The book should be finished this weekend.
The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time
The Hymn # 292 Lord Jesus Christ 1:2
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 192 Awake My Heart 1:22
Fruits of the Spirit
The Communion Hymn # 480 Lord of the Worlds 1:62
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 511 Jesus Shall Reign 1:80
KJV Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
KJV Luke 17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Fourteenth Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy blessed word and Thy holy baptism hast mercifully cleansed all who believe from the fearful leprosy of sin, and daily dost grant us Thy gracious help in all our need: We beseech Thee so to enlighten our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may never forget these Thy blessings, but ever live in Thy fear, and, trusting fully in Thy grace, with thankful hearts continually praise and glorify Thee; through Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Fruits of the Spirit
Lenski:
"We have discussed the fact that Paul has in mind “spirit” in v. 16. He does not say, “the works of the spirit” (v. 20, “the works of the flesh”) but uses the nobler word, “the fruit of the spirit.” Compare the significant expression, “the unfruitful works of the darkness” (Eph. 5:11). “Fruit” is also singular although it is a collective. The flesh spreads out in many directions with its evil works; all its many activities are bad. The spirit follows one direction, produces unit fruit. The flesh has “works,” deeds. In listing them Paul has used many plurals. As fruit of the spirit Paul lists nothing but virtues, the highest moral qualities, and thus also lifts this list above the other. The other list is heterogeneous: 3–2–4–4–2; this list is homogeneous: 3–3–3: each group has three members, and there are three groups. The other list is a jangle, this one a sweet harmony. While it may be only rhetorical and apparent only because we have the lists side by side, this appears intentional to the writer. Paul has the capacity for such perfect rhetoric.
First Corinthians 13 is Paul’s own description of “love,” the most essential product of faith, the mother of all other Christian virtues, hence the first in this list."
Lenski, R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. Paul's Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians and to the Philippians. Columbus, O. : Lutheran Book Concern, 1937, S. 290.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Paul’s discussion of flesh versus Spirit should be seen in the context of his short, energetic letter to the Galatians, who were being led astray by false doctrine. The immediate concern is the requirement of circumcision, but we can see that the implications are with us today, because the works-salesmen are still with us and constantly promote their new, improved version of Christianity, which is just another flavor of the very thing Paul denounced. No other Gospel exists – not even an angel from heaven, not even Paul himself can issue a new version of the old, revealed truth.
Spirit and Word are together throughout the Scriptures. The Spirit never acts without the Word and the Word is never divorced from the Spirit. Therefore, we can paraphrase this opening clause by saying
Walk in the Word and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Each one wars against the other.
Although one is opposed to the other, the battle is not parallel, the way we find it in Zoroastrianism or Taoism (good/evil, ying/yang).
The flesh does not like the Word. This alone should defeat all the claims that something is good because it is popular. Munching popcorn during a church service is popular, but does that make it good, useful, and worthy of emulation? Our family attended the famous Willow Creek service (Chicago suburb). They bragged about their food court, but no one ate and drank during the service. Now “conservative” Lutherans hand free popcorn and soft drinks to people as they enter church. Ironically, both are especially good at adding body fat, so the flesh part is especially apt.
The flesh can include many things. Those who are not faithful to the Word are not inclined to be faithful to their spouses. Someone can show up at church and look every bit the elder, but if he is cheating, he will not like hearing the Word. He won’t say, “I am against the Sixth Commandment.” He will just undermine a faithful pastor using the same cheating tactics employed elsewhere. Likewise, an unfaithful elder will love the minister who adulterates the Word, making it attractive by creating an amalgamation of falsehood and truth, enough to fool some people and please the important ones.
The WELS/ELS/LCMS has never faced the fact that their richest sugar daddy, Marvin Schwan, left his wife and married the wife of his division manager. No, they fell all over each other to beg for his money. They were like the Episcopal bishops who rode the national conference in the private railroad cars of J. P. Morgan, who brought his mistress along for the ride. (I was denounced for the Forbes story I placed in Christian News, but no one ever denounced good ol’ Marvin for busting up two marriages. He was and is, no coincidence, the main sugar daddy behind Church Growth false doctrine among the “conservative” Lutherans. Thus the flesh wars against the Word/the Spirit. The Catholic Church has endowed masses for the souls of departed sinners. The old Synodical Conference has endowed foundations to keep their favorite false doctrine being promoted. (The lovely second wife of Marvin converted to the Lutheran faith when she married him and went back to Rome when she buried him. Thus Lutherans have concluded that money is indeed a means of grace.)
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
This verse shows us why the war is not on an equal plain. If we are led by the Spirit, the law no longer has the same effect. Luther’s Small Catechism is the best summary of that effect. Each commandment is explained by what we must do under the Law but also by what we want to do through the Gospel. The Word of the Gospel moves us to desire what is God pleasing, not from obligation or fear but from love and thankfulness.
The Ninth Commandment.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, and obtain it by a show of [justice and] right, etc., but help and be of service to him in keeping it.
Part 1 of the explanation tells us what we must not do, which is fairly common, use various means of trickery and the loopholes of the law to get what does not belong to us.
Part 2 tells us what we do willingly because we live under the Gospel – we will help him out and make sure he can keep his property. For example, neighbors will help build a barn, recommend the man’s business to others, tide him over with material help. My father would load up his truck with flour or other supplies when his competitors in baking ran out of something and needed an emergency supply. During WWII his basement was a depot for bakery supplies. At that time there were no clubs to supply 50 pound cubes of shortening and 100 pound bags of sugar and flour. Yeast came in one-pound packages, not in little foil envelopes.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance [strife, contention], emulations [jealousies], wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like…
The two lists are not symmetrical, in two different ways. Works are compared to fruit. Works come from us while the fruit of the Spirit is from the Gospel
The numbers are not parallel. The works of the flesh list is a rhetorical device (whose name does not help anyone) suggesting that the works are almost endless. [Similar – He ate peas, carrots, corn, potatoes, ham, chicken, pie, cookies… In other words, he ate everything possible. That is an asyndeton:
http://www.virtualsalt.com/rhetoric.htm#Asyndeton. I told you the name of the rhetorical device would not help.]
Some of these sins are carnal, easily seen, and obvious to others. Other sins on this list express an attitude [contentious, heretical]. The idea is not to check the list and say, “Nothing about coveting. I’m ok. It’s not a sin.” The list implies more sins, which make themselves known in various ways.
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
This clause is especially significant, in view of the way in which people use the Gospel to excuse their behavior. If God has already declared the entire world forgiven (the claim of Universal Objective Justification) then Paul’s explanation of the works of the flesh, quoted above, is obliterated.
In fact, the Antinomians (against the Law) have argued this for centuries. There is no law; everyone is forgiven – they claim. I run into this attitude in church organizations all the time. In contrast, people recognize the civil law and obey it. (I kid doctors about violating HIPAA regulations and faculty about FERPA rules.)
According to the church organizations I know, deceiving people benefits the Kingdom of God. But Paul says the opposite. Those who engage in works of the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
This is where Satan tricks people into rejoining his kingdom. Christ did indeed die on the cross for all sins. There is no sin so damning that God cannot forgive it. (The sin against the Holy Spirit is dying without faith.) However, remaining in sin, having no contrition, and justifying sin for some ulterior motive – all contribute toward falling away from faith.
I content that we are in the Age of Apostasy because the greatest number of church officials are willing to overlook everything in the name of making their own lives more comfortable. In doing so they fail to protect their own members from clergy and teacher predators, their flocks from false doctrine. Instead, the church officials desire the flesh, the appearance of peace and prosperity.
Matthew 7:15ff is especially harsh when it comes to false doctrine being promoted by wolves in sheep’s clothing, anticipating “Lord, Lord, did we not do…” instead of claiming, as Jesus did, “We taught God’s Word.”
Satan pays his workers well during this lifetime, but he wants it all back with interest at the end.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Contrasted to what we do ourselves is the fruit of the Spirit, which comes from the Gospel. The Scriptures clearly teach that this fruit comes from the Means of Grace.
Jesus’ IAM sermon – the True Vine – is especially clear.
KJV John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Gardeners know that they do certain things and God provides the results. Paul wrote, too, that he planted, Apollos watered, and God brought the increase.
In the True Vine sermon, Jesus did not even mention human work. The Vine is already there and God tends the vine. The vine bears fruit, is pruned for more fruit and to get rid of dead wood. And it is even more fruitful.
When we garden, we plant seeds or bushes or trees. We do certain things to nurture them, but all the growth is from God. We even water our plants, but there is nothing like rain. Either we wait for the rain or store it in barrels for future use.
The fruits of the Spirit are nine-fold, making them easy to remember in groups of three. In the Bible, those things associated with God are grouped in threes, reminding us of the Trinity:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, 23 Meekness, temperance.
The entire world seems to praise love above all else, but the way to obtain this love is obscured by many invented paths to it. The way to have more love is to have more Gospel.
The New Age – Eastern religion opposite – can be found in Julia Roberts film “Eat Pray Love.” She says that the true god is the god within which is the real you. The constant refrain in the film is “Do the work.” The work is her quest to find peace through meditation, reciting prayers in another language, and sending “light” to a feminist friend getting married in India. Hinduism and Buddhism are meditation religions, and meditation is man’s work.
From the Gospel we receive love and therefore grow in that spiritual fruit. That also gives us joy, because the forgiveness of sin brings love, joy, and peace.
Peace is often blurred by many conflicting claims for it. It is the result of justification by faith.
KJV Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Satan might accuse us for our sinfulness. As Luther said, “I may be a thousand times worse than Satan says, but Christ has died for my sins.” But peace comes from forgiveness from Christ, so the entire Christian life is based upon justification by faith.
It is ironic that the false teachers who claim to provide so much are really building up the false doctrine Paul tore apart so effectively. The neo-wolves claim they will transform lives, but Paul said the Gospel does that, through God’s work alone. The neo-wolves want to take credit for a religion of glory, a theater of the absurd (bad music, stale popcorn, flat soda pop) – but Paul gave glory only to Christ crucified.
Rather than exalt the flesh, as the neo-wolves do, Paul wrote:
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Galatians 5 Quotations
"We believe, teach, and confess also that at the time of confession [when a confession of the heavenly truth is required], when the enemies of God's Word desire to suppress the pure doctrine of the holy Gospel, the entire congregation of God, yea, every Christian, but especially the ministers of the Word, as the leaders of the congregation of God [as those whom God has appointed to rule His Church], are bound by God's Word to confess freely and openly the [godly] doctrine, and what belongs to the whole of [pure] religion, not only in words, but also in works and with deeds; and that then, in this case, even in such [things truly and of themselves] adiaphora, they must not yield to the adversaries, or permit these [adiaphora] to be forced upon them by their enemies, whether by violence or cunning, to the detriment of the true worship of God and the introduction and sanction of idolatry...Galatians 5:1." Formula of Concord, SD X. #10-11. Adiaphora. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1055. Tappert, p. 612. Heiser, p. 284. Galatians 5:1.
"In philosophy an error that is small at the beginning becomes very great in the end. So a small error in theology overturns the whole body of doctrine...That is why we may not surrender or change even an iota (apiculum) of doctrine." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1365. Galatians 5:9.
"Doctrine is our only light. It alone enlightens and directs us and shows us the way to heaven. If it is shaken in one quarter (in une parte), it will necessarily be shaken in its entirety (in totum). Where that happens, love cannot help us at all." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 414. Galatians 5:10.
"Joy is the natural fruit of faith. The apostle says elsewhere (Galatians 5:22-23): 'The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.' Until the heart believes in God, it is impossible for it to rejoice in Him. When faith is lacking, man is filled with fear and gloom and is disposed to flee at the very mention, the mere thought, of God. Indeed, the unbelieving heart is filled with enmity and hatred against God. Conscious of its own guilt, it has no confidence in His gracious mercy; it knows God is an enemy to sin and will terribly punish the same." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 93. Fourth Sunday in Advent, Philippians 4:4-7; Galatians 5:22-23.
"That forbearance which is a fruit of the Spirit retains its characteristic kindness whether directed toward friend or enemy, toward rich or poor." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 103. Fourth Sunday in Advent, Philippians 4:4-7; Galatians 5:22-23 .
Spiritual Gifts Quotations
"People Person: Have been recognized as a counselor and mediator. Brought harmony to what was once described as 'the most troubled Lutheran church in America. Personal: Born, December 6, 1941, Columbus. Married, three children. Spiritual gifts: Exhortation, teaching, administration and evangelism.
Floyd Luther Stolzenburg 2904 Maryland Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43209-1157 614-235-5200. Forgot to add – divorced. Kicked out of LCMS for cause. Church Growth fanatic embraced by WELS/ELS. Closely associated with John Shep (ELS to ELCA) Roger Kovaciny (WELS to ELS to Whatever) and Jay Webber – Thoughts of Faith, ELS/WELS.
"Recognizing the need for professional church growth consultation, in 1975 he [C. Peter Wagner] invited John Wimber to become the founding director of what is now the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth. Wimber got the Institute off to an excellent start, then left to become the founding pastor of Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Anaheim and Vineyard Ministries... Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow (Regal, 1979) is approaching the 100,000 mark... Church Growth and the Whole Gospel (Harper and Row, 1981) is a scholarly discussion of criticisms of the Church Growth Movement from the viewpoint of social ethics, in which Wagner did his doctoral work."
C. Peter Wagner, ed., with Win Arn and Elmer Towns, Church Growth: The State of the Art, Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1986, p. 271f.
"Pastors and lay persons trained in Church Growth are leading Christians to discover their spiritual gifts. They are looking into the Scripture and discovering those verses in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 where some of the gifts are listed." [See C. Peter Wagner, Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow, 1979, "a discussion of gifts which relates specifically to the potential of mobilizing God's people for church growth," p. 33.]
Kent R. Hunter, Launching Growth in the Local Congregation, A Workbook for Focusing Church Growth Eyes, Detroit: Church Growth Analysis and Learning Center, 1980, p. 26. WELS and Missouri love this apostate.
"This epistle selection treats of spiritual things, thing which chiefly pertain to the office of the ministry and concern the Church authorities. Paul instructs how those in office should employ their gifts for the benefit of one another and thus further the unity and advancement of the Churches."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 197f.
"Whenever the Word of God has a foothold, there the devil will be. By the agency of his factions he will always build his taverns and kitchens beside God's house. So he did at first, in Paradise. In the family of Adam he entrenched himself, establishing there his church." Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 198. "But dissensions, sects and divisions are sure signs that the true doctrine is either ignored or misunderstood, men thus being left in a condition to be 'tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine,' as Paul says (Ephesians 4:4); which is indisputably the case with these same schismatics who condemn the Church and her doctrines because of some discordant ones."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 204.
"Thus Paul rejects the glorying and boasting of the sects over their offices and gifts--they who pretend to be filled with the Spirit and to teach the people correctly, and who make out that Paul and other teachers are of no consequence...MOre than that, they demand a higher attainment in the Spirit for Gospel ministers, deeming faith, the Sacrament, and the outward office not sufficient."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 206.
"You are either reproaching and cursing Jesus, or praising him and owning him your Lord. If your preaching and teaching fail to point to Christ, something else being offered, and you nevertheless boast of the Spirit, you are already judged: the spirit you boast is not the Holy Spirit, not the true Spirit, but a false one. To it we are not to listen. Rather we are condemn it to the abyss of hell, as Paul declares, (Galatians 1:8), saying: 'But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any Gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema [damned to Hell].'"
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 206.
"The same is true of other factions--the Anabaptists and similar sects. What else do they but slander baptism and the Lord's Supper when they pretend that the external [spoken] Word and outward sacraments do not benefit the soul, that the Spirit alone can do that?" Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 208. "Flesh and blood are too weak to obtain this glorious confidence; the Holy Spirit is essential. Reason and our own hearts cry out in protest: 'Alas, I am far too evil and unworthy! How could I be proud and presumptuous enough to boast myself the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ?"
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 210.
"The gift of prophecy is the ability to rightly interpret and explain the Scriptures, and powerfully to reveal therefrom the doctrine of faith and the overthrow of false doctrine. The gift of prophecy includes, further, the ability to employ the Scriptures for admonition and reproof, for imparting strength and comfort, by pointing out, on the one hand, the certainty of future indignation, vengeance and punishment for the unbelieving and disobedient, and on the other hand presenting divine aid and reward to godly believers. Thus did the prophets with the Word of God, both the Law and the promises."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 213.
"Christians, however, though obliged to live among swine and to be at times trampled under foot and rooted about, have nevertheless surpassing glory; for they can look up and intelligently behold their Lord and His gifts."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 217.
"Regarding the baptizer--who may be a woman even--and the baptized, we certainly can see nothing wonderful. The humanity in the case does not effect any great work; the work is wrought by Him who is God, Lord, and Spirit."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 218.
"But the discerning Christian can with satisfaction boast on this wise: 'My baptism or my absolution is not of my own devising or ordaining, nor of another man's. It is of Christ my Lord." Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 219. "His gifts and works in His Church must effect inexpressible results, taking souls from the jaws of the devil and translating them into eternal life and glory."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 220.
"The instructor may find it best not to distribute the Spiritual Gifts Analysis (pp. 33-49) until the end of the course, when the time has come for class members to work through it."
David J. Valleskey, Gifted to Serve, Parish Services, WELS. Brains may not be thoroughly washed until the end of the Fuller propaganda program.
"2. The distinction between a witness and an evangelist. a. Some are evangelists (Eph. 4:11-12) 1) C. Peter Wagner: 'The average church can realistically expect that approximately 10 per cent of its active adult members will have been given the gift of evangelist' ("Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow," Glendale: Gospel Light, 1979, p. 176)...3) but don't expect everyone to have that gift - Wagner (op. cit.): 'It is a misunderstanding of biblical teaching, in my opinion, to try to convince every Christian that he or she has to be sharing the faith constantly as a part of their duty to the Master."
Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A p. 51. Wagner is a Pentecostal Babtist.
Steps of gift discovery: 1. Explore the possibilities. 2. Experiment with as many [spiritual gifts] as possible. 3. Examine your feelings. When you experiment with a gift and enjoy using it, that is a good sign... 4. Evaluate your effectiveness...If you are not seeing any results, it may be a sign that you do not have that particular gift. 5. Expect the confirmation of others.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS ANALYSIS Sent to WELS congregations using a Spiritual Renewal Program consultant (directed by Rev. Paul Calvin Kelm) p. 40.
