Spiritual gifts

This year at EQUIP we’re up to 1 Corinthians 12-14, which is many people’s go-to text on spiritual gifts. In a culture that worships self-expression and celebrates talent, the topic of spiritual gifts is tantalizing. But as we read the Bible carefully, surprising ideas emerge, like my gift is not for me, and sometimes it’s best not to use my gift!

We’ll be studying the text, by asking the following questions, which lay behind the Corinthians’ confusion.

• Talk 1: Is my gift spiritual? (Ch12)

• Talk 2: What’s more important than my gift? (Ch13)

• Talk 3: How should I use (or not use) my gift? (Ch14)

BEFORE EQUIP

It would be great to spend some time reading over 1 Corinthians 12-14, and then reflecting on some questions.

1 Corinthians 12

• v1-2 What is the mark of being “spiritual”?

• v4-6 How is God at work among his people?

• v7-11 Why are gifts given to us?

• v12-26 What are the 2 mistakes we can make as believers, in terms of how we think about our gifts?

• v27-31 What misunderstanding about gifts is Paul correcting?

1 Corinthians 13

• 12v31 + 13v13 What is the “most excellent way” to use our gifts?

• v1-4 How are these verses surprising?

• v4-12 How is love the most excellent way?

1 Corinthians 14

• v1 If we follow love, what will we desire?

• v2-19 Why does Paul prioritise prophecy over tongues?

• v20-25 How were the Corinthians “thinking like children”?

• v26-40 What does a “fitting and orderly” church look like, in terms of how we use our gifts?