Varied Gifts; Common Mission

July 14, 2024
Ben Malone

1 Corinthians 12:1 (ESV)
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utternace of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, ESV

WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

Verse 1: “Spiritual Gifts” (pneumatikos) Spiritual conduct, spiritual things, or Supernatural powers.

Verse 4: “Gifts” (charisma) Gracious gift or SPiritual gift.

Verse 5: “Services” (diakonia) Ministry servant or Spiritual services.

Verse 6: “Activities” (nergema) Energy or Power caused by God.

Verse 7: “Manisfestation of the Spirit” (phanerosis) Revelation or to be made visible.

“A spiritual gift is when the holy spirit manifests his presence by imparting supernatural power to an individual, enabling them to effectively serve and build up the church in ways beyond their ability.”

WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF THESE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

HOW ARE WE GIVEN THESE GIFTS?

Hebrews 2:3a-4 – “It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

1 Corinthians 12:29-31
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:39
39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

WE ARE TO EQUIP GOD’S PEOPLE FOR MINISTRY

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

Ephesians 4:11-12 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

WE ARE TO BUILD UP GOD’S CHURCH

1 Corinthians 12:7 - 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Ephesians 4:15-16 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

WE ARE TO LIVE OUT GOD’S MISSION

Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”