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lesson 11 DIFFERENT GIFTS IN THE BODY
I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS 1. Romans 12:6-8 - Our gifts differ according to God’s grace, and we should use them diligently. 2. 1 Cor 12:4-11 - There are many gifts, many services, and many activities in the body, but all are for the purpose of building up the body. 3. 1 Cor 12:28-31, 13:8-10 - Some gifts were temporary, others enduring. II. THEME - God in his wisdom gives different gifts to members of the body. This enables members of the body to work together effectively without competing with each other. (Even the special gifts of the Spirit given to the church in the first century were not given to everyone.) 1. We all have different gifts given by God (Rom 12:6-8). a. We have different abilities (1 Peter 4:11). b. We have different opportunities (Gal 6:10, Phil 4:10). c. We have different ministries (1 Cor 12:5, Acts 6:1-4). 2. Gifts are given for the purpose of building up the body. a. We should use our gifts diligently (Matt 25:14-30, 1 Cor 3:9-13). b. The purpose of our gifts is to serve each other (1 Cor 12:24-26, Eph 4:11-16). 3. Some gifts were temporary, given as signs to confirm God’s word. a. Miracles were given as signs to confirm the message of Jesus (Heb 2:1-4). b. Prophecy, languages, and knowledge were given until the completion of revelation (1 Cor 13:8-11, 1 Pet 1:22-25, Gal 1:6-9). c. Once the gospel was revealed in its completeness, the message became the focus (1 Cor 1:18-24, John 20:30-31, Heb 1:1-2). 4. Some gifts are permanent (1 Cor 13:8-13, John 13:34-35). III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS · We should not envy the gifts given to others, but realize that we can all work together to accomplish God’s purpose in the body, using our abilities and opportunities for service (Rom 12:3-10). · We should not glory in what has been given to us, but rather glorify the one who has given the gift (Rom 11:33-36, Eph 1:3-12). · Lying signs and wonders are the mark of a false prophet (2 Thes 2:7-12). · When someone claims to work miracles in the name of Jesus, and teaches a message different from the gospel, he is a false teacher (2 Cor 11:3-4, 1 Jn 4:1-3). · Focusing on miracles today takes attention away from the message of the cross. We should realize what is of most importance, the saving of souls through the message preached (1 Cor 14:37, Gal 1:6-9, Rom 1:16, 1 Cor 1:18-24). IV. MEMORY VERSES: 1 Cor 12:4-6 - “There are
different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds
of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” (NIV) |