Gifts of the Spirit Series: September 7-28, 2008
There are many ways to explore the meaning of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit to the people of God. For scripture study (always a great place to start!) you can remember the "12's": Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4 also contain brief lists of spiritual gifts. Depending on the translation you use, the gifts listed in these four passages of scripture are: exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy, prophecy, service, teaching (Romans 12); administration, apostle, discernment, faith, healing, helps, knowledge, miracles, tongues, interpretation of tongues, wisdom (added in 1 Corinthians 12, which also lists prophecy and teaching); evangelism and pastor (added in Ephesians 4, which also lists apostle, prophecy and teaching); and celibacy (added in 1 Corinthians 7:7-8), hospitality (added in 1 Peter 4:9-10), martyrdom and voluntary poverty (added in 1 Corinthians 13:3), and missionary (added in Ephesians 3:6-8).
| Four signal gifts passages are: | |||
1 Corinthians 12:4-5: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. |
Romans 12:4-6a: Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. |
Ephesians 4:11-12, 16: Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Under [Christ's] direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. |
1 Pet. 4:10: God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. |
During the month of September, we will explore the spiritual gifts at Skyline from the perspective of the community, rather than the individual, because the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts for the sake of the Body of Christ, and for the sake of the world. God's gifts are meant to be shared, and the criteria for excercising your gift or gifts involves both your ability to excercise the gift and the community's need for your particular gift (see 1 Peter 4:10 above). We like especially the understanding conveyed by Paul in Ephesians 4:16, above - our growth depends on the special work accomplished by others who are empowered and gifted by the Spirit, just as their growth depends on our special work.
So the gifts of the Spirit enable us to live together as the Body of Christ in the world, reconciled to God and to each other by Jesus Christ, who is the head of our body. The gifts of the Spirit enable us to realize the true meaning and purpose of our lives, not merely for ourselves, but for the sake of the world.
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September 7, 2008 |
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September 14, 2008 |
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September 21, 2008 |
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September 28, 2008 |
