Spiritual Gifts in the Church (1 Corinthians 12)
This sermon delves into the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts within the Christian community. It helps listeners understand how God equips every believer to serve, fostering unity and effectiveness.
Every believer receives a spiritual gift at the new birth, distinct from natural talents, given for the common good and strengthening of the body of Christ. Discovering and exercising these gifts brings confidence, commitment, contentment, and joy.
Overview
This sermon begins by establishing the importance of understanding spiritual gifts, drawing from 1 Corinthians 12. It clarifies that these gifts are given to each individual believer for the common good of the church, distinguishing them from natural talents that are present from physical birth. While natural talents equip individuals for various vocations, spiritual gifts are divinely bestowed at conversion to empower believers for service to God.
The preacher emphasizes that the primary purpose of spiritual gifts is not personal gratification or making one feel good. Instead, they are meant to be exercised in humility and gratitude to strengthen the entire body of Christ. Referencing Romans 12, the sermon illustrates various "motivational gifts" like prophecy, service, teaching, giving, leading, and mercy, showing how each contributes uniquely to the fellowship.
Returning to 1 Corinthians 12, the sermon discusses the "manifestations of the Spirit," including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, distinguishing spirits, and tongues. The preacher clarifies that gifts of healing are plural and specific to particular moments and individuals, countering the unscriptural and unkind idea that a lack of healing indicates insufficient faith. He also highlights that no spiritual gift makes a person more spiritual than another, advocating for the pursuit of prophecy—understood as speaking God's truth clearly for edification.
Finally, the sermon outlines the profound results of discovering and actively exercising one's spiritual gift. These include a newfound confidence in serving the Lord, a deeper commitment, and a sense of fulfillment and contentment. Furthermore, understanding the diversity of gifts among believers fosters greater acceptance and leads to increased effectiveness in ministry, culminating in a deep, abiding joy that comes from functioning as God intended within His body.
Key points
- Spiritual gifts are given to every believer at the new birth, distinct from natural talents, to equip them for service to God.
- The primary purpose of spiritual gifts is for the common good and strengthening of the body of Christ, not for individual gratification.
- Romans 12 details "motivational gifts" such as prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and mercy, each essential to the body's function.
- 1 Corinthians 12 lists "manifestations of the Spirit," including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing (plural), miracles, distinguishing spirits, tongues, and interpretation.
- No spiritual gift makes one person more spiritual than another; all are equally valuable in God's eyes when exercised obediently.
- The sermon encourages believers to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy, understood as speaking forth God's truth clearly for the edification of others.
- Discovering and exercising one's spiritual gift brings confidence, commitment, contentment, greater understanding of others, effectiveness in service, and deep joy.
In Charles Stanley's words
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
“There's not one verse of scripture in this book that says the purpose for spiritual gifts is to make you feel good.”
“No gift is more spiritual than the other. No person is more spiritual than the other because they have certain gifts.”
Outline
- I. Understanding Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-7)
- A. The responsibility to understand spiritual gifts
- B. Varieties of gifts, ministries, and effects from the same Spirit, Lord, and God
- C. Spiritual gifts are given for the common good
- D. Distinction between natural talents and spiritual gifts
- II. The Primary Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
- A. Not to make individuals feel good
- B. To be ministered in humility and gratitude for the strengthening of the whole body
- III. Motivational Gifts (Romans 12:4-8)
- A. Many members in one body with different functions
- B. Gifts differ according to grace: prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, mercy
- C. Finding responsibility that fits one's motivational gift
- IV. Manifestations of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-10, 27-31)
- A. Word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, effecting of miracles
- B. Distinguishing of spirits, various kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues
- C. Exercising gifts according to the principles of God's Word
- D. No gift makes one more spiritual; diversity leads to unity
- E. Earnestly desiring the greater gifts, especially prophecy (speaking truth clearly)
- V. The Results of Discovering and Exercising Your Gift
- A. A sense of confidence in serving the Lord
- B. A deeper sense of commitment in service
- C. A sense of fulfillment and contentment
- D. Understanding and acceptance of others
- E. Greater effectiveness in service
- F. A deep sense of joy
Scripture references
- 1 Corinthians 12:1-7
- Ephesians 4
- Romans 12:4-8
- 1 Corinthians 12:7-10
- 1 Corinthians 12:27
- 1 Corinthians 14
- John 2
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
Insights
Spiritual gifts are given to strengthen the entire body of Christ.
True service flows from God's equipping, not merely human effort.
Our unique gifts fit together to form a unified, diverse fellowship.
Questions & answers
What is the main difference between a natural talent and a spiritual gift?
A natural talent is a capacity people are born with, given at physical birth. A spiritual gift, however, is bestowed by God at one's spiritual new birth to equip them specifically for His service.
What is the primary purpose of spiritual gifts, according to the sermon?
The primary purpose is not to make individuals feel good, but to be exercised in humility and gratitude, strengthening the entire body of Christ for the common good.
Does the sermon teach that some spiritual gifts are more important than others?
No, the sermon explicitly states that no gift makes one person more spiritual than another. All gifts are equally significant in God's eyes when used in obedience and devotion.
What is the sermon's view on the gift of healing?
The sermon notes that gifts of healing are plural and specific to particular moments and persons, not a universal ability for one individual. It condemns the unscriptural practice of attributing non-healing to a lack of faith.
Which spiritual gift does the sermon suggest believers should primarily pursue?
Drawing from 1 Corinthians 14, the sermon advises pursuing the gift of prophecy, understood as speaking forth God's truth clearly for the edification, exhortation, and consolation of others.
What benefits come from discovering and exercising one's spiritual gift?
These include a sense of confidence, deeper commitment, fulfillment, contentment, understanding of others, increased effectiveness in service, and profound joy in functioning as God intended.
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