Unwrapping the Gift of Mercy: Unwrapping Spiritual Gifts One by One; How to Use Your Spiritual Gift in the Body of Christ

by David Bennett

As an internationally gifted speaker and author, David Bennett explains how God uses believers with the Gift of Mercy to benefit the Body of Christ. Using Biblical characters, great historical men of faith, and contemporary real-life people, David opens the heart and soul of Christians spiritually endowed with the Motivational Gift of Mercy.

Beginning with Scripture, David defines and demonstrates the Gift of Mercy as it plays out in real life Christianity. Gleaning from the personal lives of past and present saints, David details how the believer with this Gift can be characterized, identified, motivated, and used in the Church of Jesus Christ today.

David believes that for the body of Christ to function successfully each member must recognize his divine purpose and function for the health and growth of the body, and carry out his intended objectives and responsibilities in the power of the Spirit.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2017

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read almost everything that David Bennett has made available on spiritual gifts (published and unpublished) and this book is a fleshed out version of the gift of mercy that is initially presented in his overview of spiritual gifts (which in itself is over 80 pages).

While I don’t agree with everything that he presents and there are times when it seems like he is contradicting himself, Bennett presents one of the most detailed studies of the permanent spiritual gifts of Romans 12:6-8 that I have ever read. (As an example, he often states that we can’t determine someone’s spiritual gift by what they do, but then he uses examples from Scripture and claims that certain individuals have this spiritual gift because of what they did).

This book, and his overview of the gifts made me think and made me study it for myself, so in that regard it was a highly worthwhile read. It provided clarity and a roadmap from which to study. I would love to see him publish each of the other gifts of Romans 12 in book form as well. It would be a worthwhile study, even if you don’t arrive at the same conclusions as he does.

[Brian Pate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every Christian has a spiritual gift and, according to Bennett, every Christian has one of the seven gifts listed in Romans 12:4-8. These are the motivational gifts of the Spirit, as distinct from the administrations of Christ or the operations of God the Father (see 1 Cor 12:4-7).

This is the first book in the series, and in it Bennett unpacks the singular gift of Mercy ("the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness" from Rom 12:8). Replete with personal anecdotes and biblical illustrations, Bennett explains the gift of mercy, how to use it, and how to interact with other believers with this gift. He believes that the gift of mercy is illustrated in the lives of Jonathan, Jeremiah, Joseph (step-father of Jesus), the Apostle John, and Barnabas.

Even if you don't have the gift of mercy, this book can be an encouragement to grow in the area of compassion. And it is a reminder to use our gifts for the edification of the body and the glory of God.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work covers the identity, thought process, strengths and weaknesses of those with the gift of mercy. Because of what I learned from this book, I was able to avoid communication pitfalls and effectively minister to those who have the gift of mercy on my missions trips and local church. This resource is a worthy investment for life and ministry.