Slices
Prepare
Reflect on the gifts God has given you, and give thanks for the chance to use them to serve God and others.
Bible passage
Concerning spiritual gifts
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to dumb idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Explore
Corinthian society was full of personal show, with people announcing their gifts or abilities or power. The gospel brought a great change! Although people discovered that they truly mattered to God – for God gave his own Son to die for them – they also learned that the universe was not centred on them. Jesus’ model for living was humble service, rather than drawing attention to himself. This particularly applies to their use of the ‘gifts of the Spirit’. Paul insists on two key points.
First, these diverse gifts are God’s good gifts, from the one true God (v 6), the Lord Jesus (v 5), and the Holy Spirit (v 4). This implies that they are to be valued, and not despised. It also implies there is no hierarchy among the gifts, for all are from the generous Lord of all. Believers should not boast in the particular gift(s) they have (note 1 Corinthians 4:7).
Second, these diverse gifts are ‘for the common good’ (v 7). God gives them to help others in their walk with Christ, individually and as a community. Again, this implies that it’s a serious error to use gifts to draw attention to yourself – rather, these gifts unlock our potential to help others.
Respond
Pray for your church, that people would remember and act on Paul’s call to humble service of the community, rather than putting themselves at the centre.
Deeper Bible study
Thank God that the one Holy Spirit gives diverse gifts to all.
We come to another controversial passage! If you know it well, I encourage you to lay aside preconceived ideas about spiritual gifts. Let’s aim to come to these verses afresh and hear what God is saying.
Notice, first, the many places in which Paul emphasises unity. There is one Spirit who unites all believers under the lordship of Christ (vs 1–3). That same Spirit is the giver of all gifts (vs 4–6,11). Alongside this, there is diversity. There are many different gifts (vs 7–10). Those mentioned here are not exhaustive, for other passages list other gifts.1 Crucially, these gifts are for the ‘common good’ (v 7), a point that lies at the heart of this passage and ties together the emphases on unity and diversity. This is foundational teaching about spiritual gifts. It is vital that disciples of Jesus are not ‘uninformed’ (v 1).
We can apply these verses in two ways. First, be clear that there is no room for boasting about spiritual gifts. The very name ‘spiritual gifts’ (charismata) could be translated ‘gifts of grace’. If the Spirit gives graciously to each one as he wills, then a showy, self-serving practice of any gift is a nonsense. The second point is linked to the first: we are to use our gifts in the service of others. The order of gifts is instructive here. Speaking in tongues is surely listed towards the end because the speech is unintelligible to the gathering unless an interpreter is present.2 Paul isn’t denigrating speaking in tongues, but he does want to exalt those gifts which are most beneficial to others. What gifts has God given you? Whatever they may be, let’s not misuse them to puff ourselves up. Rather, let’s use them to build up the body of Christ.
We are to use our gifts for the benefit of others. Think of some practical, concrete ways you can put this truth into action.
1 Eg Eph 4:11; Gal 5:22,23; Rom 12:6–8 2 1 Cor 14:5
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 11,12; John 5
Pray for Scripture Union
The SU Council meets today. Pray for Penny Boshoff, President, as she leads the meeting and that the discussions will be fruitful and enhance SU’s ministry.
