7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
Today we come to the second of seven spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12.
7 if service,
“Service” is a general term for ministry. There are people in the local church who have a special ability to serve others. All of us serve others, but people with the gift of service have a special capacity from God for helping others.
in [devoted to the gift of] our serving;
The “in” in this phrase in verse seven refers to devotion to the Lord by using our gifts. Devotion is the sphere in which our gift operates. Discipline is needed to exercise our gifts properly. This involves perseverance, also. It is important to excel in what God has given us. It is easy to be sidetracked into other pursuits.
The gift of service should function like a special, supernatural endowment from God. Unlike others who also serve with their particular gifts, people with the gift of service have a unique ability to give themselves to others.
PRINCIPLE:
God expects us to be devoted to the gift He gives us.
APPLICATION:
The gift of service is the capacity to personally minister to other believers in a unique way. Since God specially endowed each believer with a capacity to serve the body of Christ, He expects us to be devoted to using it for His glory.
What did Paul mean by “wait” on teaching and ministering
ronda, your question is not clear. What translation are you using?
I still don’t understand this gift of service. In other versions it’s called ministry. I thought preaching, ushering, counseling, prophesy etc are all included in ministry? So then what is this special gift of service/ministry that Paul meant in vs 7
Racheal, the word “ministry” means serving.
Here is my summary of the word from “Gifts” under my Articles:
SERVING GIFTS
GIFT OF SERVING (RO 12:7)
Greek term:
DIAKONOS and related words (word “deacon” comes from this term)
Any act of service
100 times in various forms in the N.T.
DEFINITION
The capacity to perform any task or responsibility with joy which benefits others and meets practical and material needs.
IMPLICATIONS
The use of any spiritual gift is called “serving” (1 Pe 4:40-11)
This gift involves humility and sacrifice (Lu 22:22-27)
There is an office of “servant” as well as the gift of “serving” (1 Ti 3:8-13, i.e., the deacon)
The idea of serving meals or waiting on tables appears to be the most frequent use of the term both in biblical and extra-biblical material (cf. Acts 6:2)
ILLUSTRATIONS
Biblical
(a) Exodus 18:22; Numbers 11:17
“Bear the burden with you” (LXX)
(b) John, Mark, Acts 13~5.
(c) Timothy and Erastus, Acts 19;22.
(d) Paul — full team of helpers, Romans 16:3f; Col. 4:7f.; Acts 20:1-5
(e) Epaphroditus, Php 2;25.
Current
(a) Secretaries in Sunday School; work on building; tape ministry; ;transportation;; sound room; nursery; records; bookkeeping; ushering; short-term missionaries.
(b) Wilbur Chapman.