1 Corinthians 12 is written as both an encouragement and a rebuke to believers about spiritual gifts. Although we are quick to make spiritual gifts all about us, God reminds us that it is through these gifts in believers that He makes Himself known. We are given a spiritual gift to love and serve our church body in a way that glorifies God and reveals Him to those we are serving.

Scripture References

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Romans 12:6-8
Ephesians 4:11
1 Corinthians 14

I See the Lord | Vertical Church Band | iTunes

All Creatures of Our God and King | David Crowder Band | iTunes
Psalm 66:1 • Psalm 148 • Luke 19:40

Worthy Of it All | Grace Church Worship | iTunes
Psalm 51:16-17 • Psalm 139:23-24 • Amos 5:21-24 • Psalm 19:12-14

Come Thou Fount | Grace Church Worship
Ephesians 2:7-8 • 1 Peter 2:9-10 • Colossians 1:21-22 • 1 Corinthians 1:22

Yahweh | Hillsong Live | iTunes
Exodus 3:14-15 • Philippians 2:9-11

Exalted Over All | Vertical Church Band | iTunes

Download teaching slides & Spiritual gifts article

1. A spiritual gift is a supernatural capacity or ability that God gives to believers. These gifts are not produced through our natural ability, but through the Holy Spirit’s supernatural work in us to serve others; our natural talents and skills work alongside our spiritual gift. If you don’t know what your spiritual gift is—do you need to step into a serving role or ask your community to help you confirm your gift through your service? What natural talents and skills has God given you to support your spiritual gift?

2. God manifests Himself in us through spiritual gifts. To manifest means to shine light on something so you can see it clearly. How have you seen God make Himself known through the spiritual gift of someone you know?

3. Spiritual gifts are a “fitness and health care plan” for our church body to mature and develop; they are a training and discipleship opportunity for the local church. How does this truth compare to what you have understood about spiritual gifts? How have you used your spiritual gift in such a way that aids in the training and discipling of your church family?

4. The experience of using your gifts means sacrificing yourself for the sake of others. The Bible, prayer, faith, and community do not make sense when you are focusing on yourself instead of pouring out your life through loving people. How have these elements of your Christian walk become less important or boring through seasons where you have only focused on yourself? How are you pouring your life out for others?

Thoughts to Consider:

– As believers we must be wary of thinking about our spiritual gifts for the purpose of self-actualization or self-fulfillment, or of being unaware of our spiritual gifts at all.

– Although there is diversity and uniqueness in gifts, the Holy Spirit is the single source of them all.

– The church body validates your spiritual gift.

– Your spiritual gift can be used anywhere in any kind of ministry—the gift does not have to match the type of ministry.

– Serving within your gift will not necessarily be easy or fun; it takes effort and time for it to take shape in serving the church.

– We believe that we can maintain unity while having diversity of thought in the understanding of the sign gifts, but we have to understand that spiritual gifts do not define our spiritual maturity—maturity is demonstrated by the fruit of the Spirit.

– We don’t choose our spiritual gift—God does.

– If you are a Christian, you have a supernatural gift. As you sacrificially pursue people and serve others, your gift will rise out of that.