Relationship Superpowers: Our Spiritual Gifts

Romans 12

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Corinthians 12

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

This Sunday’s service can be viewed on our Facebook page @ Sunday, August 4, 2024

NewDay Friends,

How has your week been? And, what have you noticed about your relationships this week? If you've been following the sermon series on Discipleship this summer, we are currently talking about how we follow Jesus, and how following Jesus will impact our relationships. 

 Last week we worked through Philippians 2, and discussed the mindset of Jesus, and how He did life, humbly and in the most unassuming manner. This way of Jesus is counter cultural now, and it was then too. As humans we struggle with pride, insecurity and don't always appreciate each other in the ways God desires us to. 

The sermon texts for this Sunday will be Romans 12:1-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, and the focus will be on appreciating the gifting and abilities of each other, and honoring each other in our relationships. Hopefully the outcome will be us growing in curiosity and appreciation of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and engaging with our gifts and abilities to bring glory to God, and the good of our neighbors. May our love for each other increase along the way. 
This Sunday we also will be celebrating Communion as a church family. Take time to reflect and prepare yourself for Communion this weekend. Reflect on areas of your life that are in need of Jesus's help and forgiveness. As you examine and reflect, be attentive to how the Holy Spirit is prompting you to repair with another person, or confess/surrender something/someone to Jesus. And, be prepared to rejoice in the wonderful, AWESOME reality of Jesus' conquering sin, death and the devil on the cross, and not staying dead- but rising from the grave. We serve a risen Savior. Halleluiah! . 

See you Sunday!
Pastor Kari
 

GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
CAN BE FOUND AT:
 

https://www.facebook.com/NewDayCovenantChurch/
Following the worship gathering, worship services will be uploaded to our website and will be available at www.newdaycov.org/listen.

NewDay Online Giving: https://newday.churchcenter.com/giving

Pastor Search Committee Update:

What has happened: 

1. NewDay has been matched with 8 candidates who were referred by or through Kara Stromberg, the superintendent of the NW Conference. We have prayerfully discussed their written profiles from the CovConnect website (including their resumes, faith journeys, and ministry styles) and their online presence (church websites, personal business websites, sermons, podcasts, social media profiles) to assess potential fit with NewDay’s profile and needs based on the results of the congregational survey.

2. Of these 8, we have decided to contact 5 candidates to request initial zoom interviews to get to know each other better.

3. We have established the compensation package to present to the leadership team for consideration in their budget creation.

What's next: 

1. We will complete initial zoom interviews with interested candidates. The purpose of these interviews is to establish mutual interest in moving forward with offering in-person interviews. We hope to complete these initial interviews within the next 4-6 weeks. 

2. We will start planning for setting up pastoral support teams for the incoming pastor. There will be opportunities to get involved in helping the pastor and their family transition into our community.

What you can do: 

1. Please continue to pray. We are grateful for all of your prayers and especially the dedication of the Search Process Prayer Committee.

     Specific prayer needs: 

       1. For guidance for the search committee as we move through this process of discernment, especially as we start to interact with applicants.

       2. For our future pastor who is listening to God's calling.

       3. For the search process to continue smoothly and for patience for our community as we move through it together.

2. Please reach out to any of us at any time with questions and thoughts. 

PSC members, roles, and contact information: 

Angela DickinsonComment