Conflict often comes from misunderstanding our differences. Discover how to turn the friction between "Feelers" and "Doers" into a powerful operational advantage.
In this dynamic tag-team session, Jeremy and Lori Haroldson explore the "motivational gifts" found in Romans 12. Unlike the operational tools of 1 Corinthians 12, these gifts describe your internal wiring—how you see the world and what motivates you to act.
The core message is about Synergy. We tend to devalue people who don't think like us. The Strategist thinks the Empath is "too soft." The Empath thinks the Strategist is "too cold." This teaching bridges that gap, showing why you cannot build a healthy culture without the full spectrum of gifts working in tandem.
Lori unpacks the often-overlooked gift of Mercy. This isn't just about crying with people; it is "empathy with action."
The Mercy perceiver is the atmospheric thermostat of the team. They walk into a room and immediately know who is hurting, who is fake, and who needs support. "They feel the atmosphere." While others are focused on the task, the Mercy is focused on the health of the people doing the task. Without them, your organization becomes a machine that grinds people up.
We often think of encouragement as just giving compliments ("Good job!"). Jeremy defines the gift of Exhortation as something far more powerful: "The courage to continue."
The Exhorter is the visionary for potential. They see the gold buried under the dirt in a person's life. When a team member wants to quit, the Exhorter provides the psychological and spiritual fuel to keep them in the fight. They don't just make you feel better; they make you be better.
This motivation is often misunderstood as just "writing checks." But the gift of Giving is really about stewardship and strategy.
The Giver has an intuitive sense for resource allocation. They know exactly where money or time needs to be invested to get the maximum return for the Mission. "They don't give to get; they give to release." They are the fuel lines of the organization, ensuring that the vision never starves for lack of provision.
Jeremy addresses the elephant in the room: Why do these gifts annoy each other?
The Prophet (Truth-Teller) wants to call out sin. The Mercy (Empath) wants to heal the sinner. If they don't value each other, they fight. If they collaborate, they create a powerful culture where truth is spoken in love. "We need the truth of the Prophet and the heart of the Mercy." The goal is not to change the other person, but to let their strength cover your blind spot.
The biggest mistake leaders make is hiring people who are exactly like them. Comfort leads to stagnation.
The challenge of this message is to diversify your circle. If you are a "Doer," find a "Feeler." If you are a "Visionary," find a "Steward." When you combine opposite strengths, you create a "threefold cord" that cannot be broken.
Perfect for:
1 Corinthians 12 gifts (tongues, healing, miracles) are manifestations—tools the Spirit gives for a specific moment. Romans 12 gifts (mercy, teaching, giving) are motivations—part of your permanent personality wiring. You use the first; you are the second.
Absolutely. The gift of Giving isn't about the *amount*; it's about the *heart*. It is the desire to be a conduit of blessing. A person with this gift will be generous with $10 just as they would be with $10,000. It is a mindset of abundance, not a bank balance.
Being nice is polite; Mercy is potent. Mercy enters into the pain of another to help pull them out. It requires emotional stamina. A "nice" person avoids the mess; a Mercy person runs toward it to bring healing.
Key Scripture Reference: Romans 12:6-8
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."