By One and the Same Spirit
Prayer for Understanding
Gracious God, Your Spirit equips us with the gifts we need to hear and understand Your holy Word.
Open our ears to listen to Your truth, and open our hearts to embrace it fully.
Guide us to live out that truth in our daily lives as faithful followers of Jesus, Your Living Word. Amen.
Have you ever watched The Gifted? It’s a superhero series based on Marvel’s X-Men, where an ordinary family whose lives change course forever when they discover their kids have mutant abilities.
They join an underground community of mutants who have to fight to survive. In their community, each mutant has a distinct gift — one can manipulate fire, another can control metal, and yet another can read minds.
These gifts are remarkable on their own, but what makes them truly powerful is how they come together, using their abilities for a greater purpose: to protect their community and fight for justice.
What’s striking is that no single mutant can accomplish the mission alone. Their success depends on their willingness to unite and use their gifts in harmony.
There are moments when someone’s power seems small or insignificant, but in the right situation, it becomes the key to saving the day.
This idea of using unique gifts for a greater purpose resonates deeply with what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12.
Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives each of us spiritual gifts—not for our benefit, but to build up the body of Christ and bless the world.
When you hear the words “spiritual gifts” or “being spiritual,” what comes to mind? Maybe you think of extraordinary abilities or something supernatural.
Perhaps you wonder, “Do Presbyterians even believe in spiritual gifts? Aren’t they something from Bible times?”
Or maybe you think, “I wouldn’t call it a spiritual gift, but I love decorating and gardening,” or, “I know God has given me the gift of generosity.”
Whether you’re curious about spiritual gifts or skeptical, whether you think you have one or not, Paul invites us to take a closer look.
He wants us to understand that these gifts aren’t reserved for a special group of people or locked away in history.
They’re for all of us, given by the Holy Spirit to make a difference in our communities and the church.
Our Presbyterian faith reflects this truth. Living Faith: A Statement
of Christian Belief teaches us in the fourth chapter:
4.3.4 The Spirit blesses us with various gifts.
We seek to discover those gifts and to use them for our Lord.
Faithful loving service is a sign that the Spirit is present.
The presence of the Spirit is evident when people are made whole, encouraged, and enabled to grow in Christ.
4.3.5 Come, Holy Spirit!
So, seeking and using spiritual gifts isn’t about becoming something we’re not. It’s about recognizing what God has already given us and being open to discovering more.
Let’s explore what Paul says about these gifts and what they mean for us today.
Corinth was one of the wealthiest cities in Greece, known for its bustling trade, pagan worship, and unashamed immorality. The church in Corinth found itself surrounded by this deeply sinful atmosphere.
Most of its members were Gentiles, and many of the challenges within the church reflected the brokenness of the city around them.
Yet, despite these challenges, the Corinthian believers were richly blessed with spiritual gifts. The problem was that they misunderstood the purpose of these gifts.
Instead of using them to serve others, they began comparing them, treating certain gifts—like prophecy, speaking in tongues, and healing—as more important than others. This mindset led to pride, envy, jealousy, and ultimately division within the church.
Paul saw this and wanted to correct their misunderstanding. He reminded them that spiritual gifts are meant to build up the church, not tear it apart.
He begins by explaining that there is a variety of spiritual gifts. Each gift serves a unique purpose, just as each member of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—has a distinct role but they are united as one. Paul calls this “diversity in unity,” not uniformity.
The word Paul uses for “gift” is the Greek word charismata, which is where we get the English word “charismatic.” The root of charismata is charis, which means “grace.” The suffix -mata points to something that is given.
So, these gifts are “grace-gifts”—God’s undeserved gifts to His people. A spiritual gift is a special, and sometimes, supernatural ability given by God to equip believers to serve others in the body of Christ.
Paul emphasizes that God distributes these gifts in many different forms. No one person receives all the gifts; instead, the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different people.
What unites us is the source of these gifts. Every believer has the same Holy Spirit dwelling within them. There aren’t “different versions” of the Spirit—just different gifts given by Him.
Paul’s point is clear: the variety of spiritual gifts isn’t about ranking or comparing. Differences in gifts don’t reflect differences in spiritual value or salvation.
All gifts are equal in worth because they come from the same Spirit and serve the same purpose—to build up and bless the body of Christ.
None of these gifts are meant to enrich the person who has them. Instead, they are given to meet the needs of others and to strengthen the community of believers.
Spiritual gifts are a beautiful reminder of how God calls us to work together in unity, using our unique abilities to serve His purposes.
So, what kinds of spiritual gifts are there? In today’s passage, Paul mentions some of them: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and interpreting tongues.
Other parts of the Bible list additional gifts. Romans 12:6-8 mentions giving, prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, leading, and showing mercy. There’s also the gift of administration.
Beyond these, there are many other gifts not specifically listed in Scripture but equally valuable—like music, hospitality, intercessory prayer, technology, finance, or craftsmanship.
Paul’s main point is that no one chooses their spiritual gifts. We don’t create the power behind them, and we certainly don’t earn them. These gifts are freely given by the Spirit, which means no one can take credit for them.
There’s nothing we can boast about when it comes to our talents or abilities. Spiritual gifts don’t make us impressive—they point to how powerful and generous God is.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing our gifts to others’. We might think, “My gift isn’t as impressive as theirs,” or “What I can do doesn’t really matter.” But Paul makes it clear: every gift is essential.
Just like the human body needs all its parts to function— hands, feet, eyes, and ears — the church needs every single gift to fulfill its mission.
No one part of the body is more important than another, and no gift is insignificant. Each one plays a critical role in building up the church and glorifying God.
And when we use our gifts together, we reflect the beauty of God’s design for His people.
When I was a university student, I joined the praise and worship team. I loved praising God with all my heart—singing, moving, and even incorporating worship dance. It was my way of connecting with God, almost like having a conversation with Him through music.
But here’s the thing—I wasn’t musically gifted. I didn’t know much about notes, tempo, or how the instruments should come together. I just loved to sing. As you can probably guess, I didn’t have what it takes to lead a praise team!
Besides, my parents and three sisters all worked in banking or business. All of them have extensive knowledge about money, investments, stocks, and all things finance.
They’d talk about numbers and strategies at the dinner table, and I’d sit there feeling like a mutant in my own family. Once the numbers went beyond 100, my brain just stopped working!
That’s why I’m so thankful for people who bring their unique gifts to the table—our worship team, our finance team, and everyone else who uses their God-given talents to serve.
Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by spiritual gifts and have always prayed to receive more. Of course, the Holy Spirit hasn’t given me every gift I’ve asked for, but I’ve noticed something amazing: when a specific gift is needed, even temporarily, God provides what’s necessary to build up His church.
As a minister, one of my responsibilities—and gifts—is to help you discover and use your spiritual gifts for the body of Christ. Sometimes, that means encouraging you to try something new.
I know how intimidating that can feel. Believe me, I experience the same fear whenever I step into something unfamiliar.
But here’s what I’ve learned: when you take that first step, you’ll often find it’s not as hard as you imagined. Why? Because the Holy Spirit gives you the ability and strength you need in that moment.
So, don’t be afraid to step out in faith. God has equipped you with gifts, and when you use them, you’ll not only bless others but experience the joy of working alongside the Spirit to build His church.
During the Christmas season, I had this idea: I wanted to ask the Session to purchase a couple of gift cards as appreciation gifts for those who have served our congregation so faithfully.
But as I thought of one person, another name came to mind. Then another. And another. Before I knew it, the list was overflowing.
So many of you are pouring your time, energy, and gifts into our church in ways big and small.
I couldn’t single out just a few names because all of you are part of this incredible tapestry of service. I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude to God for each one of you.
Friends, We are called to equip, encourage, and give thanks for one another’s gifts. Believe this: the Holy Spirit has given you gifts—perfectly chosen for you—for the good of the body of Christ.
Think back to The Gifted. The mutants discovered their true strength when they worked together, each contributing their unique abilities for the greater good.
In the same way, the church thrives when we use our God-given gifts in harmony, building one another up and glorifying God.
So, friends, remember that you are gifted and trust in the Holy Spirit, who is the source, the giver, and the perfect distributor of spiritual gifts.
Stop comparing yourself to others. Stop dismissing the gifts God has given you. Instead, embrace them. Use them fully and confidently.
Imagine what could happen if each of us stepped into the gifts the Spirit has given us. Picture how our church could flourish, grow stronger, and shine even brighter in this community.
Let’s step forward together, united by the same Spirit, and see how God will use us to build His kingdom.
Let us pray.
Holy Spirit, thank You for the gifts You have given us to build up Your church. Help us to use them with confidence, humility, and love. Unite us as one body, and may all we do bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.