City Life Starter

Written by Efe Abbe

The Word

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 11; 27-31 NLT

Reflection

Imagine you were boarding a flight. Your highest hope would be that your chosen airline had hired, trained, and qualified people to maintain the aircraft, perform safety checks, clean the craft, load luggage, check-in passengers, and fly the plane to its destination, because all these personnel are necessary for a safe and successful flight.

It’s the same with us, the Church. God, by His Spirit, has brought us together in Jesus and given us diverse gifts and service roles because He has deemed each one of us necessary for the mission of making and growing disciples of Jesus.

Paul wanted to make sure the churches he shepherded did not misunderstand corporate organization of the church so he spelled it out:

1. First, as members of Christ’s body, we are distinct in our gifts and roles, yet none is inferior to another; consequently every member is vital (1Cor 12:12-27; Romans 12:4-5).

2. There is diversity in the assigned gifts and roles and everyone gets an assigned gift and role if they are a member of the body of Christ (1Cor. 12:4-6; Romans 12:6-8).

3. The gifts and roles in the church cannot be manufactured, they are given by God through His Spirit (1Cor. 12:11; Romans 12:6).

4. Everyone is called to work excellently, in unity and love, with their assigned gifts and roles (Romans 12:6-8).

Application

Being a part of the body of Christ is a privileged personal and communal high calling. Let us press in to take the next step towards being engaged with the church. For some of us that might be committing to meet regularly, for others it might be using our gifts to serve. God in His wisdom, made us to be in community with one another so that together, the beauty of His endless creativity in each of us points the world to His Son, Jesus.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of belonging to the body of Christ. Please help me to grow up fully in my assigned gifts and role for the proper working of Your Son’s body – the Church, amen.