Spiritual Gifts for Evangelism and Witness

Are some spiritual gifts more valuable than others? Could one, for example, rank the following (from the memory text in Eph 4) in order of importance -- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers?

Gifted Believers

1. Are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to be (1) within the group of ordained ministers (2) spread out among all church employees, or (3) present in all church members?
2. Are the lists of gifts mentioned in the Bible for spreading the gospel a comprehensive list of gifts, or could there be many more unlisted gifts?  Does every member have at least one gift?  Could mastery of technology be a gift for evangelism?  Can you think of other possibilities?
3. Why do we call these abilities gifts?

The Spirit and His Gifts

1. What will happen if a member attempts to serve in a capacity for which he/she has not been given a gift?
2. Whom would you normally select to witness (and why):  (1) an obviously gifted person who  may or may not be willing to witness, or (2)  a person who does not seem to possess any qualities for witnessing, but who is eager to try?
3. Which is easier for the Holy Spirit: (1) to make a person who is unwilling, willing to witness, or (2) to equip a person who is eager to witness but may not have the abilities?

Discovering Our Gifts

1. Why does it seem easier to identify another person’s gifts than our own?
2. Do we need to take an aptitude test, or see a counselor to determine our gifts?  What are some ways in which we can identify our spiritual gifts?

Other Gifts

1. Why do we have deacons?  Why can’t the pastors do that work?  Does it imply that pastoral work is more important than what the deacons do?
2. What kind of "ministry" is required to nurture new members?

Gifts and Christian Responsibility

1. Which gifts (if any) may be used independently of the church and which (if any) should be used under the authority of the church?
2. Under what circumstances (if any) might the Holy Spirit attempt to dissuade a person from witnessing to a particular person or community at a particular time?
3. In what ways can we lose a gift that is not used properly?