Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

Your gift is valuable; don’t despise it Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body – though many – are one body, so too is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not a single member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 1 Corinthians 12:12-19 (NET Bible)

16 And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that. 17 If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? 18 But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided. 19 If they were all the same member, where would the body be? 1 Corinthians 12:12-19 (NET Bible)

“The baptism of the Spirit is experienced by all who believe, at the moment of salvation.” –BKC “The baptism of the Spirit is experienced by all who believe, at the moment of salvation.” –BKC Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

37 On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and 38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:37-39 (NET Bible)

Do you suffer from gift envy? Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

Your gift is valuable; don’t despise it Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

Your gift is valuable; don’t despise it Other gifts are valuable; don’t despise them Your gift is valuable; don’t despise it Other gifts are valuable; don’t despise them Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

20 So now there are many members, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” 22 On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, 23 and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity, 24 but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. 26 If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:20-26 (NET Bible)

“Comparison is the greatest mark of carnality.” Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

“Pride is the great sin—not the thought of being good looking or rich or smart, but better looking, richer or smarter.” –C.S. Lewis Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

Do you suffer from gift pride? Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

Those members of the body that you think are the most important might not be. Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

Your gift is valuable; don’t despise it Other gifts are valuable; don’t despise them Your gift is valuable; don’t despise it Other gifts are valuable; don’t despise them Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

Your gift is valuable; don’t despise it Other gifts are valuable; don’t despise them Diversity requires interdependence; don’t neglect it Your gift is valuable; don’t despise it Other gifts are valuable; don’t despise them Diversity requires interdependence; don’t neglect it Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts

27 Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. 29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? 30 Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they? 31 But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (NET Bible)

Prophecy Wisdom Knowledge Teaching Mentoring Evangelism Missionary Exhortation Discernment Prophecy Wisdom Knowledge Teaching Mentoring Evangelism Missionary Exhortation Discernment Why We Should Embrace Our Diversity of Gifts Hospitality Mercy Helps/Service Faith Giving Prayer Leadership Administration Hospitality Mercy Helps/Service Faith Giving Prayer Leadership Administration

1 Corinthians Applications: Read/study 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. [ Thank God for the spiritual gifts He chose for you. Thank God for the spiritual gifts He chose for others. This week, tell someone how God is using your spiritual gift(s). This week, thank someone for using their spiritual gifts to benefit you or others. Applications: Read/study 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. [ Thank God for the spiritual gifts He chose for you. Thank God for the spiritual gifts He chose for others. This week, tell someone how God is using your spiritual gift(s). This week, thank someone for using their spiritual gifts to benefit you or others.