RECOGNIZING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
AND USING THEM TO GLORIFY GOD
Part 1

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Misunderstandings about spiritual gifts – We can become hung up on controversies about spiritual gifts or conscious of abilities and experiences we don’t have ...
There have always been two dangers with spiritual abilities (not just in Charismatic and Pentecostal movement):

  1. Reduce spiritual gifts and spirituality to a set of particular items (i.e. speaking in tongues =the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or business success and public influence for elders – a certain church had 27 qualifications for elders with the result being a loss of vision for future growth – they just wanted to be absolutely right!);
  2. Ranking gifts –Problem is people either get too ambitious or not ambitious at all – the result when we forget that the source of the spiritual gifts and that they are given for the church
There were misunderstandings in Corinth about spiritual gifts. We have our own misunderstanding as well. Paul used the body language of 1 Cor 12 to explain what spiritual gifts are all about ...
  1. We Are One Body With Many Members
    1. Every member partakes of the same spirit – (not just a fortunate few)
        v. 13—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
    2. The variety of spiritual abilities (gifts, services, activities) are for the common good
      • This is a new standard for the Corinthians
      • Public display or individual experience are not the highest standard
      • v. 7- To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

  2. We Are All Vital
    1. God has arranged us intentionally to make a "body"
      • 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
    2. So no more overconfidence and underconfidence
      • Our view of our abilities is too often self-centered
      • And the greatest temptation among us is not that we will be arrogant or elitist like some at Corinth, rather we will tend to devalue our worthiness.
      • Do not do this! You are underestimating the God, Lord and Spirit that works in every member of the body in some way.
      • Were you baptized? Then God has given you some gift, service or experience for the common good. Do not boast about it, but do not bury it either!
    3. Challenge: What would happen if we honestly believed that each member is gifted and invaluable to the spiritual health of the community?
      • Things like the 80/20 rule would be rejected
      • Comparisons would end – No one would be considered less needed or more needed (v. 24)
      • Anxieties would go away – we wouldn’t be dependent on a select few or worried about who is in charge – we would be focused on using what God has given to glorify him and make disciples!
      • We would understand that our gifts are meant to work together

  3. We Need One Another
    1. We are not independent, we are interdependent
      • No one is an island – we are the less when we lose a small part (link to John Donne)
      • This is why disassociation hurts
      • The health of the body depends on every part

  4. God has assembled us so we can share the blessing of unity – But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

  5. I challenge you to recognize your gifts so that you can glorify God – Each gift expresses love

Chris Benjamin

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Morning Sermon, 28 November 2004



Making Disciples for Jesus Who Are Eager to Serve Others
Notes for the Sermon – "Recognizing Spiritual Gifts and Using Them to Glorify God" – Part 1
November 28, 2004

  1. Because of the diversity of spiritual gifts, they are often misunderstood. This results in two common problems regarding spiritual gifts:

    • R______________ spirituality to a preferred set

    • R______________ the gifts within the body

  2. We Are One B_________ With Many P_____________. (12:12-17)

    • Every part partakes of the one s__________. (12:13)

    • The variety of spiritual gifts is for the c___________ g________. (12:7)

  3. We Are All V__________. (12:18-24a)

    • God has a__________________ us intentionally to make the "body." (12:18)

    • So we should not be o_________________ or u__________________. (12:22-24)

    • Do not b___________ about your gift; but do not b___________ your gift.

  4. We N________ One Another (12:24b-31)

    • We are not independent, we are i___________________.

      • This is why we h__________ as a church when we lose a part of the body.

      • The h____________ of the body depends on every part.

    • God has assembled us so we can share the blessing of u_________.

      • A unity with diversity but without d____________ (12:25)

      • A unity that s___________ in sorrow and joy (12:26)

  5. We Use Our Gifts to Express L___________ (12:31-13:13)



Making Disciples for Jesus Who Are Eager to Serve Others
"Recognizing Spiritual Gifts and Using Them to Glorify God" – Part 1
Driving It Home Discussion Guide
November 28, 2004

  1. Read 1 Corinthians 12 and discuss the following.

  2. How did the church at Corinth misunderstand spiritual gifts?
  3. When you hear the term spiritual gifts, what comes to mind? What attracts you to the concept of spiritual gifts? What concerns you about the concept?

  4. Can you think of a way that spiritual gifts have been reduced to a limited set of preferred gifts? Have you done this?

  5. Can you think of a way that spiritual gifts have been ranked? Have you ever done this?

  6. What would happen if we honestly believed that each member is gifted and invaluable to the spiritual health of the church body? Be specific about this.

  7. Name some spiritual gifts and then describe how they are for the common good of the church body. Are there gifts that we don’t normally recognize that are vital to the health of the body?

  8. Do you think you have a tendency to boast about your gift or to bury it? Be honest. Share this with someone else then discuss a way you can overcome "boasting" or "burying."

  9. What spiritual gift has God given you? After you think about your answer ask someone else to answer this question for you. Don’t be disappointed if they cannot give you an immediate answer. Allow them to think about it and pray about it.

  10. Once you’ve recognized your spiritual gift, think about ways you can use this gift to 1) glorify God and 2) serve the church body.

  11. Read 1 Corinthians 13. How does your spiritual gift allow you to demonstrate the love of Christ?


Prepare for Dec. 5 – "Recognizing Spiritual Gifts and Using Them to Glorify God - Part 2"

    Read Romans 12:1-8

Chris Benjamin

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Morning Sermon, 28 November 2004

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