Post by Admin on Sept 15, 2016 6:21:24 GMT
We came at verse 7 (“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good”) several times, from several different directions. One point was that each one – all of us – have the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. Another point was about the common good – that letting the Spirit work through us is meant to help everyone, not to be some personal fulfilment for ourselves.
Paul runs down a list of “gifts” in verses 8-11 and 28-30. We have heard of them before: wisdom, healing, prophecy, and so on. Did Paul mean to provide a final, well-defined list, or are those examples? As we read the verses and talked, it seemed more likely that Paul saw a complex expression of the Holy Spirit coming through the brothers and sisters, not specific items on a short list. Don shared a great story about a sister who was called to stand up and testify when visiting a church – that was not her “gift,” but through the Holy Spirit she did stand and serve beautifully.
In this chapter Paul goes into a lot of detail about a human body, describing how necessary each part is to the whole, and that no part is more or less important. Paul applied that picture spiritually to the body of Christ – all of us! That led to discussion about our congregation and the larger Christian community. God has brought us together and He doesn’t make mistakes. We each have a vital place in the body of Christ, and we need each other to help us fill the tasks the Spirit has for us. Every one of us!
Paul runs down a list of “gifts” in verses 8-11 and 28-30. We have heard of them before: wisdom, healing, prophecy, and so on. Did Paul mean to provide a final, well-defined list, or are those examples? As we read the verses and talked, it seemed more likely that Paul saw a complex expression of the Holy Spirit coming through the brothers and sisters, not specific items on a short list. Don shared a great story about a sister who was called to stand up and testify when visiting a church – that was not her “gift,” but through the Holy Spirit she did stand and serve beautifully.
In this chapter Paul goes into a lot of detail about a human body, describing how necessary each part is to the whole, and that no part is more or less important. Paul applied that picture spiritually to the body of Christ – all of us! That led to discussion about our congregation and the larger Christian community. God has brought us together and He doesn’t make mistakes. We each have a vital place in the body of Christ, and we need each other to help us fill the tasks the Spirit has for us. Every one of us!