The Body Life - Spiritual Gifts and the Church [Sermon]

Chiang Mai, Thailand

October 2025

1.0 Spiritual Gifts

1.1 Background:

Num 11:29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” ESV

Joel 2:28-29 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. ESV

Matt 10:20

For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Jesus told them to wait for it.

Acts 1:5

for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church. (Wayne Grudem)

Broad definition, includes natural abilities and miraculous abilities.

Empowered by the spirit for the building up of the church until Jesus returns. 1 Cor. 12:7; 14:12, 26; Eph. 4:12; 1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Cor. 13:10; Acts 1:8

1.2 Classification of Gifts

Level	Prophet Role	Priest Role	King Role	Examples / Notes
1. Messianic	Christ as final Prophet Heb. 1:1–3; John 1:1; 20:28	Christ as perfect High Priest Heb. 1:3; 4:14–16	Christ as ultimate King Eph. 5:24; Rev. 19:16	Jesus Christ alone—fullness of the Spirit, unrepeatable, inspired authority
2. Apostolic / Foundational	Apostles as inspired witnesses Acts 1:21–22; 1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thess. 2:13	Apostles as founders/shepherds Acts 6:1–7; 8:14–17	Apostles as foundational rulers Acts 15:6–21; 20:17–38	Apostles, apostolic men (Mark, Luke, Jude), their witness closes canon
3. Special Office (Repeatable)	Elders/deacons lead mercy Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8–13	Elders/deacons lead mercy Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8–13	Elders/teachers govern 1 Tim. 3:1–7; 1 Tim. 5:17	Recognized church leaders: pastors, teachers, elders, deacons
4. Every Believer	All proclaim truth/exhort Col. 4:6; Heb. 3:13	All pray, serve, intercede 1 Pet. 2:5; Gal. 6:10	All exercise stewardship, leadership Rev. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:9	All Christians are prophets/priests/kings in a broad sense; fallible, checked by Scripture

1. Christ:

Heb 1:1-3

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

2. Apostles

Acts 1:21–22

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

4. Believer:

Colossians 3:16

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…

priests who serve one another

1 John 3:16

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

Ephesians 2:6

"And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 4:11

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers."

Acts 2:33

"Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing."

Ephesians 4:7

"But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."

3. Leaders+those with spiritual gifts

1.3 Using Spiritual Gifts

Find your spiritual gift

1.3.1 Non Gifted Use

1.3.2 Gifts for Growth and Spiritual Maturity

1 Cor. 14

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. ESV

12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

1.3.3 Grow the Gift

Divine component:

1 Cor. 12:11 ESV

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Rom 12:6

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith ESV

Human component:

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.

Acts 4:31. they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. ESV

1 Tim. 4:14

Do not neglect the gift you have….

2 Tim. 1:6

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you …

1.3.4 Have Gifts Ceased?

1 Cor 13:8-10

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

1.3.5 Context of Using Spiritual Gifts

2.0 Metaphors for the Church

3.0 The Church As A Body

3.1 Members as Parts of the Body (Body of Christ)

1 Corinthians 12:12–27

Everyone needs to use their spiritual gifts or natural abilities

Every member of a church is important and interdependent, needs care and deserves respect

3.2 Christ as Head (Body of Christ)

Ephesians 1:22–23; 4:15–16; Colossians 2:19

Ephesians 4:15-16

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Phil 2:5-11

Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 45:23

By myself I have sworn;

from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

a word that shall not return:

‘To me every knee shall bow,

every tongue shall swear allegiance.’