God gives a variety of spiritual gifts to each believer, not for personal glory, but for the benefit and building up of the whole church. These gifts are diverse—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation—but all come from the same Spirit, and each is distributed as He determines. When believers operate in their supernatural gifting, the church blossoms, and individuals experience joy and fulfillment as they serve others in the power of the Holy Spirit. [05:19]
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (ESV)
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."
Reflection: What is one way you can use your unique gifts this week to serve someone in your church community for their benefit, not your own recognition?
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together in perfect harmony, each with a unique role, yet united in purpose. In the same way, the church is called to reflect this unity in diversity, with each member using their different gifts to serve the same mission. God works in different ways through different people, but it is always the same God at work, and together, believers are called to be the light of God’s actions in the world. [07:45]
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."
Reflection: How can you intentionally appreciate and encourage someone whose gifts or service in the church are very different from your own?
Just as the human body needs every part to function optimally, the church needs every member’s unique gifts. No part is unnecessary or less important; even those that seem weaker are indispensable. When one part suffers, all suffer; when one is honored, all rejoice. God has arranged the body so that there is no division, but equal concern for each other, and each person’s gifts are essential for the health and thriving of the whole church. [31:56]
1 Corinthians 12:14-26 (ESV)
"For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."
Reflection: Who in your church family might feel overlooked or less important? How can you reach out to affirm their value and encourage their participation?
Many believers hesitate to use their gifts because of doubt, busyness, or waiting for the “right time,” but the right time to use your gifts is always now. God has uniquely equipped each person, and no one else can offer exactly what you can. Even if you need training or experience, you are called to open and use your gifts for others’ benefit today, trusting that God will provide what you need as you step out in faith. [28:40]
Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."
Reflection: What is one gift or ability you have been hesitant to use for God’s purposes? What small step can you take today to begin using it?
Spiritual gifts are expressions of God’s grace, given not for personal benefit but to serve God’s purpose in the church and the world. Faithful stewardship of these gifts means using them with humility, love, and a desire to build up the community. There are seasons when you may not be able to give as much, but the health of the church depends on each person sharing their load as they are able, so that together, the body thrives and God’s kingdom is advanced. [34:01]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice faithful stewardship of your gifts this week, especially in serving others with humility and love?
The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control—are qualities that every believer is called to embody. But alongside these, God also gives spiritual gifts, unique empowerments from the Holy Spirit, to each believer for the common good of the church. These gifts are not the same as natural talents or skills, though they may overlap; rather, they are supernatural abilities given by God to build up the body of Christ and advance His kingdom. Each person receives at least one gift, and these gifts are meant to be used in harmony with others, reflecting the unity and diversity of the Trinity itself.
Spiritual gifts are not for personal glory or applause, but for service. They are given so that the church can function as a healthy, thriving body, with each member contributing in a way that no one else can. Just as the body compensates when one part is weak or injured, so too does the church adapt when gifts are missing or unused—but this is not God’s design. The church is at its best when every member discovers, develops, and deploys their gifts for the benefit of all.
Sometimes, we hesitate to use our gifts because we feel unworthy, are unaware of them, or are simply too busy or afraid to step out. But the right time to use our gifts is always now. Even if we need training or encouragement, God calls us to open and use what He has given us. When we do, we experience fulfillment, joy, and a sense of being truly alive in God’s purpose.
No one is uniquely capable of what you are uniquely capable of. Your story and your gifts become part of the larger story and mission of the church. When each person brings their gift, the church is unified, empowered, and able to reflect God’s grace in action. Whether you are in a season of giving, healing, or even needing to receive, your place and your gift matter. The invitation is to discover, embrace, and use your spiritual gifts for the glory of God and the good of others.
1 Corinthians 12:4-27 (ESV) —
> 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
>
> 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
>
> 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
>
> 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
>
> 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
When you operate in your supernatural gifting, your church blossoms through your unique contributions. And you experience, as a side note, joy and feeling alive and feeling energized and feeling fulfilled. Because you are fulfilling. You're gifting according to the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. [00:04:11] (31 seconds) #SupernaturalGiftsBringJoy
Gifts are not given for your personal edification or for your personal glorification. They are designed specifically to be used in harmony with other gifts for building up the church community and advancing God's kingdom. And because they are gifts, we can take no credit for them, right? They're part of a bigger picture and part of the plan of God to reflect the kingdom of God being exercised on earth among us. [00:10:51] (37 seconds) #GiftsBuildTheChurch
The right time is always now. It's time to open and use your gifts now in the present. And you may need training or experience or resources to develop your gift. And that's okay. But each of us must ask ourselves the question, what am I using for others' benefit? What gets in the way of me using my gifts for others' benefit? You know, no one is uniquely capable of what you are uniquely capable of. And it comes in the context of the others around you. [00:28:47] (64 seconds) #UseYourGiftsNow
Each member belongs to the others, according to 1 Corinthians 7. So your story becomes our story. And your gifts become our gifts. And the gifts of the Spirit are to unify us and empower believers to function together. Not in spite of, but because we recognize and appreciate different gifts and different roles. [00:32:50] (36 seconds) #UnityThroughDiverseGifts
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