Second Sunday after the Epiphany (C) – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Focus: Gifts for the Common Good
word of life
“Now there are varieties of
gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same
Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates
all of them in everyone. To each is
given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NRSV)
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Paul writes to a conflicted
church in Corinth, knowing the practical use of spiritual gifts is a major
concern. In fact, Paul devotes a
significant amount of this letter (chapters 12-14) to clarify the gifts of the
Holy Spirit. It seems the ability to speak
in tongues (using languages never studied or heard) is considered by many in
the Corinth church to be the greatest of all gifts given by God.
1.
Have you experienced someone
speaking in tongues? If so, describe the
setting.
2.
What would that be like to speak
in foreign languages which you never studied?
Paul writes to inform the
church of Corinth about spiritual gifts.
No matter the language used, one cannot confess “Jesus is Lord” except
through the power of the Holy Spirit. Although speaking in tongues is a unique
and public gift, it is only one gift.
Without someone who has knowledge about the language and who can
interpret the spoken words, what value is that particular gift? (See 1 Corinthians 14)
The ultimate source of a
spiritual gift, including the gift of speaking in tongues, is God alone.
It is God’s Holy Spirit who
activates a variety of spiritual gifts within the Christian community. “Now
there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of
services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is
the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the
Spirit for the common good.” (1 Coirnthians12:4-5
NRSV)
3.
Name spiritual gifts given
by the Holy Spirit.
4.
How does God activate spiritual
gifts?
Paul methodically connects
the spiritual gifts—though the gifts many be diverse—to the same Holy Spirit,
to the same Lord, and to the same God.
There is no need to consider oneself superior based on receiving a
particular gift by the Spirit. Gifts given by the Spirit are intended not for
private glory or personal gain, but for the common good.
5.
Give an example of someone
who might use a spiritual gift for personal gain.
6.
Given examples of using spiritual
gifts for the common good.
Gifts are distributed “to one
. . . and to another” until all are given a gift chosen by the Spirit. Gifts vary from wisdom, faith, healing,
performance of miracles, prophecy, the discernment of spirits, speaking in
tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.
Notice the last two spiritual gifts mentioned on Paul’s list have to do
with tongues. Rather than focusing on
the gift, Paul instead emphasizes the Giver of the gifts is the same One who
activates and encourages the use of spiritual gifts. People do not get to
choose or hoard their gifts, but use their gifts for others.
Word among us
First-century Corinth was a large thriving community
and important stop in the Mediterranean trade route. Merchants came from a variety of countries,
speaking diverse languages. It is easy
to imagine the early church members getting puffed up with pride when they
realized their spiritual gift was speaking in tongues. There must have been something fascinating
about being able to speak in foreign languages which they had never studied. But pride in their specific gifts was causing
division and strife.
Take a moment to fast-forward to today’s church.
1.
If Paul were writing a letter to your congregation
concerning spiritual gifts, what would he write to you?
2.
What is often misunderstood about the use of spiritual
gifts?
Take a moment to reflect on your own personal journey
of discovering the spiritual gifts given to you by the Holy Spirit. (If you
can’t identify your spiritual gifts, consider who might guide you in a
discernment process.)
3.
What circumstances or people prompted you (or
encouraged you) to claim your spiritual gifts?
4.
How might we help each other discover our spiritual
gifts?
Paul emphasizes a variety of gifts, but the singleness
of the Giver of the gifts. It is the
same Lord, same God, and same Spirit who activates the gifts. No matter the gift,
the Giver expects the manifestation of the gift to be for the common good.
5.
Reflect on the ways individuals use (or do not use)
their gifts for the common good of all.
6.
How might we encourage each other to use our gifts for
the common good?
If reflecting on your spiritual gifts is a new
concept, then you might want to make plans to explore spiritual gifts in
greater detail. The next two weeks of
the lectionary continue with Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and focuses on
spiritual gifts.
faith practice
in
daily life
Hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper
Paul’s letter to the people
of Corinth emphasizes the diversity of spiritual gifts, but the unity of
purpose.
The spiritual gifts given to
us by God are not for our own self-interest, but for the common good. This
passage is really about what it means to live in Christian community. Our lives are not our own. The community
needs our particular gift.
7.
If we take seriously the
words of Paul about using our gifts for the common good, what repercussions
might that have for us?
8.
How do you hope to share
your gift from the Holy Spirit for the common good?
Prayer
Giver of all, activate our
gifts so that the community might be blessed.
Amen
last word
This week,
write down on a piece of paper your spiritual gifts
and ways to offer those gifts for the common good.
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Copyright © 2012 Evangelical Lutheran Church in
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