Spiritual Gifts and Ministries Honor

Missionary Activities - Bible Studies

Requirements

1. Know what mission Jesus entrusted to His disciples. (Mark 16:15-16)

   Answer: According to Mark 16:15-16, Jesus commanded: 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.' The mission is to preach the gospel to all people, leading them to believe and to be baptized. — The mission of the church is universal: to take the gospel to everyone, making disciples throughout the world.

2. Explain in what way the disciples would be empowered to fulfill this mission. (Acts 1:4, 8)

   Answer: According to Acts 1:4 and 8, Jesus commanded that they wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father; they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and, then, they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The empowerment comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. — It is not by human strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, that Christians are empowered for the mission.

3. Know the immediate result of the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the first Christians. (Acts 2)

   Answer: In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples; they began to speak in other tongues, Peter preached with power and about three thousand people were converted and baptized on that day, forming a united church that persevered in the doctrine, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers. — The coming of the Holy Spirit transformed fearful disciples into powerful preachers and began the great growth of the church.

4. Understand how the Holy Spirit distributes the spiritual gifts among the members of the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

   Answer: According to 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good; the same Spirit distributes the various gifts (wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, tongues, etc.) to each one individually, AS HE WILLS. It is the Holy Spirit who chooses and distributes the gifts. — The gifts are not human merit: the Spirit distributes them to each member according to His will, to serve the church.

5. Define the purpose for which the spiritual gifts are granted. (Ephesians 4:12-13)

   Answer: According to Ephesians 4:12-13, the gifts are granted for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ (the church), until all come to the unity of the faith and to maturity, to the measure of the stature of Christ. — The gifts exist to serve and edify the church, leading it to unity and maturity — not for personal display.

6. Memorize and recite 1 Peter 2:9.
7. Share with a friend how it is possible to receive the spiritual gifts. (James 1:5-6)