This letter contributes several major teachings for the church in every era: a view of the kingdom as “already” but “not yet”; an understanding of ethics rooted in living between the ages and our growing into the character of Christ; and the church as the temple of God indwelt by His Spirit as well as the church as the body of Christ (Fee, First Corinthians, pp. 16-19). In Chapters 12 through 14, Paul wrote more to correct false notions of spirituality than to convey a precise doctrinal statement on spiritual gifts. Thus the gifts Paul mentions are representative of those the Spirit sovereignly gives (Fee, First Corinthians, p. 585), rather than the main checklist for every believer seeking to know how to be useful to the Lord. Paul’s famous chapter on Christlike love was also a corrective for the pride and exclusiveness evident in attitudes expressed by some members. In chapters 12 and 14, Paul tries to balance out the importance of gifts of the Spirit that are not merely for elevating one’s spiritual reputation. He encourages seeking gifts like prophecy or interpretation of tongues so that messages from God can benefit all hearers. While not opposed to praying in unknown languages, Paul points out the limits of who can benefit from this gift without someone interpreting them for the congregation and visitors.

In Chapter 12, Paul wants to widen the Corinthians’ idea of who is spiritual. First he states that anyone who acknowledges “Jesus is Lord,” can do so only by the work of the Holy Spirit. Thus any orthodox Christian has the Holy Spirit and is therefore “spiritual.” Then he says the Triune Godhead is working together through the gifts, so that our unity and diversity reflects God Himself, implying it would be wrong to prefer we all were gifted alike. He goes on to list some of the gifts given to the church, again mentioning the work of the Spirit in giving these. He states that all Christians have the common denominator of the Holy Spirit, using the analogies of baptism/immersion and drink/absorption to repeat that all Christians have experienced God’s Spirit. He uses the body analogy to rebuke their notion of which gifts are of greater “spiritual” importance by stating that the parts of the human body that seem weaker or less presentable are actually indispensable and to be treated with greater honor. Finally he comes to another list of gifts including some that may not have been in the Corinthian view (Turner, pp. 267-269).

In verses 28 and 29, Paul mentions gifted people including those who help others and those who administrate. These may not have been even on the radar for the Corinthians who imagined they were more spiritual than most (Turner, p. 269). It seems Paul was trying to emphasize that helping, service, and other non-sensational gifts were not less important just because they seemed more like every day activities (Turner, p. 269).

Pray that the Holy Spirit will help each person see the importance of discovering, developing, and using the gifts God has given them to serve others.

STUDY THE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 , Romans 12:4-8 , and 1 Peter 4:9-11

1. Lets Read 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 .

1 Corinthians 12:27-28 (NKJV) ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.  ²⁸And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 

What does Paul compare the church to (v. 27)?

Paul compares the church to the physical human body. This analogy is not original since other ancient authors used it, but it is useful to demonstrate both the unity and the necessary diversity of the gifts and workings of the Holy Spirit (Fee, First Corinthians, pp. 600—601). All through this chapter, Paul is emphasizing that diverse manifestations of the Holy Spirit are good, and therefore, the Corinthians should not tie value judgments of what is “spiritual” to any one gift (Fee, First Corinthians, p. 617).

Dunn points out that every time Paul writes of the Body of Christ, he always mentions the gifts of the Spirit operating through the believers: Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:7-16 (Dunn, p. 734). “For Paul the body of Christ is by definition a charismatic community…. The congregation functions as Christ’s body when its members let the grace of God come to diverse expression through them” (Dunn, p. 734).

He does not stress office or status but rather seems to say that “…any word or action…” which makes God’s grace concrete or real to the world is a “charism” or “means of grace” (Dunn, p. 734). Dunn’s notes indicate that the Greek tense of the verbs in the passage is the present participle, which would refer to regular ministry (Dunn, p. 734).

How does the image of a physical body shed light on the need for other brothers and sisters in Christ?

2. What examples of the Spirit’s gifts does Paul list in this passage?

Actually, Paul talks about the gifts in light of gifted people who function in the body. In verse 28, Paul refers to apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, those with gifts of healing, those who help others, those with gifts of administration, and those who speak in different kinds of tongues. In verses 29 and 30, he repeats some of these and also mentions interpreting tongues. Since you have discussed some of these in previous studies in this series, you do not need to spend too much time on the definitions of the specific gifts here. Rather, emphasize the fact that no matter what gift is mentioned, these people are serving together in the body of Christ with the gifting God supplies.

Ephesians 4:11-13 also mentions apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers who prepare God’s people for works of service. These gifted people seem to be trainers in the church (Robbins, Conversation) so that the members can do Kingdom works, help each other reach unity in the faith, and mature in Christ-likeness.

“Service comes as a result of divine prompting and is the spiritually sensitive recognition and response to a particular need within the community,” (Wimber, “Spiritual Gifts,” Vol. 2, p. 25).

If the question arises about the difference between giving help or teaching as a human effort versus a Holy Spirit inspired activity, you may refer to the Leader’s Notes in the first study in this series introducing spiritual gifts. In a nutshell, anytime the Holy Spirit is gifting someone to perform a service, the recipient will sense the grace of God at work (Robbins, Conversation).

3. In verses 29 and 30, why does Paul ask if all are prophets, all are apostles, etc?

1 Corinthians 12:29-31 (NKJV) ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

How does this discourage both comparison and competition among believers?

These verses stress the need for cooperation by repeating the word “all.” Paul wants to emphasize that not everyone can perform all the gifts and so we in the body need to work together using our different, unique gifts so all the gifts will be present and operating. Fee points out that instead of everyone having the same gift, such as speaking in tongues, “Diversity within unity is Paul’s concern…” (Fee, First Corinthians, p. 617).

4. Now let’s turn to another short passage Paul wrote to the believers in Rome about gifts of the Spirit. Romans 12:4-8 ?

Romans 12:4-8 (NKJV) ⁴For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,  ⁵so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  ⁶Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;  ⁷or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;  ⁸he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

How does Paul keep emphasis away from individualism (vv. 4-6)?

Paul writes of the necessity of all the members working together, using different gifts that God has given. God has given each believer one or more spiritual gifts but the context is the church, the Body, the community, not the individual. He says that the gifts are God’s grace in action, not something resident within each person that can be pulled out at any moment (Dunn, p. 725). The idea that each person has something to contribute is also in 1 Peter 4:9 .

5. What does Paul tell us to do (vv. 6b-8)?

Paul commands us to use our spiritual gifts, not just display them as prized personal possessions (Dunn, p. 726). The goal is that as individual believers begin using their gifts to help others, the following will result: …God gifts each member of His body with various workings of His Spirit so that each can contribute to the strengthening of others and the community as a whole. As each person submits to God and utilizes the Holy Spirit’s gifts, the body matures and is better prepared to carry out the mission of the Kingdom of God . Individuals also learn to love, appreciate, and honor one another. And, the harmonious workings of the community attract those who are without an eternal relationship to Jesus Christ, often causing them to consider receiving such a great salvation and joining the people of God (Nathan & Crawford, “Definition and Explanation of Christian Community,” p. 2).

This idea may be the most important in the study to convey to your group. It is often difficult to see the importance of one person’s contribution to a large church; however everyone’s gifts are needed for the church to function effectively. Since there are likely to be people in your group who are not involved with either an established ministry or in the habit of noticing and meeting the needs of others they regularly see, it is also important to discuss the effects of people using their gifts on a larger group. Stepping out in faith and developing gifts also leads to spiritual growth for the individual.

6. What gifts does Paul mention in this passage?

In this passage, Paul mentions prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing, leadership, and showing mercy. While some of these sound like activities even a non-Christian may do, remember that Holy Spirit inspired words and actions convey a sense of God’s grace [undeserved favor] to the recipients. Instead of feeling ripped off by the so-called giver’s selfish or hidden agenda, the person who has been ministered to feels blessed (Robbins, Conversation). Operating by the gifting of the Holy Spirit has a quality of reaching out and expressing God’s immense love that lifts up, encourages, and strengthens others. And when people are truly thankful for the opportunity to serve someone else who has no means of repaying them, we see God’s immeasurable love expressed in those who are freely giving their time, energy, talents, compassion, etc.

The gift of encouragement is “…a very important gift. It is used to lift up, build up, and stir up the saints. It also overlaps with prophecy in the area of prophetic exhortation (‘congregational prophecy’). A gifted counselor… or someone who is gifted to advise someone to take the following steps to work on an issue often operate from this base” (Robbins, “RE: encourage/exhort”).

• Several gifts related to leadership appear in the 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 passages (Robbins, “RE: back for more”):

• The Greek word for “administration” in 1 Cor 12:28 is kubernesis, which means “helmsman,” i.e., one who is at the helm of a ship and guides it.

• The Greek word for “leading” in Ro 12:8 is proistemi, which means one who stands in front (of a group) connoting leadership.

• There is no conclusive evidence telling us whether these are the same thing or two different things. I would …include these under the gift of “leadership.”

• Interestingly, the Hebrew phrase behind “let the discerning get guidance” in Prov 1:5 is translated “let the discerning acquire a helmsman” in the Greek Septuagint (LXX) [a Greek translation of the Old Testament]. The word for “helmsman” there is “kubernesis” just as it is in 1 Cor 12:28 .

This leads me to conclude that the gifts most needed by leaders (leadership gifts) are “wisdom” for direction and “kubernesis”/”proistemi.”

7. The last passage we will study is 1 Peter 4:9-11 . Would someone please read these verses aloud?

1 Peter 4:9-11 (NKJV) ⁹Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

What gift does Peter talk about in verse 9? What attitude are believers to have when using this gift?

Peter talks about offering hospitality to other believers. You may want to refer to the quote on the title page for some points about hospitality that goes beyond entertaining friends and looks to the needs of others. The context in this passage is Peter talking about the nearness of Jesus’ return, and the need to live with right priorities—level thinking, prayer, and love for others in the community of faith (Davids, pp. 155-157).

Hospitality is mentioned four other times in the New Testament (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:2) and implied elsewhere (Selman, “Hospitality,” cited in Davids, p.159). Providing hospitality was a qualification for being an elder or being enrolled as a widow (1 and 2 Timothy; Titus). Jesus mentions it as a reason for rejection or acceptance at the final judgment (Matthew 25:34-45). Traveling Christian teachers, prophets, and apostles were given free room and board during the time they were serving in an area. But by A. D. 100 in Asia , it had been limited to three days room and board to prevent abuse. Many Christians lived from day to day without a surplus, so this kind of hospitality was a call to give sacrificially. Thus, Peter asks that it be done without complaining (Davids, p.159).

8. In verse 10, what directions does Peter give for how to use God’s gifts? How should Christians view the development and use of spiritual gifts?

God’s gifts are for serving others, not ourselves. Believers should be good stewards, or managers, of their gifts, which the New International Version translates as “administrating God’s grace.” If your group members are not familiar with the concept of stewardship, you could share this definition: “The steward was the person in a household (often a slave) who was responsible for managing the [owner’s] property and business, including what was needed for the family members, slaves, and hired laborers” (Michel and Reumann, cited by Davids, p.160, n.37).

Peter generalizes that God has given each person a gift. But it’s not clear if Peter means God gives specific gifts to individuals or that the Spirit works through each born again believer (Davids, pp.159-160). Nevertheless, he encourages believers to use whatever gifting the Holy Spirit imparts, whether one consistent working or any one of the ways the Spirit manifests (Davids, p.160). “But it is clear that Peter is speaking about spiritual endowments, not natural abilities. Also, like Paul, he believes such gifting is not for display or self-glorification or even personal development, but for service (1 Cor.12:5), or, as Paul would say, for the building up the body of Christ (e.g., 1 Cor.14:3-5 , Eph. 4:12)” (Davids, p. 160).

While Christians don’t have a choice about the gifts they receive, unless it is by asking for “the greater gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31), “Christians …can and do control if and how the gift is used. Spiritual gifts are not autonomous entities outside a person’s control, but abilities that the Spirit gives and that a person must grow in and use, putting them into service. Thus, the Christian is a ’steward‘ of a gift. … Thus the Christian in Peter’s view is simply a household slave who has control over a certain part of God’s property, a gift.

The shape of this gift will not be like that of another Christian, for it comes from ’God’s varied grace’…. But all alike are simply administrators of that which belongs to God; it is not theirs, but they are responsible for how it is used. They ought to be ‘good stewards’” (Davids, pp. 160-161).

Point out that gifts are developed or matured, similar to natural abilities. This is important since there may be people in your group who expect a gift to operate supernaturally without any effort on their part. It can also be important for those who want to shut down someone using a gift immaturely. Instead, an inexperienced person needs encouragement and direction to grow in that gifting (Robbins, Conversation).

9. What two categories of gifts does Peter mention in verse 11? How are we to use those gifts?

Peter mentions speaking gifts and serving gifts. We are to speak as if what comes out of our mouths are God’s own words, thus implying a care to listen not only to what God says, but who the message is for, when we are to deliver that message, and how we are to avoid misinterpreting or twisting the meaning of those words. When we serve, we are to rely on the strength that God supplies, again being sensitive to how and to whom God would have us minister. Peter reminds us that the result of our speaking or serving is that God would be praised rather than drawing attention to ourselves or bringing shame on the name of Christ.

With the abundance of needs in our church, city, nation, and world, how can we avoid burnout in serving others?

The best way to avoid burnout or compassion fatigue is to listen to the Father. This was what Jesus did, so we should imitate Him (John 5:19-20, 30). By regularly spending time with God, reading the Bible, praying, worshiping, and sometimes fasting, we have the opportunity to receive impressions of what is on His heart and on His agenda.

Without this, our words, works, service, or efforts to use giftings may be self-motivated, fruitless, and meaningless. They certainly won’t be expressions of God’s grace to others. Based on the Greek meaning of the word “supplies,” Davids points out that “…God has ordered the job done; God will pay the expenses, be they material, physical, or emotional. He ‘backs up the act’ of the  Christian who is being a good steward of his gifts in dependence on him” (Davids, pp. 161-162).

APPLICATION

• What value do the spiritual gifts in this study have for you or your group and the church?

• How can we mature in using the gifts God the Spirit gives us?

• How has this study helped you see the importance of developing and using spiritual gifts?

• How can you, group, or church develop a service-oriented outlook? How could that help us rely on God for gifting and help us mature in the gifts He gives us?

Some of us may not have seen ourselves gifted by God for service in the Body of Christ, or it may have been a long time since we have engaged in such activity. Let’s take time to bless and affirm each person as gifted by God for serving others.

WRAPPING IT UP

Each of us can expect to be gifted and used by God in the Body of Christ. But it is important that we cooperate with His Spirit in maturing and using His gifts. In the next week, let’s pray for one another and ourselves that God would help us see when and how He wants to use us. Let’s pray for faith-filled lives so that we boldly step out and risk serving the Lord as His Spirit prompts us. And, let’s pray that each of us is open to whatever step is appropriate.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Davids, Peter. The First Epistle of Peter. Gordon Fee, general editor. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1990.

Dunn, James D. G. Romans 9 —16. Word Biblical Commentary. Volume 38. Waco : Word,

1988.

Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Ed. F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids : Eerdmans, 1987.

Nathan, Marlene & Beth Crawford. “Definition and Explanation of Christian Community.” Community Bible Studies for Small Groups. Westerville , OH : Vineyard Church of Columbus , 2004.

Robbins, Steve. Conversation with the general editor. 19 Oct. 2005.

---. “RE: back for more.” Personal email to the general editor. 26 Oct. 2005.

---. ““RE: encourage/exhort.” Personal email to the general editor. 25 Oct. 2005.

Turner, Max. The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts In the New Testament Church and Today. Rev. ed. Peabody , MA : Hendrickson, 1998.

Wimber, John. Spiritual Gifts Volume 2. Used by permission, Sean & Christy Wimber, at dointhestuff.com.