SESSION 5 EQUIPPED WITH GOD S GIFTS The Point God has uniquely gifted us to serve Him. The Passage 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 The Bible Meets Life Know any gifted people? When I hear that word, it takes me back to the third grade. I don t know how or why, but I was chosen to go to the school library once a week and work with a gifted teacher. When we met for the first time, the teacher challenged me to write using my imagination. I was happy to oblige but all I wanted to write about was Jesus. That previous summer I had given my life to Christ, and He was all I could talk about. Displeased, the gifted teacher told me if I didn t open up my mind to other subjects, I would have to go back to the not-so-gifted classroom. And that s how I got kicked out of the gifted class because my gift was talking about Jesus. As we ll see in today s session, the Bible talks about giftedness from a much different perspective. God gifts His followers in a way that is far different and far greater than any talent or giftedness typically celebrated in modern culture. The Setting Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to a church troubled by factions and divisions. One divisive issue was spiritual gifts. Apparently, some in the church took special pride in their gifts and belittled those who possessed what they considered to be lesser gifts. Paul wrote that all believers served the same Lord, and all spiritual gifts were distributed by the same Holy Spirit as He deemed fit for the accomplishment of God s purposes. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 57
What does the Bible say? A demonstration of the Spirit (v. 7) As believers allow the Holy Spirit to guide and empower them, they reveal the working of the Spirit through their service to God and others. Implied is that the use of a spiritual gift is never to bring attention to the believer, but only to God. Distinguishing between spirits (v. 10) The Holy Spirit gives some believers the ability to determine if teachers, leaders, and other individuals are being led by God or by Satan. Satan works through false teachers to lead people away from God and His truth and to disrupt the unity of the church. If an individual is under Satan s control, those with this gift can warn others to avoid such a person. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. 7 A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages. 11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills. 58 SeSSion 5
THE POINT God has uniquely gifted us to serve Him. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Question #1 on page 45 of the PSG: What do you enjoy doing that other people consider difficult or unpleasant? Notes Note: In most cases, the group leader should not be the first to answer his or her questions. In this case, however, it may be a good idea for you to set a lighter tone for this question (and help group members understand what you re asking) by answering first. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Supplement Question 1 by handing out a piece of paper to each group member. Direct everyone to create an image that represents their answer to Question 1 but to do so only by folding or tearing the paper. For example, if your answer to Question 1 was taking out the trash, you could fold and tear your paper to create a trash can. Allow everyone two or three minutes to work, and then encourage volunteers to share both their image and their answer. Note: Leading group members to fold or tear their pieces of paper will be an enjoyable experience for the visual and hands-on learners in your group. If you prefer to take another approach, however, you can also provide pens or pencils and allow people to draw on the paper as well. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point at the top of page 46 of the PSG: God has uniquely gifted us to serve Him. GUIDE: Direct group members to The Bible Meets Life on page 46 of the PSG. Continue the topic of spiritual giftedness by reading or summarizing the text or by encouraging group members to read on their own. PRAY: Transition into the discussion by thanking God for the many gifts He has given to the people assembled in your group. TIP: Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid. Visit ministrygrid. com/web/ biblestudies forlife. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 59
5 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. READ: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 on page 47 of the PSG. Read the text out loud or ask a volunteer to do so. GUIDE: If appropriate for your group (and if helpful), use the first two paragraphs on page 61 of this Leader Guide to introduce the study of God s Spirit and the spiritual gifts. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What can we learn from these verses about God s intention for His church? DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 48 of the PSG: What have you heard or been taught about the definition and importance of spiritual gifts? SUMMARIZE: After group members have shared their views on the Holy Spirit, help them walk through what Paul wrote in verses 4-6 by highlighting the main points on page 48 of the PSG: > > The same Lord and Christ in your life is the same Lord and Christ in my life. Every follower of Christ knows Him and experiences Him in a personal and powerful way, because the Holy Spirit indwells all believers. > > Now, the fact that we have the same Leader and the same Spirit doesn t mean we re all the same as individuals. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence to work in and through us. > > So, even though we share one Spirit, one Lord, and one God, we are still unique. God works in our lives in different ways. > > Now let s run all that together. The Holy Spirit works through you and me with a diversity of spiritual gifts, and He places us in different ministries and roles to use those various gifts. And these ministries of God will result in effective work for His kingdom. TRANSITION: As we move to verses 7-10, we ll find some of the specific spiritual gifts Paul mentioned in his letter to the Corinthians. 60 SeSSion 5
THE POINT God has uniquely gifted us to serve Him. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Commentary This section in 1 Corinthians has been interpreted in various ways. While some have hesitated to explore the work of the Holy Spirit, others have focused almost exclusively on the Spirit. What we need is a healthy balance in order to understand who the Spirit is and how He wants to work in us and through us to extend God s kingdom. The study of spiritual gifts has resulted in significantly different views. One view holds that some of the gifts (often referred to as the sign gifts ) which were present in the early church ceased at the end of that period, while the remaining gifts are still present today. Another view is that all of the gifts mentioned in the New Testament are still being given by the Spirit. As with any study of Scripture, when looking at this passage we should use all the biblical tools and sound exegetical principles available to us along with much prayer and great humility. [Verses 4-6] Paul started this section of his letter by acknowledging the reality and diversity of spiritual gifts. At the same time, he stressed the commonality among the gifts. In other places in his writings, Paul used the singular form of the Greek word translated gifts to refer to the whole of God s work of salvation (see Rom. 5:15; 6:23; 1 Cor. 1:7). In this chapter and in Romans 12:6, he used this word to focus on one part of God s work of salvation the giving of special abilities by the Holy Spirit to believers for use in strengthening and extending the kingdom of God. Peter also used this word with the same meaning (see 1 Pet. 4:10). In terms of the diversity of spiritual gifts, Paul wrote that there are different gifts, different ministries, and different activities. By stating that there were different gifts, he was setting the stage for his later emphasis that though there are many different gifts, all are essential for the work of God s kingdom (vv. 12 31). By referring to different ministries, he was perhaps indicating that the same gifts could be used in different ways according to the will of the Holy Spirit and in light of what service was most needed at a certain time and place. The different activities might refer to the different results in the way the Holy Spirit worked through different believers with the same gift. To emphasize the commonality of spiritual gifts, Paul referred to the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God. Here is a strong picture of the divine Trinity the revelation of God as Father (God), as Jesus Christ the Son (Lord), and as the Holy Spirit (Spirit). Paul stressed the common work of all three Persons in giving, guiding, and empowering of spiritual gifts to each person in the lives of all Jesus disciples. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 61
15 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 7 A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages. READ: 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 on page 47 of the PSG. GUIDE: Direct group members to read through the bullet list on page 49 of the PSG. This list offers four broad categories of spiritual gifts: gifts that support, gifts that share, gifts that speak, and gifts that supplement. Note: The final paragraph on page 63 of this Leader Guide offers information and explanation connected to each of the specific spiritual gifts mentioned in verses 7-10. DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 49 of the PSG: What s one of your spiritual gifts? Note: Make it clear that I don t know is an acceptable response. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How do we identify our spiritual gifts? RECAP: Call attention to the final paragraph on page 49 of the PSG: Your gift is not for your personal benefit. In fact, any use of a spiritual gift to direct attention and glory to an individual is a misuse of that gift. God has given us these gifts so that we might build up, strengthen, and encourage the church; reveal Christ; and glorify Him. Properly using your gift accomplishes all three! DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 49 of the PSG: When have you benefited personally from the spiritual gift of another person? TRANSITION: As we conclude with verse 11, we ll see an important clarification on the source and distribution of spiritual gifts. 62 SeSSion 5
THE POINT God has uniquely gifted us to serve Him. 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 Commentary [Verse 7] Before Paul mentioned specific examples of spiritual gifts, he used an interesting term to describe all the gifts a demonstration of the Spirit. As believers allow the Spirit to guide and empower them, they reveal the working of the Spirit through their service to God and others. Implied is that the use of a spiritual gift is never to bring attention to the believer, but rather to God. [Verse 8] Besides the gifts mentioned here, other lists are found in Romans 12:6 8, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:11. None of the lists are identical. In verse 8, Paul mentioned a message of wisdom and a message of knowledge. A person with the gift of wisdom has been given greater insight into God s truth, particularly in relation to salvation through Jesus Christ. A person with the gift of knowledge has been given the ability to help other believers see how to apply God s truth to everyday living. [Verse 9] Over and over the Bible shows us that faith is necessary for salvation (see John 1:12; Rom. 10:9 10). However, the spiritual gift of faith is something more. This kind of faith enables a person to see what God plans to do and to believe in and proclaim this reality with great passion. For example, a church may sense that God wants them to begin a new ministry, but they are not sure if they will have the necessary resources. The Spirit might give one member the gift of faith to see that God will provide everything needed. That member then encourages and challenges the others to trust God s provision and go forward. Gifts of healing refers to the supernatural ability to heal people of physical illnesses. [Verse 10] A more literal translation of the performing of miracles is the workings of powers. Paul may have been indicating a broader type of power than miracles of physical healing. For example, after Peter accused Ananias and his wife Sapphira of lying to the Spirit and they suddenly died (5:1-11), the Book of Acts notes, Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles (v. 12). Most of us tend to think of prophecy as the ability to reveal God s plans for the future. However, the Bible shows that the main use of this gift was to speak God s truth with a special degree of clarity and boldness. Note Peter s sermon on the Day of Pentecost (2:14-36). Distinguishing between spirits refers to the Holy Spirit giving some believers the ability to determine if the teachers and leaders are being led by God or by Satan. The last two gifts are the most difficult to understand. While the exact nature of these languages is debated, a careful study of 1 Corinthians 14 provides additional insight. Apparently in the Corinthian church, individual members would jump up randomly during worship meetings and begin making sounds no one could understand. No one was concerned about teaching or encouraging the body of believers, only about bringing attention to themselves. In chapter 14, Paul showed the superiority of prophetic messages and gave clear guidelines for worship that builds up the body. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 63
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes 1 Corinthians 12:11 11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills. READ: 1 Corinthians 12:11 on page 47 of the PSG. GUIDE: Lead group members through the two questions mentioned on page 50 of the PSG: What if you have a gift you don t want? and Why doesn t the Holy Spirit give every believer every gift? ALTERNATE QUESTION: Why is it significant that God distributes the spiritual gifts according to His will? DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 50 of the PSG: How has God uniquely gifted our group to serve Him and others? DO: Direct group members to complete the activity Gifts Today on page 51 of the PSG. If time permits, encourage volunteers to share their responses. How do spiritual gifts benefit churches today? Select two of the spiritual-gifts categories listed below. Use the space to the right of those categories to record different ways spiritual gifts can impact and influence the modern church. Gifts Categories Gifts that support Modern Applications Gifts that share Gifts that speak Gifts that supplement GUIDE: Refer back to The Point of this session: God has uniquely gifted us to serve Him. As time allows, encourage group members to share any final thoughts and questions. 64 SeSSion 5
THE POINT God has uniquely gifted us to serve Him. 1 Corinthians 12:11 Commentary [Verse 11] Paul concluded this section with a strong statement about the right attitude believers should have toward spiritual gifts. He reminded his readers that all the gifts he mentioned come from the Holy Spirit. They are gifts of power to be used according to the Spirit s direction and for the Spirit s work of strengthening and extending God s kingdom. Just as importantly, the Spirit gives these special abilities to each believer as He wills. While Paul admonished us to desire the greater gifts (1 Cor. 12:31), we should beware of falling into the trap of asking for a particular gift for ourselves because of a desire to use it for our own glory instead of for God s. We should trust the Spirit s perfect wisdom and His sovereign authority to distribute the gifts as He sees fit. Our response should simply be humility, gratitude, and awe that we have been equipped in these ways to join together in the building of God s kingdom. Note: Find more information on spiritual gifts from previous Biblical Illustrator articles including Paul s Spiritual Gifts Lists, A Comparison (Summer 2010), The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Fall 1991), and Symbols of the Church (Summer 1975). These can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 65
5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes GUIDE: Direct group members to page 52 of the PSG. Encourage them to consider the following ways to respond to the presence of their spiritual gifts: > > Worship. Praise God that He has a divine purpose for your life. Set aside a specific block of time to thank Him and praise Him for the ways He has uniquely gifted you to accomplish that purpose. > > Discover. If you don t know your spiritual gifts, take an assessment to help you discover how God has blessed you and how your gifts can be used in and through your church. > > Train. Make it a priority to mentor other believers who are unsure about their spiritual gifts. Help them discover ways they are gifted and able to serve. Wrap It Up TRANSITION: Read or restate the conclusion from page 52 of the PSG: As a follower of Christ, you re part of the gifted class. But remember that your desire should always be to glorify God by using the gifts He s given you. Those gifts are for the benefit and good of the whole church, so use what you ve been given as an act of love. PRAY: Conclude by actively submitting yourself, and your spiritual gifts, to God s will. Commit to using your gifts and other resources to serve God and others in the days to come. 66 SeSSion 5