THE GIFT WRAPPED CHURCH

By Henry Admiraal
 Several years ago our family went on vacation.  We packed our car and camper to travel to another state.  Just before we left, our neighbors gave our daughter a gift-wrapped package about the size of a shoe box.  They instructed her not to open the gift until she had traveled a hundred miles from home.  When she opened the box, she found many smaller presents, individually wrapped.  She opened her gifts on the following days of our vacation.
 Our risen and ascended Lord has given the Church a marvelous gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This was the Church’s birthday gift, given on Pentecost.  But the Spirit brings a multitude of other gifts--special abilities and talents that believers can and must use in ministry to each other.  These are called Spiritual Gifts and are given to every believer.  This tremendous variety of gifts is to be used for building up the people of God.  When these gifts are used, the Church grows and matures.  When even one gift lies idle, the whole body suffers. 
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DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE?
ARE YOU USING YOUR GOD GIVEN GIFTS?

IF THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE NO, NOW IS THE TIME TO ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO USE THEM.  YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG OR OLD TO LEARN OR USE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS..
The Nurture Committee