SERIES: Christ is the Answer When the Church Is in Crisis
My Gift … to Serve! Introduction to Spiritual Gifts
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
Note: This sermon was preached by Jerry Rich, Associate Pastor at First Evangelical Free Church in St. Louis.
Introduction: You know, when I turned the calendar page over on Thursday, it hit me like it always does in November: What happened to September and October! These next two months always have a special feel, because you know what’s coming. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and then comes … Christmas.
You might say I’m rushing the season this morning, but I want you to get in touch with that pre-Christmas feeling–the good will, the nip in the air, the decorating, and the cookies (especially the cookies!)? Do you still get a little excited even if you’re supposed to be “grown up” now? And what’s it like as you wonder if all those hints to your husband or your wife or your parents are really going to get results on Christmas Day? Well, I brought in a gift box today to help us get in that mood as we turn our attention to the Master gift-giver. He takes delight in giving you and me the best gifts we could ever hope for.
Keep this image of God’s big gifts as we look into God’s Word today. I want to start my message by beginning at the end. Here’s my conclusion: God loves you so much that when you became a Christian, He gave you a unique and special gift more precious than any you’ve ever received. And the greatest joy you’ll ever experience comes from giving that gift away in serving Him. Believers find fulfillment in life by discovering and exercising their spiritual gifts.
Or let me give you a shorter version: You have a gift; now open it and use it!
Friends, spiritual gifts are God’s plan to provide full employment and full enjoyment for all of us in the “work” of ministry. Spiritual gifts can bring deep satisfaction as you find them and use them, and in the process, you discover that your life really can make a difference in this world. Now, when the whole church figures this out, look out world!
Just before we return to 1 Corinthians, where we left off in May, I want to connect with the vision for our church. For six weeks we’ve staked out the territory to which we believe God is calling First Evangelical Free Church. Would you join me in repeating that vision statement again? We are … “Becoming a community of contagious Christians who pray fervently, celebrate Jesus and passionately spread the flame to Metro Saint Louis and beyond.”
Many of you recall that for five years we’ve used another graphic for our ministries–Four sets of hands (and you still see it on the back of your worship folder until we reprint). I believe the way our vision will be accomplished is by letting God use our hands, and by recognizing that our hands are empowered by His giving spiritual gifts to His people.
Let’s recap the first 11 chapters of 1 Corinthians. The Corinthian church was stressed out by arguments and rivalry. Some members thought they were God’s celebrities in the church, and they should be given extra honor and influence. Some of them were highly educated and some were pretty smooth with their public speaking. But spiritually speaking, most of them were in kindergarten when it came to their moral lives and true spirituality. So Paul wrote them a letter. He basically told them to grow up.
Some of the concerns he addressed came from questions in a previous letter the church had written to him. These included the subjects of marriage (7:1), eating food sacrificed to idols (8:1), and about taking offerings (16:1). In chapter 12, where we start today, Paul tackles their questions about spiritual gifts. Be aware that spiritual gifts have often been a source of confusion to the church through the ages. So listen carefully today and over the next few weeks as the apostle Paul gives us straight talk about gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:1-13 (New Living Translation)
{1} And now, dear brothers and sisters, I will write about the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives to each of us, for I must correct your misunderstandings about them. {2} You know that when you were still pagans you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. {3} So I want you to know how to discern what is truly from God: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
{4} Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. {5} There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. {6} There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. {7} A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
{8}To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. {9} The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. {10} He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. {11} It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
{12} The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. {13} Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.
Notice where Paul begins. “I must correct your misunderstandings about (spiritual gifts).” He directs them, first of all, to …
Pay attention to the source of gifts … to discern that gift expression which is from God. (Key concept: Discernment) (1-3)
It seems that in the community of Corinth, as in our culture today, many were looking for emotional connection but without concern for truth. I think we can discover the meaning here best by drilling down to verse 3, then working back up to the first verse.
Paul gives the Corinthians a simple test to discern those expressions that are from God: He tells them to examine the content more than the excitement. “No one is able to say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” Now, he’s not referring to whether a person can just voice the words but whether the words are from the heart. None of us can confess Jesus as our Lord without God’s grace.
On the other hand, no one who really has a faith relationship with Jesus Christ would engage in “dissing” Him by their language. The word for “curse” here is anathema, something that’s banned and condemned. There’s some indication that the two particular phrases quoted here, “anathemaJesus” and “Lord Jesus” were the choices Christians were presented when they were brought into Jewish courts–to either disown Jesus or to affirm Him as Lord. Whether it’s before a court or in false worship, it’s incompatible to call Jesus “Lord” but speak disrespectfully of Him.
Verse 2, then, becomes clearer. Paul reminds them that at one time they were enamored by idols who couldn’t talk; in fact, they were “swept along” in ecstatic demonstrations as they worshiped idols. After some came to faith in Christ, they still looked for sensational experiences and they equated them with spirituality.
The “misunderstandings,” Paul writes in verse 1, are linked to their pagan background. They misunderstood both why spiritual gifts were given and how they were to be used, and Paul says it’s time for them to get their upside-down view of spiritual gifts set straight. They made celebrities of those who displayed some of the more spectacular gifts like healing and miracle-working and speaking in tongues. But the less dramatic gifts were disregarded and those using them were given lower status.
Before we turn to the next paragraph, which is the heart of this passage, I have some help in setting the scene. (Drama sketch, “Somebody’s Got to Do It.” In a living room scene, a fellow evades his pastor’s phone calls because he suspects the pastor is recruiting him as a junior high leader. When he finally can’t escape a call, he learns that he’s needed to paint sets for a junior high production–something he’d enjoy doing. The only issue remaining as the skit closes is, “If it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t count” as spiritual service.)
Friends, the great news from God’s Word today is that you and I can find real joy and great fulfillment by serving through the gifts God has given us. And we can do it in ways that are geared to our personalities and our skills. Look with me at verses 4-7 which urge us to …
Appreciate God’s assignment. (Key concept: Employment) (4-7)
Paul tells the Corinthians there’s not a single gift or even a one-size-fits-all box of gifts that believers are given. Instead, he says they’re different but united by the same God. Notice how the three persons of the Trinity (the Tri-Unity of God) are engaged with the church here. While teaching us about the Trinity isn’t the main point of these verses, this doctrine is even more significant here because it’s the foundation. My advice, if you ever get pressed to show where the Bible teaches about the Trinity, is to turn here and read about God in three persons.
Now, what are “spiritual gifts” anyway? The Greek word in the original language of the New Testament is charismata, from which we get our English words “charisma” and “charismatic.” The root word is charis, like my daughter’s name, which means “grace.” The charismata are gifts of grace and the person who exercises his or her gifts could rightly be called “charismatic.” (So “charismatic” is not a name for just a few of the gifts.)
These gifts of grace are given just by God’s grace. They’re not earned; they’re not the result of hard work; they’re not even ones we choose for ourselves. And they may, or may not, be related to our natural skillset. Not every professional teacher is gifted to teach in the church. Not every financial expert is geared to deal with church stewardship. On the other hand, there are people from all walks of life who are given special abilities to teach in the church. And you don’t have to have a counseling degree to use the gift of mercy in ministering to the needs of others.
But let me make this clear to those who are not yet believers: This discussion of spiritual gifts doesn’t apply to you–at least not yet. According to Scripture, you receive a spiritual gift when you are regenerated, when you become a follower of Jesus Christ. But spiritual gifting is part of the package for every believer. If you’ve not yet placed your faith in Christ, you’re welcome to listen in. I trust it won’t be long until you can know when you put your new spiritual gifts into action for the Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
Notice the triple list in these verses–gifts, service, and workings. First, there are different kinds of gifts–the “charismata,” those special abilities that really energize you. Then there are different kinds of service–the word used here in the original speaks of opportunities for expressing our spiritual gifts, the practical ways we serve. These are the specific jobs we’re led into within the body. And then there are different kinds of working–or results or accomplishments. In other words, this third item refers to how God uses the serving.
Here’s the best part—each of these diversities of gifts, serving, and results are guided by the Trinity. Different kinds of Gifts are given by the same Spirit, according to verse 11 “as He determines.” Different kinds of Service are guided by the same Lord. Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is in charge of how we put our gifts into practice. And different kinds of Working (or Results) are brought about by the same God. Whether or not we see the results, our Sovereign God is in charge of all that’s accomplished.
Verse 7 summarizes that these gifts are “manifestations” given to every believer to help the church do the work of the church (which, we find in Matthew 28, is to make disciples). According to the Bible’s description, God directs His people in unlimited variety to express spiritual gifts, through various ways of serving, to accomplish some great results. God’s design is for the Holy Spirit to give us certain special abilities to be used for Him. But the ways of expressing these gifts don’t all look alike. God isn’t in the business of manufacturing cookie-cutter Christians who look alike and act alike. He doesn’t even make just one mold for each spiritual gift. Think of it–the old saying probably is true: “After God made you, He broke the mold.”
Let me show even more clearly how these fit together. Let’s take the example of teaching as a spiritual gift. Of course, I’ve seen this gift used by those who serve through public preaching, but also through writing curriculum or drama, and through counseling, to name a few. Some of the outcomes–or the ways God uses them–are to bring skeptics to conversion, to deepen discipleship, and to foster healing of relationships. So there’s one gift, used three different ways, with different results.
Each of these examples can be graphically illustrated as follows:
Gift: Teaching expressed through
Kinds of service/ministry: preaching, writing, counseling, and leading to …
Kinds of working/results: conversion, discipling, healing
Let’s take another example. One way the gift of mercy can be expressed is through the service of counseling. But that’s not the only way. I’ve also known singers whose basic spiritual passion was actually mercy-giving, expressed through the pathos of their music. And I know there’s a lot of mercy shown every Sunday morning by those caring for our children in the nursery. What are some of the results God brings by exercise of mercy? Biblical counseling may communicate assurance; a believer’s resolve can be strengthened through a musician’s song; through caring for children, their nurture and their sense of belonging can be realized.
For a final example, let’s think about ways a gift of giving can be expressed. It’s not too hard to see that philanthropy can be the way some exercise this gift by meeting financial needs; this of course results in resources for ministry. But I have known at least a couple of believers with the gift of giving who weren’t endowed with wealth but who were great scavengers, finding bargains and being creative with their assignments. If you asked for a wall-hanging to brighten a counseling room, they would soon come up with just the right touch; they also were providing resources for ministry. And I know many who are exercising their gift of giving through hospitality; they provide the warm resources for fellowship to occur. You can apply this grid to every spiritual gift.
So, this trinitarian framework of spiritual gifts actually reveals the genius of God’s plan for both diversity and unity within the Body, as God mixes our gifts, our talents, and our passions in an awesome way. There will be situations, though, in which God surprises us and leads us to move out of our comfort zone. Early in our married life, when Linda and I moved to a new city, we were asked to direct the youth ministry in the church we had started attending. At first, we didn’t even want to pray about it since we “knew” we weren’t gifted for that ministry. But we did pray and we were surprised that God confirmed the calling, so we agreed and ended up enjoying two wonderful years directing this youth group. Then God brought along a couple who were a perfect fit and we understood that our time was completed.
I wonder what needs, long-term or temporary, God is going to meet by placing you here at First Free? Have you asked yourself that question?
Let’s turn now from the description of employment to the message of deployment. In our country’s current war against terrorism, we’ve heard a lot about deployment of troops and other military assets. The armed forces have been placing these assets in strategic positions to accomplish their mission. The next four verses illustrate how God deploys His army, the body of Christ. And the bottom line is this …
Use your spiritual gift(s). (Key concept: Deployment) (8-11)
The Holy Spirit doesn’t distribute gifts so we can put them away like a treasure in a safety deposit box that gathers cobwebs. He gives them to be used. Paul tells the Corinthians that each gift is given “for the common good” (NIV), “to help the entire church” (NLT), verse 7. The sole purpose of spiritual gifts is to build the Body of Christ. There is no indication they’re given to help the believer to be a more winsome salesman or to earn more income. The gifts are given for the church, to be used through the church, to accomplish God’s mission by the church.
I believe firmly that any church where God is at work is being given all the spiritual gifts that are needed for that church’s mission. That’s what Paul told the Corinthians in 1:7: “You have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But while every necessary spiritual gift is given, not every one of those gifts is being used faithfully according to God’s deployment and calling. That’s why we see both unmet needs and spiritual immaturity–in Corinth and in the modern church, and maybe even here at First Free.
Imagine what it would be like to never get around to using your spiritual gift, to miss out on God’s “well done, faithful servant” award. A few weeks ago my son Jeremiah asked me if I had ever gotten around to using the Father’s Day gift he gave me two summers ago. At first, I couldn’t even remember what it was, but he reminded me. It was an organizer file for CDs. Then I had to go looking for it. And here it is, ready to be used after this message.
Do you have a gift from God that you’ve treated like that? Have you put it aside and left it alone, even though you know it was given out of love for you to use? If so, wake up. Here’s God’s Word, telling us that none of us are left out: (12:7) “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” And, (12:11) “It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”
Between these two verses, Paul gives them nine examples of spiritual gifts–wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracle-working, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. We don’t have time to explore these specific gifts today. But I do want to address the question I often hear as to why there are different lists of spiritual gifts in Scripture. There are four New Testament passages that list several spiritual gifts, and I have developed the following chart to show these lists:
| Spiritual Gift | Rom12:6-8 | 1 Cor12:4-11 | 1 Cor12:28 | Eph4:11 |
| Prophecy | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Teaching | _ | _ | _ | |
| Serving | _ | |||
| Encouraging | _ | |||
| Giving | _ | |||
| Leading | _ | |||
| Mercy-showing | _ | |||
| Wisdom | _ | |||
| Knowledge | _ | |||
| Faith | _ | |||
| Healing | _ | _ | ||
| Miracle-working | _ | _ | ||
| Discerning | _ | |||
| Tongues | _ | _ | ||
| Interpretation (of tongues) | _ | _ | ||
| Apostleship | _ | _ | ||
| Helping others | _ | |||
| Administration | _ | |||
| Evangelism | _ | |||
| Shepherding | _ |
Just try to look for the pattern. Do you find one? Frankly, I don’t think there is a pattern, nor do I believe any one of these lists is the official, approved list–or even that all of them combined make up the complete number of gifts. All seem to be illustrating the diversity of gifts, but since none are comprehensive, I’d suggest to you that we can’t conclude that there are 9, or 13, or 18, or 25 spiritual gifts. But I’ll also observe that you can’t come up with very many other gifts than you see here without getting a little off the wall.
For example, it’s unlikely for there to be a “gift” of car repair; more likely the gift of helps is being expressed through a ministry of mechanical talent. You know, I once heard a pastor griping that too many members of his church were exercising the “gift of discouragement.” (I still haven’t found where that one is listed.)
If you go to each passage and study each list, I think you’re likely to find there’s a reason for highlighting certain gifts each place. For example, Romans 12 teaches about submitting ourselves as living sacrifices and the gifts listed seem to illustrate how believers give themselves sacrificially, such as showing mercy and serving the needs of others. Since Ephesians 4 focuses on the unity of the church, the gifts listed there illustrate how God has given different kinds of equippers to build up and unify the church–such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
So, how about the list in our passage today? It appears to me these gifts illustrate the more miraculous or spectacular ones. Paul affirms them but he shows that there should be no rivalry over which ones are superior. And to reinforce that these nine gifts are not the only ones, in the remainder of the chapter Paul lists a few more and he compares the Body of Christ to the human body with many parts, not all of which are prominent and not all of which receive regular compliments. But all are vital and all help build up the Body.
May I take a few moments now to bring this home for each of us? Come back to the gift box with me. You have something in your gift box, so I’m going to ask you three questions. First, do you know that you do have a spiritual gift from God? Are you convinced of God’s Word in this regardless of how you might feel gift-challenged? Today’s worship folder contains an envelope. Think of it as representing God’s gift to you. Ask Him to help open your eyes to your gift box.
Second, have you looked inside the box? Have you actually discovered your particular gifts? If that’s part of the journey you still need to take, will you commit yourself to exploring? There are some tools available to you. Some are listed on the left side of the worship folder and in the Ministry Focus today. You might find that you explore best by taking a class or by consulting a book. Or you may find that simply trying different ministries and paying attention to how others confirm your giftedness is how you find your place.
Now, I want to offer a caution at this point. Spiritual gifts are always to be confirmed by the Body. While there are tools and assessments that can help you uncover your giftedness, any spiritual gifts “test” can be skewed by feelings of guilt or by our desire to have certain gifts. You always need the wisdom and the feedback of other believers to give you perspective.
Do you need to take a test to know your gift? Probably not, but I’d consider taking tests for spiritual gifts to be similar to using personality inventories. They can help you better understand yourself. They can help jumpstart your exploration. Do you even have to know, or be able to list, your specific gifts? Again, I don’t think so. Believers have served through their churches for nearly two millennia, usually without spiritual gifts tests. If you, intuitively and prayerfully, have discerned ministry areas in which you can serve joyfully, then you’ve been obedient to God’s calling. But I ‘d also encourage you to use the tools that are available to you today to sharpen your focus.
And finally, will you look outside the box? You’ve seen the box, and you’re discovering what’s inside it. Now, are you going to take it out and use it? In the future, you’re going to see a new level of help and encouragement in discovering your place in ministry at First Free. We’re already offering STEPS classes and we’re developing new ministries to better help you serve through your giftedness.
But don’t wait to get started. The responsibility is always going to be on each believer to seek and pray about and explore your place in building the Body. If you are under-employed in the Body, let this gift package prod you to check out some new ways to serve God. If you are over-deployed in the Body, ask God to help you find what ministry to do and what to lay aside; and ask Him to help you train others to take your place.
Finally, I want to invite you to …
Affirm your part in building the Body of Christ. (Key concept: Unity) (12-13)
1 Corinthians 12:12-13: “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.”
I think we can sum up the verse this way: God provides. He decides. And He unifies.
Communion: Outside of God’s grace, we tend to assign a “pecking order,” and we rank some members of the body as more important than others. But God puts together all the parts to make up one body. If you affirm today that you are part of the Body, if you’ve received Jesus as your Savior, then take the bread and the cup and thank God for the whole Body of Christ. If you haven’t yet placed your faith in Jesus, I’d ask you to use this time to reflect on His offer to forgive you and to cleanse you. Perhaps today is when you’ll make your step towards God by receiving the greatest gift of all, His Son Jesus Christ.
I invite all of us to remember Christ’s one body as we take the bread together. And then we’ll take the cup, remembering that we’re given “one Spirit to drink” according to verse 13, as we depend upon the shed blood of Christ for salvation.
DATE: November 4, 2001