TRANSFORMED 

Part Two: evaluate yourself September 13, 2026 

In Romans 12:3-5, Paul tells Christians to evaluate themselves honestly. 

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are.  Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.  Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body.  We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” (Romans 12:3–5, NLT)  

1st - Paul warns Christians not to think more highly of themselves than they ought, but to see themselves according to the measure of faith God has given them.   

2nd - Paul calls Christians to honestly evaluate how God has gifted them so they can serve in the right place in their church.   

Every physical body has many parts, each with a specific function.  Likewise, every spiritual body of Christ (local church) has many members, each with a specific function.  God gives every Christian spiritual gifts so they can minister effectively in their local church (1 Cor. 12:12–27; Eph. 4:11–12, 15–16).  Christians should honestly evaluate how God has gifted them, so they know how to serve in their church.   

• Prideful believers try to serve where they are not gifted and harm themselves and their church.     

• Honest believers embrace the spiritual gifts God has given them and use their gifts to make their local church a healthy, productive body.   

In Romans 12:6-8, Paul tells Christians to use their spiritual gifts well. 

“In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.  So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well.  If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.  If it is giving, give generously.  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.  And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”  (Romans 12:6–8, NLT)  

1st – Paul says that God gives Christians spiritual gifts to serve others in their church.   

2nd - Paul lists seven spiritual gifts in two categories: speaking and serving. 

1. Prophecy - The ability to proclaim the Bible with divine anointing, bringing conviction to hearers so they want to respond (Acts 2:37–40, 7:54, 26:24–29; 1 Cor. 14:1–3; 1 Thess. 1:5). 

2. Serving - The ability to help other members of the body, thereby increasing their effectiveness (Mk 15:40–4; Acts 9:36; Rom. 16:1–2; 1 Cor. 12:28). 

3. Teaching - The ability to explain the Bible in a logical, systematic way that causes others to learn and grow spiritually (Acts 18:24–28, 20:20–21; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11–14). 

4.  Exhortation - The ability to use the Bible to encourage, console, and comfort others so they complete God’s will (Acts 4:32–37, 14:22; Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 4:13; Heb. 10:24–25). 

5.  Giving - The ability to know how and when to contribute material resources to the work of the Lord with liberality and cheerfulness (Mark 12:41–44; Rom. 12:8; 2 Cor. 8:1–7, 9:2–8). 

6.  Leadership - The ability to set and communicate goals to others so they work together harmoniously for the glory of God (Luke 14:28–30; Acts 6: 1- 7; 15:7–11; Rom. 12:8; I Cor. 12:28; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17).   

7.  Mercy - The ability to feel genuine empathy for individuals who are suffering and to translate that compassion into deeds, which reflect Christ’s love (Matt. 9:35–36; Mk. 9:41; 1 Thess. 5:14). 

Why didn’t Paul list any sign gifts in Romans 12? 

• Paul knew the sign gifts (healing, speaking unlearned languages, miracles, etc.) were special apostolic spiritual gifts that would cease (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 13:8). 

• Peter confirms there are only two categories of spiritual gifts in use today: speaking gifts and serving gifts. 

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.  Use them well to serve one another.  Do you have the gift of speaking?  Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you.  Do you have the gift of helping others?  Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.  Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.  All glory and power to him forever and ever!  Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10–11)  

15 truths every Christian should know about spiritual gifts: 

1. God gives every Christian at least one spiritual gift (1 Cor. 7:7; 12:7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). 

2. No single gift is given to everyone, and no one receives every gift (1 Cor. 12:27-30). 

3. You cannot earn a spiritual gift, and you should not pray for one (Eph. 4:7; Romans 12:6). 

4. The Holy Spirit decides what gifts you get (1 Cor. 12:11, 18). 

5. The gifts you’re given are permanent (Rom. 11:29). 

6. You are to develop the gifts God gives you (1 Tim. 4:14). 

7. It is a sin to waste the gifts God gave you (1 Cor. 4:1-2; Matt. 25:14-30). 

8. Using your gifts grows you and glorifies God (John 15:8). 

9. Your spiritual gifts are for the benefit of others (1 Cor. 12:4-7). 

10. Proper use of spiritual gifts produces harmony in the church (1 Cor. 12:25). 

11. Spiritual gifts are not natural talents or learned skills (Romans 12:6). 

12. Spiritual gifts are not the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) or the special men God gave to equip the church to do ministry (Eph. 4:11-12). 

13. Others who possess the same spiritual gift as you may not serve the way you do or have similar results. 

14. Your spiritual gifts do not make you superior or inferior to others in your church (1 Cor. 12:12-27). 

15. You must use your spiritual gifts in love to be effective in ministry (1 Cor. 13:1-3).   

If you are a Christian, God has blessed you with spiritual gifts, and He wants you to use your gifts to serve in your church.  You need to discover and then develop your spiritual gifts so you can minister to your brothers and sisters in Christ.