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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-29
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says, “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
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 utterance 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.
One Body with Many Members
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 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.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 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.
- Where in the Bible this scripture was found? It is found in the New Testament.
- Who is the author? / Who is speaking in the scripture: Paul
- To whom did he addressed the letter? - To the Corinthians
- If this letter is addressed to the Corinthians, what do you call their place? The City of Corinth - it is located in south-central Greece.
- What is the main thought / topic of the scripture: The Spiritual Gifts
- What are the varieties of gifts found in Verse 8-10?
- Word of Wisdom - Divine insight for decision - making and spiritual clarity.
- Word of Knowledge - supernatural understanding of facts or truths not learned by natural means.
- Faith - A spirit-empowered confidence in God’s power and promises beyond ordinary belief.
- Gifts of healing - restoration of physical, emotional, or spiritual health through divine intervention.
- Working of miracles - Acts that defy natural laws, revealing God’s authority and presence.
- Prophecy - speaking forth God’s message to encourage, correct or guide.
- Distinguishing of Spirits - discernment between divine, human, and demonic influence. It’s the ability to perceive what lies beneath the surface, to distinguish truth from deception, and to sense the movement of God in a situation.
- Various kinds of tongues - Spirit inspired languages used in worship of prayer.
- Interpretation of tongues - understanding and communicating the meaning of spiritual languages.
7. Who were God’s appointed mentioned in verse 28?
- Apostles - Sent ones - often pioneers who establish ministries, plant churches, and lead with vision and authority. [Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Thaddeus, Simon the zealot, Judas Iscariot]
- Prophets - they’re a vessel of divine communication, a voice echoing heaven’s heart to heaven. Anointed to hear and declare divine messages.
- Teachers - gifted in explaining and and applying scripture with clarity and depth. (Jesus)
- Miracles - doing signs and wonders or mighty works (e.g. Parting of the red sea)
- Healing - restoring physical, emotional, or spiritual wholeness through divine intervention
- Helping - a quiet but powerful gift - serving others with compassion and practical support.
- Administrating - organizing, leading, and stewarding resources and people with wisdom and order.
- Tongues - speaking in Spiritual languages, often accompanied by interpretation, for edification and worship.
We function differently but God empowers everyone for all its functions. Different gifts, same SOURCE. Who is the source? God alone.
Application:
Have you discovered your spiritual gifts? If yes, what is it? If not yet, what skills do you have that you want to bring to the Church?