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We are the most entertained people in human history. We watch. We scroll. We give things a thumbs up or a thumbs down, and then we move on. Our culture and technology crowd out deep thought and reflection, prayer and rest. They crowd out God’s voice, our ability to listen to Him, and our need to be present with others in community. God didn't create us to be spectators. He formed us to make a difference in this world. Through His Spirit, He has given us spiritual gifts to serve others.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 12), that some people were using their gifts to compete and impress. Others felt they had no gifts. Paul wrote to both groups, saying, "I don't want you to be uninformed," (v.1). Here are several of Paul’s key principles to inform us.

1. The Holy Spirit Empowers Ordinary People. First, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them" (v.4). Second, "There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord." (v.5). Lastly, "it is the same God at work," Same Spirit, same Lord, same God. You're exactly the kind of person God uses. But you may say like Moses, "I have never been eloquent." (Exodus 4:10–12). Or you may be like Jeremiah: “I am too young." (Jeremiah 1:6–8). Later, religious leaders saw that Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men. But the leaders also noted that these men had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). God is looking for available ordinary people whom He can use.

2. How do you receive a spiritual gift? When you surrender your life to Jesus, God gives you the greatest gift of all: Himself. The Holy Spirit comes to live in you and gives you gifts—special abilities He empowers and directs toward God's purposes.

3. Gifts Are for Serving. There are no ungifted Christians. Use the gift God has given you to faithfully serve others (1 Peter 4:10). Jesus commended the servants who grew their master’s wealth but condemned the unfaithful servant who buried what his master gave him (Matthew 25:26).

4. You Need to receive Gifts that Others Have. God spread His gifts across His people so that we would need one another (vs. 8-11). Paul says the church is a body, and even "those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" (vs. 21–22).

Our culture doesn't make this easy. We've been shaped by an individualism that says, "I don't need anybody. I can figure it out myself." But in God’s kingdom, refusing help from others is pride, and you're missing half of how God works.

In the next week, engage in four steps to explore your spiritual gifts. Read lists in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:11-13; and 1 Peter 4:10-11.

First, discover your spiritual gift if you don’t know. Ask yourself: “What burdens me? What energizes me? Where have other people seen God use me?” Pray and ask God to show you. Take a spiritual gifts test.

Second, develop it. Paul told Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God" (2 Timothy 1:16). Gifts grow when you use them.

Third, implement it. Take one step this month to serve. If it doesn't fit you, try something else, until you sense and others affirm that you're serving the way God equipped you.

Fourth, receive it from others. Let someone else's gift minister to you. Say yes to help.

In conclusion, open your hands as a sign that you're ready to receive what God wants to give you.

Study Questions

IN - PURSUE RELATIONSHIP

What do you do for others that brings you joy?
What do spectators do at a sports event? Are the spectators as committed to the outcome as the athletes?

UP - PURSUE GOD

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. What do these verses teach about spiritual gifts, who are they from, who are they for, and why are they given?
Read Exodus 4:10–12; Jeremiah 1:6–8; Acts 4:13. What kind of people does God use? Why? Describe how these people reacted when God called them.
What is the difference between natural abilities and spiritual gifts?

OUT - PURSUE MISSION

Read 1 Peter 4:10 and Matthew 25:14-30. How do you make God visible by using your spiritual gifts? What are the consequences if you do not steward the spiritual gifts God has given you?
How can your community group be a place where you are encouraged and supported to use your gifts?

Personal Reflection

Every believer has at least one spiritual gift. How do you use yours? What excuses do you give to avoid doing what God has gifted you to do?

To know more about your spiritual gifts, take this assessment: https://giftstest.com/

If you know your gifts but aren't using them to serve at Centre Street Church, explore opportunities at https://cschurch.ca/serve-finder

The Word (NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Exodus 4:10-12

¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Jeremiah 1:6-8

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Acts 4:13

¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

1 Peter 4:10

¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Matthew 25:14-30

¹⁴ “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷ So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²² “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²⁴ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

²⁸ “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ³⁰ And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

This Week's Writers: Sandi Somers, Elsa Henderson, Bruce McKay, Mark Eckstein and Jorel Quemuel