Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:7-31

The Big Idea

The Spirit gives each believer gifts for the good of everyone. Like parts of a body, we’re all different, all necessary, and all meant to care for one another. There’s no competition, no single gift that proves you’re spiritual, and no part of the body we can do without. And the greatest gift of all is a heart of love.

The Gifts Listed (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

The Spirit shows Himself in each believer for the good of all. To one the Spirit gives a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge, to another faith, to another gifts of healing, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

This is a list of spiritual gifts, but not a complete one.
The point of this chapter isn’t to give us a full list, but to teach us how the gifts work.

A Fuller Picture

Gathering the lists from across the New Testament, we can group the gifts this way:

1. Miraculous gifts

Apostle (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11)
Tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30)
Interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30)
Miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28)
Healing (1 Corinthians 12:9, 28)

2. Enabling gifts

Faith (1 Corinthians 12:9)
Discernment (1 Corinthians 12:10)
Wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:8)
Knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8)

3. Team gifts

Evangelism: a passion for leading people to know Christ (Ephesians 4:11).
Prophecy: boldly proclaiming God’s truth (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28).
Teaching: explaining God’s Word clearly and accurately (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Exhortation: encouraging others toward faith-filled action (Romans 12:8).
Shepherding: caring for, guiding and leading God’s people (Ephesians 4:11).
Serving: giving practical help (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Mercy: comforting and coming alongside those in need (Romans 12:8).
Giving: generously releasing resources for God’s work (Romans 12:8).
Administration: organizing and leading so the work moves forward (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28).

Speaking and serving

The team gifts are task-oriented and practical. Peter groups them into two broad kinds.

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s many-sided grace. Whoever speaks should speak as one speaking God’s words. Whoever serves should serve with the strength God supplies, so that in everything God is glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:10-11).

Speaking gifts: evangelists, prophets, teachers, exhorters and shepherds.
Serving gifts: support gifts. These folks are happy to work behind the scenes. They include shepherds, mercy-showers, servers, givers and administrators.
Notice that shepherding shows up in both, because of the many responsibilities God gives His under-shepherds.

That doesn’t mean speakers never serve, or servers never speak. It’s just a helpful way to see the variety.

As the Spirit Wills (1 Corinthians 12:11)

The same Spirit works all these things, giving to each one individually as He chooses.

In His wisdom and love, Jesus uniquely gifts each person as He wills.
There’s no competition.
Only building up the body through love.

One Body, Many Parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

Just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

That’s why we’re called the body of Christ.
We all belong to each other.
You can never hate another member of Jesus.
When there are disagreements, it’s because one or both people are walking in the flesh, focused on earthly things instead of heavenly things (Colossians 3:2).
Our gifts are meant to be expressions of God’s love for each other. Never for ourselves.

The devil doesn’t mind if you’re gifted. He just wants you focused on yourself, because then you’re walking in the flesh and your gift is useless. It’s a spiritual gift, not a fleshly one.

I can’t teach in the Spirit if I’m focused on what I need to get or feel.
I can’t serve if I need recognition.
I can’t lead well if I put my own interests first.
I can’t speak God’s Word if I’m drawing on human wisdom or just expressing my own thoughts and emotions.

“Are we really all one body? Even people I don’t like?”

We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

Every Part Matters (1 Corinthians 12:14-26)

The body isn’t one part, but many. If the foot says, “I’m not a hand, so I’m not part of the body,” that doesn’t make it any less part of the body. If the ear says, “I’m not an eye, so I don’t belong,” it still belongs. If the whole body were an eye, how would it hear? If it were all ear, how would it smell? But God has placed each part in the body exactly as He wanted. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” and the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, the parts that seem weaker are indispensable. The parts we think are less honorable, we treat with greater honor, and the parts we keep private we treat with special modesty, while our more presentable parts don’t need that. God put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so there would be no division, but all the parts would care for each other equally.

Every person in the body of Christ is equal, but different.
Some parts of our bodies are always covered, but they’re still necessary. (Keep those covered, please.) Paul is showing how pride disrupts the body’s purpose.
The whole point of the gifts is that each person can be cared for.
We all care for each other with our gifts.

I’ve been given a gift to teach, and I use it for the body. I devote my life to this calling. It isn’t always easy or enjoyable, but knowing people are cared for by learning God’s Word is my whole purpose in the church.

What’s your gift?

It’s a clue to your purpose and what you were created for.
You’ll discover it as you surrender everything to Jesus.
So step forward to care for others.

When Do We Use Our Gifts? (1 Corinthians 12:26)

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

When things are bad, connect with people and serve them with your gift.
When things are good, do the same.

What’s the key? Engage with people. That takes courage, but mostly love. Love enough to genuinely care about people. Not just people who look like you or feel comfortable to you, but all people, especially those you don’t understand. Not for yourself, but for Jesus. You’re His instrument of love.

Why does the church struggle? Because people are hurting, and we hold back our love.

Maybe they offended me.
Maybe we disagree politically.
Maybe they said something I don’t agree with.
Maybe they remind me of someone who hurt me or my family.
Maybe I just don’t trust them.

But in the Spirit, I can love them through my gift.

Not Everyone Has the Same Gift (1 Corinthians 12:27-31)

You are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it. God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helping, administration and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now Paul will show them a still more excellent way.

This clearly teaches that there’s no single gift that proves you’re a Christian or filled with the Spirit.
We’re to seek Jesus first for who He is, not for what He gives.
And when we do, we’ll overflow with the greatest gift of all: a heart of love.
That’s where Paul goes next, in 1 Corinthians 13.

How Do I Live in the Spirit and Use My Gift?

Believe that you were forgiven when you died with Jesus, and that He rose from the dead and lives in you.
Ask Jesus to live through you.
Step forward to love people in the specific way God has designed and gifted you to.

Grace Takeaway

You’re a necessary part of Christ’s body, gifted by the Spirit as He chose, not to compete or to show off, but to care for others. No part is unneeded, and no gift is more important than love. Seek Jesus, and let His love flow through your gift.

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What Are Spiritual Gifts? Part 2