Gifts of the Spirit: Part 1 - 'Acting for God'

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
Here are some questions to consider:

Readings:

1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 1 - 11

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice[b]; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.


Romans chapter 12 verses 4 - 8

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.



Prayer and Reflection:

Holy Spirit, thank you for the gifts that you give to each of us, that we might help others and bring glory to God. We ask that you encourage and empower us to use those gifts that you have chosen to bestow upon us, wisely and well. We ask today for a fresh anointing and blessing, that we might know and feel confident in our giftings, and that we would be full of joy as we minister to one another in this place and as we go out into the world to be a blessing to others.

For your glory, O God. Amen.



Questions to Consider

1. What is the best gift you have ever been given? Think about the gift, the giver and how you and they felt as the gift was given.
2. What is the best gift you have given to someone else? Again, think about the gift, and the person to whom you gave it. How did they respond and how did it make you feel?
3. What are your own particular gifts and abilities, and have you thought about these as a gift from God?
4. How do you, or could you, use your special abilities to help others?
5. Have you ever longed for a particular spiritual gift? What is that gift and how would you use it to help others?
6. Thinking again about the gifts and abilities you already have, are there ways you could use them to help others so that the outcome is just as helpful as if you had those other gifts you long for?
7. Have you ever tried to explore what your gifts are, with a questionnaire and/or with feedback from friends and from your own reflection?