Seek the Giver, Not the Gifts

1If you are trying to do some kind of ministry in which you are not gifted, it will be a frustrating, tiring, draining experience. But when you discover what your spiritual gifts are and then you begin to plug them into the body, you’ll receive joy and excitement. A discussion about the concept of spiritual gifts.

You are a Gifted Child

2A spiritual gift is a supernatural ability given to Christians to empower them to minister in the church. It is an ability, not a material gift. No Christian has all the spiritual gifts and the Bible teaches that there is no gift that EVERY Christian has. Discover what your spiritual gifts are and how to use them in the body of Christ.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

3None of us are still wearing the same clothes we did when we were five years old. We can’t fit in them anymore because something happened to our bodies. They grew. In any healthy body or body of Christ, growth indicates health. That’s one way you know God is blessing the church, when there is growth, when he is adding to the body every day those people who should be saved. A discussion of unity and diversity in the church.

The Greatest Members and the Greatest Gifts

4Throughout history, the church has been known as a body that attracts all different kinds of people. The church has always been, “Whosoever will may come.” For that reason the church is made up of all different kinds of people and some are more prominent by the world’s standards than others. A discussion of who the greatest members in the church are and the apostle Paul’s comparison of the body of Christ to a literal human body.

What’s Greater Than Gifts?

5One of the problems in the English language is we really only have one word for love. We have other synonymous words, like affection, friendship, things like that. But in the Greek language, they had four different words to describe four different kinds of love: Agape, storge, eros, and phileo. But the highest most perfect most mature love the Bible talks about is the word used here in 1 Corinthians 13, the word Jesus most often used and it is that word agape, which means “unselfish, divine love.”

Looking for Love in Just the Right Place

6A contrast of the difference between self-love and agape. Examine your relationships with other people, with your family members, with the people you work with and with your neighbors and friends and ask yourself how you measure up to what real love is.

The Limits of Love

7The church at Corinth was located within a morally corrupt society. It was the worst society you could imagine. Immorality was rampant. Paul tells this little church in Corinth, “More important than anything else, you have to have agape love.” Paul’s four observations on the limits of love.

The Truth About Speaking in Tongues

8I believe there is a spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. However, I do think it is much misunderstood, abused and misused today. In fact, in my experience I would have to say I believe about 90% of what is passed today in speaking in tongues is not what the Bible teaches about it. A message about what the Bible has to say about speaking in tongues.

Order in the Church!

9According to the Bible there are three principles that provide a structure to order in the church. (1) When you come together, everything should be done for the strengthening of the church; (2) God is not a God of disorder but of peace; (3) Everything should be done in a fitting and an orderly way.