1 Corinthians 12:1-11

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Proper Use of Spiritual Gifts

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Spiritual gifts are given in diversity by the One Triune God.

  2. Spiritual gifts are given for edification by the sovereign will of God.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Split your church rather than split your church!

QUESTIONS

  1. Name the 4 key New Testament chapters addressing spiritual gifts.

  2. Why are believers given spiritual gifts?

  3. How were the Corinthian believers misusing their spiritual gifts?

  4. What is the true test of whether a spiritual manifestation if from God or not?

  5. List and describe the spiritual gifts mentioned in this section (we will see more later).

ANSWERS

  1. Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4

  2. For the edification, or building up, of the Church, the Body of Christ

  3. Some were claiming spiritual authority if they had certain sign gifts and placing more emphasis on these gifts. Because of their pagan background, some Corinthians were confused as to what spiritual manifestations were of God and what were not of God.

  4. The test of Jesus—No one speaking by the Holy Spirit will deny that Jesus is fully God and fully man and Lord. See also 1 John 4:2-3.

  5. All spiritual gifts are not listed, but nine are mentioned:

    • The word of wisdom—insight into divine truth

    • The word of knowledge—the ability to communicate divine truth.

    • The gift of faith—an unusual measure of trust in the Lord..

    • The gift of healing—the miraculous power to heal diseases and restore to health.

    • The gift of miracles—the ability to exercise power temporarily over natural laws and over evil spiritual powers.

    • The gift of prophecy—the ability to receive and communicate a message from God for His people.

    • The gift of discerning spirits—special sensitivity to false teaching and false teachers.

    • The gift of tongues—the ability to speak the things of God in unlearned, foreign languages.

    • The gift of interpretation—the ability to translate the languages of the gift of tongues.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Not only are there diversities of gifts, but varieties of ministries as well. Discuss how your spiritual gift can be used in different ways. There are not only diversities of gifts and ministries, but also diversities of working, or activity—the effect of the gifts when they are being used properly. What effects have you seen when you used your spiritual gift?

  2. God is sovereign and He decides who gets which spiritual gifts. Have you ever felt prideful or even disappointed with your spiritual gift? Don’t! Trust God and use your gift to build up the church.

CHALLENGE

  1. Don’t know what your spiritual gift is? Look over the options, pray about it, and ask others what they think it is. If you are a believer, God has given you at least one spiritual gift.

KEY VERSES

  • “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

  • “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:11

1 Corinthians, Talks, New TestamentDeb Harms1 Corinthians 12:1-11