In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

There is quite a little controversy today about “spiritual gifts,” at least in many Christian churches. The same could probably be said about the Christian church in Corinth in early New Testament times. In chapters 12-14 in this epistle, the inspired apostle Paul addresses the topic of spiritual gifts. And over the next four weeks, Pastor Koehler and I plan to do the same. This is the first part in our sermon series on “Spiritual Gifts.” Today we examine the first eleven verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Here the Word of God speaks to believers and says...

1. HE GAVE YOU FAITH IN JESUS (vv. 1-3)

There is really no greater gift than this one. The Holy Spirit gives to people the power to believe in Jesus as Savior. But, first Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were not always believers. There was a time when the Corinthians were idol-worshipers. They served idols that could not speak or do anything at all.

Today, we find it hard to believe that people could bow down and worship idols of wood and stone. But, we still have many idols in America today. After all, whatever comes first in your heart is actually your god. Today, many people worship idols called, “self” and “money” and “career.” Every time someone tries to put their own opinion above the Word of God, that person is worshiping an idol called “self.” Every time someone regards money or career as more important than God and God’s work, that is idol worship. Let us examine our own lives and repent of the times we too were guilty of “idol worship” by failing to put God first in everything all the time. We may never have been “pagans” but we have certainly sinned against the First Commandment.

No one who is speaking by the Holy Spirit will say “Jesus be cursed.” And perhaps we’ve never said that, but have we cursed by misusing Jesus’ name? That’s a sin against the Second Commandment. I ask you to consider this: when you are at work or at school, do you hear Jesus name mentioned often? Is it in the context of worship, or is it in the context of someone using God’s name in vain? Let us repent of all our sins!

If it were up to us, we could never believe in Jesus. We could never even say, “Jesus is Lord” and mean it. The 3rd Article in our catechism correctly says, “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking our choosing, believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but the Holy Spirit has” brought me to faith. That’s what we learn here in verse three. No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of faith.

And there is no greater gift! After all, those who don’t have faith are condemned to hell. God gave his Son to be the Savior of the whole world. Jesus lived a perfect life for all sinners. Jesus died on the cross to pay the full price for the sins of the whole world! Jesus rose from the dead having won forgiveness of sins for all sinners! He did these things for everyone! But, no one receives the benefits of Christ’s redeeming work without faith! No one will get to heaven without faith in Jesus, our Savior. Only those who believe in Jesus will receive eternal life. Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit has given us faith! He has given us this faith through Baptism and the Gospel. He strengthens this faith through the Gospel and the Lord’s Supper. Do not pass by this teaching lightly. You are God’s gifted people! He gave you faith in Jesus! But that’s not all...

2. HE GAVE YOU SPIRITUAL GIFTS (vv. 4-11)

In verses 4-6, we learn that these spiritual gifts come from the Triune God. In fact all three persons of the Triune God are mentioned in reverse order: Holy Spirit, the Lord is God the Son, and God is God the Father. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same God, the Triune God gives them all.

There is a brief listing of some spiritual gifts that were prevalent at that time, but it is by no means an exhaustive list. There are other spiritual gifts too. God wants us to notice that he creates with great variety. When you go to the zoo, you don’t see just one creature, but many kinds of creatures. When you go to the supermarket, you don’t see one kind of vegetable, but a variety of fruits and vegetables. And when it comes to spiritual gifts, God creates with great variety too.

The apostle mentions intellectual gifts: wisdom and knowledge. He mentions miraculous gifts they had at that time too, like healing and speaking in tongues. But, just because there are gifts mentioned in the Bible does not mean that we have them all today. Elijah and Elisha, Peter and Paul were able to do miracles. But that doesn’t mean I can do miracles or you can do miracles. We are not told that we have that ability today. It’s one thing to claim that you can do miracles, but it’s quite another to actually do miracles. God can certainly do miracles anytime he wants to. And it is good to pray for miracles, as long as we remember that God will only grant miracles when it is according to his will. The Bible tells us that miracles confirmed the identity of Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 2:22). The Bible tells us that miracles confirmed and authenticated the ministry of apostles and prophets (2 Cor 12:12). Miracles obtained people’s attention so that they could hear the gospel from the apostles (Acts 2:6; Heb 2:4). Church history indicates that these supernatural gifts stopped when the apostles died. You just don’t see anyone anymore who can really raise the dead, who can really heal a broken bone, or who can really speak in a foreign language without having learned that language. But, if God wanted to do any miracle today, he could do it.

It seems that God’s will is that we be satisfied with the blessings we have today. We have the printed Bible. Don’t take that for granted! We have Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Spirit still works miracles in people’s hearts through the gospel. I’m convinced of that. God seems to be giving an increase of faith to many members here through the Word that you’ve been hearing and reading. There are many signs that we are growing internally. That’s a miracle, and we need to thank God for it!

God has certainly blessed us with spiritual gifts too. Spiritual gifts are blessings from God that believers use to serve the Lord and others. For example, some believers have musical gifts to be used in worship to the glory of God. Some believers have the ability to speak or sing in public, while others have the ability to talk to strangers. Some believers have the gift of encouraging, because they are just really good encouragers. Some believers have the ability to give generously. Some believers have the knack of bringing people together. And I could go on and on.

Now, it might seem that unbelievers have many of these same abilities, but there is a distinct difference. Unbelievers do not use those gifts to serve Christ in faith, and believers do. Only the Holy Spirit can work faith in people’s hearts. And only the Holy Spirit can make a believer willing to serve, to give, and to live to the glory of the Triune God. Only the Holy Spirit can make us give up our selfish, sinful attitudes to want to give, to serve and live for Christ and for others. And as we grow in faith, we also will grow in this willingness to serve, this willingness to give, this willingness to live in keeping with our faith. And that’s what’s been happening here over the past months with the Andrew Plan Bible studies, through the Word and Sacraments. God is causing people to grow in faith and to grow in the willingness to use their spiritual gifts.

God has good reasons for why he gives certain gifts to certain people. Not one of us has all of the spiritual gifts. And yet, every believer has at least one spiritual gift, for it says here (v. 7), “to EACH ONE” these gifts are given “for the common good.... All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” Every gift is important to the church, the body of Christ, as we will see next week... But just for today, realize that YOU ARE GOD’S GIFTED PEOPLE! Recognize that God has given you spiritual gifts so that you can...

3. SERVE YOUR SAVIOR! (vv. 1-3)

This is a part of Christian sanctification. This is not how we get to heaven, it’s how we thank God for saving us. Some members spend much time here at church, fixing things, making things, and serving our Savior in many ways. Some of you send cards to encourage people. I keep hearing about how people receive much encouragement from your cards, phone calls, and letters. That’s a great use of your time and ability! This is God pleasing. Maybe you have a specific talent or area of expertise. Are you willing to serve your Savior with that ability?

Just be sure to serve the LORD, not yourself. Don’t do it out of selfish motives. Use what God has given you to serve Jesus and his people.

As we study God’s Word in Bible study, as we attend worship and hear God’s Word, and as we receive the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Spirit works miracles in our hearts! He strengthens our faith. He makes us more willing to serve.

Jesus saved us. We’re going to heaven. But while we are here, let us serve Jesus and his people in whatever way he has enabled us. Never forget, you are God’s gifted people! Amen.