23-1217p - Detailed Summary

The speaker welcomes those present and on the phone, expressing appreciation for the scripture reading by Kevin.

The discussion continues from a morning session about gifts from God, focusing on the timing with Christmas, where gift-giving often leads to debt.

The speaker contrasts human gift-giving, which is often for special occasions, with God’s continuous gift-giving.

God’s gifts are described as ongoing, including both temporal gifts like food, clothing, and rain, which are fleeting.

Wisdom is highlighted as another gift from God, referencing James 1:5, which encourages asking God for wisdom without fear of reproach.

The speaker emphasizes that one should keep asking for wisdom, as God grants it freely.

A distinction is made between worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom, citing 1 Corinthians 1:18-21.

The passage explains that to those perishing, the preaching of the cross seems foolish, but to the saved, it is God’s power.

The scripture continues to critique worldly wisdom, asserting that God will make it foolish.

The speaker introduces the concept of spiritual gifts, starting with John 3:16 as the ultimate gift from God.

It is noted that spiritual gifts, like the gift of Jesus, come at a high cost to God but are given freely to humans.

Romans 6:23 is quoted to illustrate that eternal life is a free gift from God despite the wages of sin being death.

Ephesians 1 is referenced to describe various spiritual blessings or gifts given through Christ.

The process of becoming God’s children through faith, obedience, and baptism is outlined, linking it to receiving spiritual gifts.

The speaker stresses that these spiritual blessings are exclusive to those who are in Christ.

Clarification is provided on predestination, emphasizing that it relates to adoption as God’s children, not to individual salvation or damnation.

Romans 12 lists various gifts like prophecy, ministry, teaching, which are distributed according to grace.

The discussion continues on how different gifts contribute to the body of Christ, emphasizing unity.

1 Corinthians 12 is introduced, addressing the Corinthians' misunderstanding of spiritual gifts.

The speaker details the variety of spiritual gifts listed by Paul, each given by the Holy Spirit for the common good.

The Corinthians' issues with spiritual gifts, particularly valuing some over others, are discussed.

Paul uses the body analogy to explain the necessity and interdependence of all gifts within the church.

Further elaboration on how all parts of the body are necessary, paralleling the church’s need for all gifts.

Emphasizes that every part of the body has a role, and no part should be deemed unnecessary.

Discusses how less honorable or weaker parts of the body are given more attention or honor.

Uses the example of injury to illustrate how the whole body reacts when one part is hurt.

The speaker shares personal experiences to relate to the concept of body parts suffering and healing.

Argues that the church should function like a body where every member’s role is vital.

Lists the hierarchy of spiritual roles or gifts in the church, like apostles, prophets, teachers, etc.

Concludes by noting that while there are no longer apostles in the original sense, the principle of diverse roles persists.

A clarification is made that while a church might send someone as a representative, this does not equate to being an apostle of Christ; true apostles were eyewitnesses of Jesus.

Not everyone is suited to be a teacher due to the significant responsibility involved, and some might not be ready for it.

The discussion differentiates between miraculous gifts of the past, like healing and speaking in tongues, and non-miraculous gifts like teaching, which are still relevant today.

Some spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12 might have had miraculous aspects, but others, like ministry, do not inherently involve miracles.

Encouragement is given to use gifts like teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and showing mercy in the manner described in Romans 12.

The speaker reiterates the need to use the gifts one has, referencing James 1:17 to underline that all good gifts come from God.

Every good and perfect gift is from God, and believers are urged to make use of these gifts.

The community is encouraged not to look down on others for lacking certain abilities, recognizing that everyone has unique contributions.

Examples are given of how different people have different abilities; some might be adept at speaking publicly while others might be better at teaching or hospitality.

A personal anecdote about a preacher in West Virginia illustrates the gift of being present for those in hospitals or funeral homes.

Acknowledges that not everyone has the same gifts or inclinations, highlighting the value of tailored service.

The speaker expresses that there’s no end to discussing God’s gifts, emphasizing the need to appreciate and utilize them.

Gratitude towards God for both material and spiritual gifts is emphasized, noting that all His gifts are good.

An open invitation is made for anyone in the congregation to express needs or intentions, including baptism or seeking restoration.

The session concludes with an invitation for any announcements or actions while the congregation stands and sings.