Christians recognize God’s lordship through Jesus who died and rose again for our salvation. In his love, God pours out a Spirit that manifests in many different ways. Paul calls these spiritual gifts. Any gift of the Spirit is valuable and meaningful in their own way. Paul describes spiritual gifts as different kinds of services that are given for the common good.
A strong, creative, and dynamic community embraces the diversity of all the members’ gifts and contributions. Sometimes pride and prejudice can make us despise certain gifts or paint a certain gift as more important or something that all should be able to do.
The Corinthian church struggled with pride that caused divisions. What they needed was a spirit of love that created unity. Our gifts are not meant to be flaunted or ranked, but to be used to serve and uplift others. We must embrace and utilize our gifts with love and a sense of service for all.
Jun 21, 2026
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE COMMON GOOD
Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Key verse: 7
NIV
chapter 12
1. Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
2. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
5. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
6. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9. to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10. to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for gifts of the Spirit. May they be used in a spirit of love and service for all.
One Word: Use your gift to lift others up