Lesson 6: Comparing Different Gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14)

The New Testament teaches that every Christian is given spiritual gifts and these gifts determine the shape of our service to God.

1 Peter 4:10 says three things:

• Every person has received a gift.
• The gift is best used in ministering to the community – “one another.”
• Doing so makes the best use of the grace God extends to us.

That is easy to understand. The problem is there are two types of gifts.

• Some are “supernatural” and some are “natural.”
• Some are sensationally demonstrated and some are expressed through practical skills.
• Some display the power of God alone and some display God’s power working through the abilities of His people.
• Some gifts are very exciting and appealing while others are more mundane.

But all of them are “spiritual.”

Paul mentions both kinds in 1 Corinthians 12. In fact, he makes a very clear statement of his subject, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant,” (v. 1).

Before we go further let’s define our terms more specifically. What is a spiritual gift? What qualifies to be called a spiritual gift? There are several facts to consider. [Read more…] about “Tongues” Is A Sign, Part 6