Unity Through the Spirit

Chapters 12-14: Spiritual Gifts

Attention Step

Chapters 12-14 is ONE argument

Chapter 12: Broad look into what Spiritual Gifts are

Chapter 13: The foundation in which Spiritual Gifts are to be used

Chapter 14: Paul conclusion to his argument

Let’s keep in mind that Paul’s discussion here is to a specific people concerning a specific issue at THEIR place

From this, we can away some timeless principles for us today when we view the Scripture through the lens of which it was written!

Interest Step

Goal of Spiritual Gifts= UNITY!

The Holy Spirit= in which, by which, with which we are able to serve the Lord TOGETHER in unity!

The Holy Spirit is indeed the Common Denominator in all of us sitting in the room this evening!

Lead into Subject Step

Tonight, let’s take a look into Paul’s take on what Spiritual gifts are

1. The Spirit of God Brings Unity (verses 1-13)

We Confess the same Lord (v.1-3)

Those who are led by the Spirit are those who claim that Jesus is indeed Lord!

John’s test of whether someone is or is not a true teacher of the Word

If they claim that Jesus truly is Lord (Jesus is God)

The only way in which one can rightly proclaim that Jesus is Lord is by the Holy Spirit!

The story of Lydia ()

We Depend on the Same Lord (v.4-6)

We often say the Gifts of the SPIRIT or Spiritual Gifts but do you see more than just the Holy Spirit in those three verses?

Don’t let anyone tell you that the concept of the Trinity is not found in Scripture!

We could summarize these three verses by breaking it down like this:

Verse 4: The source in which we get our gifts is from God

Verse 5: The way in which we exercise our gifts comes from God (may be different ways but the it all comes from God)

Verse 6: The ENERGY we receive to use our gifts comes from God

We Minister to the same Body (v.7-13)

Verse 7 is the meat or the central core of the discussion Paul has in these three chapters

We are going to begin seeing the idea of how the Corinthians must have been prideful even in their Spiritual gifts

“HAHA! I got this gift and tearing the others down”

However, verse 7 gives us TWO POWERFUL truths regarding Spiritual gifts

Your gift has been given to you ON PURPOSE

See Verse 18

Your gift has been given to you FOR OTHERS

1 Corinthians 12: For the Profit of ALL

: FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS

: Individual members OF one another

Paul gives us a list of gifts here in 1 Corinthians and we see another list in

The list here includes:

Wisdom: To understand the words of law of God

Knowledge: KNOWING how to apply and live out God’s Word

Faith: Not saving Faith but a life of faith that can move MOUNTAINS

Healings: The disciples were given this gift

Miracles: Same as above

Used to authenticate the ministry of the early church

Prophecy: Proclaiming the truth and revelation of God

Discernment: The ability to swift out false teachers

Tongues: Ability to speak an unlearned, LIVING language

Interpretation: Ability to interpret an unlearned, LIVING language

More listed in : Service, Teaching, Exhortation, Leading, Mercy

Let’s note here, how Paul does go into DETAIL with each of these gifts in this discussion

As much as we would love to dissect each of these gifts and argue about them, for the sake of THIS study we are only sticking to the meat and FLOW of the passage and argument Paul is making

Let’s glory in the fact that there truly is diversity in the Body and how we serve our Lord, yet there is unity as a result

Just an amazing picture of the body of Christ!

How does that happen?

We have Experienced the Same Baptism (v.12-13)

Before getting into the discussion of how diversity and unity can exist, Paul pauses his argument to reemphasize the importance of the common denominator within every individual in the Body of Christ

What unites the many different people?The baptism of the Holy Spirit at the Moment of Salvation!

We all have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us!

Sometimes we express our “in-tune-ness” with Him but we still have the POWER of GOD residing within us!

2. The Spirit Allows for Diversity (v.14-31)

Can I just mention something that addresses an elephant in the room so to speak in all of our churches

In all of the places around the world, can you guess where the most segregated places are?

Places of Worship

Why? Because of the way we worship...

should that be a main reason for break off from one another?

With the principles that Paul lays out here in this letter that everything should be done in reverence and under control (which trust me, we all have different views of what that means) I do not believe we should be segregated

Do you realize what the churches were called in the Bible? How about the 7 churches of Revelation?

The Church of (location)

I think we ought to change our name to “Radford Church”

What if we all did that? Bible preaching churches that is....

I personally think it’s crazy churches are the most segregated place on this earth

I am going to make a bold proclamation that this passage is beneficial for Calvary Baptist Church but is REALLY for our relationship with all Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Three truths about the diversity of the Body of Christ:

Different Roles (v.14-17)

Specifically Equipped (v.18)

God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called

We are called this evening!

Uniquely Joined (v.19-31)

WE NEED EACH OTHER!

Verse 26