amazes me when I see the talent level of the people in the church. Personal gifts of the Spirit to be used for the edification of the body and the ministry of the local church.
F. In our verses for tonight, Paul describes some of the work-related gifts found in the church. I am not going to do an in-depth study of the gifts of the Spirit, but I want to emphasize the importance of each member of the body.
G. The Bible gives an analogy between the human body and the church body. Our physical body is a work of divine genius that only a divine Creator could create. David said that he was fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalms 139:14-16 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
H. Every part of our human body has purpose and is essential to our well-being. Every member of the local church has purpose and is essential to its well-being.
J. As every individual part of our human body belongs to the whole, every member of the local church belongs to the whole and is essential to its edification and work. NEVER THINK THAT THE CHURCH CAN DO WITHOUT YOU!
1. We share the same Salvation.
2. We share the same Lord.
3. We share the same Church.
4. We share the same Bible.
5. We share the same Love.
6. We share the same Blessed Hope.
K. Paul mentions seven specific parts of the internal ministry of the local church in these verses.
1. Prophecy. Verse 6. Prophecy here means to forthtell, not foretell. In 1 Corinthians, we find its meaning:
1 Corinthians 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
a. Foretelling was a passing gift. No one in our day can see into the future. The prophets and seers were a passing gift because there was no completed revelation of God’s Word.
James 4:13-14 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
b. Forthtelling is preaching the Word of God, which is still relevant in our day. “According to the proportion of faith,” According to the amount of revealed truth available.
2 Timothy 4:1-3 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Preaching that edifies, exhorts, and comforts the body of Christ. I once heard a man say that two things made him want to preach: good preaching and bad preaching. Good preaching builds up, presses the believer to continue on, and comforts the troubled hearted.
2. Ministry. Verse 7. This word comes from the same root word as the word “deacon,” which means servant or to serve. Ministry – the word used for ministry is of the same root word as deacon. A minister is one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master. A servant, attendant, minister - the servant of a king, a waiter, one who serves food and drink, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
a. It is imperative that we understand that the work of the church is to minister to others, both saved and lost! Even by government definition, we are to be a non-profit organization. We are neither here for gain nor self-glorification, but to reach out to those who are in need! We are to minister the gospel to the unsaved.
b. Internally, there are many aspects of the work of the local church, and each has its importance. There are:
1) Sunday School workers, youth group workers, senior group workers, singing in the choir, special music, door greeters, ushers, VBS workers,, those who visiting shut-ins and hospitals (my how I appreciate these and so do the sick and shut-in), those who write cards to both the sick and those who are having special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, those who visit and call the sick, etc. (what a blessing to be remembered!
2) There are physical jobs that must be done, such as cleaning the church, hauling off the trash, maintaining both the building and grounds, as the local church belongs to each of us.
3) There are many more such things that the local church (and the pastor) depend upon.
c. Ministry is one of the most important and less sought after of all gifts.
1 Corinthians 16:15-18 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) 16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. 17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
Romans 16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
2 Corinthians 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
2 Corinthians 9:1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2 Corinthians 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
b. External Ministries, which include visitation workers, lay preachers whom God uses to fill the pulpit, preach in nursing homes, retirement centers, jails, etc. Those with ministry gifts help with the work of evangelization.
1) It increases the capacity of the church to reach others with the gospel. Many that are doing many things instead of one doing everything.
2) It relieves some of the burden of preaching from the shoulders of the pastor and allows him more time to devote to prayer and the Word.
3. Teaching. Verse 7. Teaching - The ability to instruct other teachers in communicating the Scriptures. They made complex truths clear and understandable. Teaching is a vital part of the local church's ministry. Sunday School teachers are very important in the local church. They have the awesome responsibility of breaking down God’s Word to their students' level. The future of our children lies in their hands.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
a. Our Lord said, in Matthew 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
b. The importance of proper teaching: The Bible places teaching on an equal plane with preaching - Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. In Acts 18:11, God’s Word says, “And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Proverbs 2:1-7 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
c. God has given to some the gift of teaching. In Acts 18, we find such a man.
Acts 18:24-27 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
d. We need faithful, godly men who can teach - 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
e. We need faithful, godly ladies who can teach - Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
f. We are all to be teachers to some degree as we mature in Christ - Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
4. Exhorting. Verse 8. This word comes from a root word that is used for the Holy Spirit. It means to come along side of or to implore someone who is faltering.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Exhortation - EXHORT', v.t. to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit, or courage. To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action. To deliver exhortation; to use words or arguments to incite to good deeds. Some have this wonderful gift! They are men and women of faith and faithfulness who constantly encourage the brethren. They are high in spirit and comforted in trouble.
a. The necessity of exhortation.
1) The duration of exhortation - 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
2) The urgency of exhortation - Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
3) The particulars of exhortation.
a) Exhortation in continuation - Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
b) Exhortation in contending - Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
c) Exhortation in commitment - 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
d) Exhortation in chastity - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
e) Exhortation in communing - 1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
5. Giving. Verse 8. Thank God for tithers and givers. Without you, the church could not function, and missionaries would NEVER get to the field of their calling. Let it be done with simplicity. Simplicity – folded together. I always place our tithing envelope face down. God knows, and a few people are privy to that information, but it is NEVER discussed among those who do know.
a. Giving is a command to all – Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
We all give to a certain degree. Some only tithe, while others begin to give extra to missions and special projects. Others will give 20-40% of their incomes to the work of the Lord.
b. There are some who have a special gift of giving.
1) These, first of all, give of themselves - 2 Corinthians 8:5 And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
The most important gift to give is the gift of self. Giving of oneself to the Lord is the priority and giving of oneself as well as of one’s finances to others is the result!
2) These then give themselves to others. This is done in two ways:
a) They give of their time and talents (They give their lives!) - Galatians 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
Romans 16:3-4 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Philippians 2:25-30 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
b) They give of their worldly goods - Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Some give until it hurts, while others give until it feels good! These individuals give behind the scenes to those with special needs, doing so with simplicity. They often remain anonymous, quietly slipping money into the hands of the recipient or designating for them.
6. Ruling. Verse 8. Ruling is managing and governing God’s church, with diligence and compassion. Not as lords over God’s heritage but as shepherds over God’s sheep.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
a. This verse is intended to describe the rule of pastors, but the principle applies to others who are appointed to rule to some degree under the pastor. Three biblical words describe this gift: ruling, governing, and administration.
b. The gift of Ruling is a special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to understand clearly the goals that the Lord has for a Church or a Church ministry, and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals. We call them born leaders.
c. People with organizational skills. These know what needs to be done and how to get it done. Their ruling is always subject to the authority of the pastor.
d. Rulers must be thorough, objective, responsible, organized, efficient, conscientious, gentle, and just.
7. Mercy. Verse 8. Sharing with those in need. They quietly aid the elderly and hold the hands of the sorrowful. Not just monetary, but giving one’s time and efforts to those who have need of it. Prayer partners and burden bearers. A burden shared is half a burden!
Conclusion: The work of the local church is diverse in nature. It takes all of us to make the local church what it should and needs to be.
