Frequently Asked Questions
Growth & Leadership FAQ
Q. Isn’t it enough to come to church on Sunday mornings?
A. When you think about church, it’s easy to focus on the weekend services. While a church service is usually the first experience people have with Riverside, there are a number of other avenues for people to get connected with God, the church, and with others.
By joining a Bible study, getting to know folks with similar interests (such as running or scrapbooking), involving your kids or teens in church activities, or volunteering to serve alongside others, you’ll experience the real benefits of belonging. Our hope is that you and your family would plug in to one or more Riverside ministries. It’s about developing real relationships. With real people.
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Q. What does the term "spiritual gift" mean?
A. We are to serve one another through the power of the Holy Spirit, as directed in 1 Corinthians 12:7, which says, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
Since there is a limit on the amount of time we can give to the church, we need to look for maximum effectiveness. Serving in the area of our “spiritual gift” helps us do that. Knowing where we are gifted will help us know where to put our focus, energy, and time. It will show us where we should plug into ministry.
Although the Bible does not come right out and define what a spiritual gift is, there is enough teaching on this subject to draw an adequate conclusion. The main references to spiritual gifts are found in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. The following definition brings together some key truths from the Word of God:
A Spiritual Gift is a special divine empowerment bestowed on each believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a given ministry God's way according to His grace and discernment to be used within the context of the Body of Christ.
When you operate within this definition, you will see the church grow as each member does his/her part according to the Holy Spirit's work following God's design and purpose.
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Q. How can I use my spiritual gifts to help others?
A. Numerous passages show the purpose of spiritual gifts to be the effect they have on the Body of Christ:
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:7)
"From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:16)
"To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up." (Ephesians 4:12)
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others..." (1 Peter 4:10)
As you can read in these references, spiritual gifts are not for personal benefit or selfish gain. Rather, they are for the benefit of the body of Christ. When properly exercised, spiritual gifts will contribute to the overall health and growth of the church.
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Q. How can I find out what my spiritual gifts are?
A. Use the online Spiritual Gifts Questionnaire to reveal what spiritual gifts you have and how strong they are. Taking this questionnaire will give you knowledge about how to serve God, and how you are equipped to serve the body of Christ.
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