Daily Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1 But, brothers, I do not want you to go on being ignorant about the things of the Spirit. 2 You know that when you were pagans, no matter how you felt you were being led, you were being led astray to idols, which can’t speak at all. 3 Therefore, I want to make it clear to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says, “Yeshua is cursed!” and no one can say, “Yeshua is Lord,” except by the Ruach HaKodesh.
4 Now there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. 5 Also there are different ways of serving, but it is the same Lord being served. 6 And there are different modes of working, but it is the same God working them all in everyone. 7 Moreover, to each person is given the particular manifestation of the Spirit that will be for the common good. 8 To one, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom; to another, a word of knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; 9 to another, faith, by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing, by the one Spirit; 10 to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the ability to judge between spirits; to another, the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues; and to yet another, the ability to interpret tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses.
Reflection Questions:
The culture of the Greek seaport city of Corinth (like that of Rome, the empire’s capital—and like ours) urged people to muscle their way to the “top spot,” and to trample anyone who got in their way. We tend to think of activities that require more than one person like a pyramid, with the most important place and person on the point at the top. But the apostle Paul said the church is NOT like a pyramid. Instead, he said, every member of the church has a distinctive, personal contribution to make in doing God’s work.
Generous God, you have given me gifts, and called me to use them to contribute to your work on this earth. Help me to discover, develop and use these gifts for your glory. Amen.
Insights from Ginger Rothhaas
The culture of the Greek seaport city of Corinth (like that of Rome, the empire’s capital—and like ours) urged people to muscle their way to the “top spot,” and to trample anyone who got in their way. We tend to think of activities that require more than one person like a pyramid, with the most important place and person on the point at the top. But the apostle Paul said the church is NOT like a pyramid. Instead, he said, every member of the church has a distinctive, personal contribution to make in doing God’s work.
- We may think God only gives “churchy” gifts, like singing, praying, or working with kids. The bookUnderstanding Spiritual Gifts said, “We often overlook our ‘everyday’ human attributes like having a strong back or being able to repair machines or grow flowers. Some of us can organize; some can do accounting; some can greet people warmly and make them feel welcome; some can make plants grow. Think about such natural abilities and how God might use them.” Are you overlooking any of your gifts as “too ordinary”?
- Paul introduced this subject by writing, “Brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts.” Why not? What’s the downside to the church of having many of its members not serving at all, or serving in ways that God hasn’t gifted them to serve? What’s the downside for the people involved? (To learn more about your spiritual gifts, visit www.cor.org/spiritualgifts.)
Generous God, you have given me gifts, and called me to use them to contribute to your work on this earth. Help me to discover, develop and use these gifts for your glory. Amen.
Insights from Ginger Rothhaas
Ginger Rothhaas is a seminary student at Saint Paul School of Theology and is serving in Congregational Care at the Church of the Resurrection.
I love this scripture for today from Paul’s letter to Christians in Corinth, mainly because it reassures me that spiritual gifts are not scarce, and there is a chance I just might have one…and that means you do, too! Paul wants us to understand that we have gifts. He wants us to offer our gifts to be used by God to their fullest.
Do you feel like you need someone to affirm your spiritual gifts? Are you unsure of what the term “gift” means? Me, too! I encourage you to take the spiritual gifts assessment online to get a feel for what we mean when we talk about these gifts. But I’m guessing it will confirm what you know in your heart to be true about you. Once you read the descriptions, you will likely say “Yep, that’s me. I just didn’t have a label for it!” These labels give us common language around understanding one another’s gifts. But each of us has a unique combination of gifts that is beyond a label…it’s God given…it’s Divine…and it’s YOU! The world needs you to be YOU!!
I needed affirmation of my gifts. I just didn’t trust that I was gifted (weren’t those the smart kids in school?!?!), let alone what to do with a “gift”! As a third year seminary student, I have served as a pastoral intern in Congregational Care at Resurrection this summer. When I was offered the opportunity, I said I wasn’t ready, I wasn’t trained for this work, I can’t co-lead worship or give pastoral care. “But,” I was told, “you have gifts you can’t see and we do. You can do this.”
Wow…do you know the power of saying that to someone? Do it the next time you have the chance! Tell someone you believe in them and you see gifts they can’t see. In doing that, you will change the trajectory of their life! And, like me, they will be forever grateful that you saw their potential and pushed them toward living into it!
Paul is passionate in this letter about the need for our gifts in serving God. Not only do we need to use ours, but we need to encourage others to use theirs. Let’s wake up every morning and say “God, today use the gifts you have given me. I am here to serve.” And then tell someone else, “You have a gift, use it!” After you do this, amazing things will happen for you and those around you! And, God will get all of the glory!!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
I love this scripture for today from Paul’s letter to Christians in Corinth, mainly because it reassures me that spiritual gifts are not scarce, and there is a chance I just might have one…and that means you do, too! Paul wants us to understand that we have gifts. He wants us to offer our gifts to be used by God to their fullest.
Do you feel like you need someone to affirm your spiritual gifts? Are you unsure of what the term “gift” means? Me, too! I encourage you to take the spiritual gifts assessment online to get a feel for what we mean when we talk about these gifts. But I’m guessing it will confirm what you know in your heart to be true about you. Once you read the descriptions, you will likely say “Yep, that’s me. I just didn’t have a label for it!” These labels give us common language around understanding one another’s gifts. But each of us has a unique combination of gifts that is beyond a label…it’s God given…it’s Divine…and it’s YOU! The world needs you to be YOU!!
I needed affirmation of my gifts. I just didn’t trust that I was gifted (weren’t those the smart kids in school?!?!), let alone what to do with a “gift”! As a third year seminary student, I have served as a pastoral intern in Congregational Care at Resurrection this summer. When I was offered the opportunity, I said I wasn’t ready, I wasn’t trained for this work, I can’t co-lead worship or give pastoral care. “But,” I was told, “you have gifts you can’t see and we do. You can do this.”
Wow…do you know the power of saying that to someone? Do it the next time you have the chance! Tell someone you believe in them and you see gifts they can’t see. In doing that, you will change the trajectory of their life! And, like me, they will be forever grateful that you saw their potential and pushed them toward living into it!
Paul is passionate in this letter about the need for our gifts in serving God. Not only do we need to use ours, but we need to encourage others to use theirs. Let’s wake up every morning and say “God, today use the gifts you have given me. I am here to serve.” And then tell someone else, “You have a gift, use it!” After you do this, amazing things will happen for you and those around you! And, God will get all of the glory!!
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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