The Gifts Among Us: Part 1

Purpose of Our Gifts (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Read Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)

From the time Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, He gave spiritual gifts to each of us.

Five of these gifts are listed in verse 11. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers.

Paul says these spiritual gifts have a purpose. Not to elevate the gifted, but to build up the body of Christ.

Apostles are the sent ones. The missionaries. The planters. The startup men and women. They get things going from the ground up.

It wasn’t just the Twelve. Paul is called an apostle. So is Barnabas, So is Junia (in Romans 16). Yes, a female apostle. And at least 6 more are referred to as apostles. This is a gift, not an office.

If God sends you on a mission to break new ground and go where others haven’t, He’ll equip you with this gift.

I’ll come back to Prophets when we read our next passage. But for now…

How would you recognize the gift of evangelism in others?

Evangelists are the good news bearers. Like Our Master, they’re a friend of sinners. They are drawn to outsiders. They carry the gospel like it’s fire in their bones. And they don’t just lead others to Christ, they stir the rest of us to care about the lost, too.

If you find yourself lighting up in conversations with unbelievers, or helping others gain confidence in sharing the gospel, this gift may be at work in you.

How would you recognize a gifted shepherd?

Shepherds care for the flock. They guard, guide, feed, and walk with people through highs and lows. You don’t need a title to be a shepherd, you just need a heart that watches over others with patience and lovingkindness.

If you find yourself carrying people in prayer, checking in, guiding gently, the Good Shepherd may have placed His gift in you.

How would you recognize a gifted teacher?

Teachers help people understand truth in ways they can live it out. They take what’s complicated, break it down and make it clear. They love Scripture and help others grow in it.

Funny enough, this gift doesn’t usually show up on a stage. It shows up in conversation, in dialogue, in a small group, or even one-on-one. If you often find yourself helping others connect the dots, teaching may be your gift.

Of the four we looked at so far, can you recognize these gifts among us? Sent ones? Good news bearers? Caring overseers? Engaging teachers?

These gifts are all over the church. Already present. Just waiting to be discovered, recognized, and nurtured. Then used to build up the body and advance the kingdom.

And let’s look at Ephesians 4:12. What was the purpose of these gifts being given to us? The first purpose Paul lists is what? To equip us. Equip us for what? For the work of the ministry.

I’ve got news for you. You have gifts you need to put to use. We all do. Every one of us.

Ministry is not just for the professionals. You don’t need a title or a seminary degree. Every one of us is called to serve one another.

Wanna make disciples? Excellent! Because, you have a particular set of skills. Skills that build up the body of Christ. We all do. So have I.

Are these skills for occasional or one-time use? Look at verse 13. These gifts are to be used UNTIL we attain what? Unity of faith. Knowledge of Christ. And mature stature. In a word: discipleship.

Wanna know why American churches too often lose their influence? Because we’ve focused so much on crowds and the charisma of a few. And we’ve fallen out of the practice to build one another up into mature disciples.

…Disciples who make more disciples.

Who is the head of the body (verse 15)? Christ! Who joins all these parts together so they grow (verse 16)? Christ! And when each part works properly, and uses their gifts, what happens (verse 16)? The body grows and builds itself up in love.

That is the purpose of the gifts among us.

If we want to build the kingdom, we’ve got to make disciples. If we want to make disciples, we’ve got to build up one another in love. If we want to build one another up in love, we’ve got to all put our gifts to use. Amen?

Discussion

1. Have you seen any of these gifts among us? Which one resonates with how you tend to serve others?
2. Of the four we looked at so far, can you recognize these gifts among us? Sent ones? Good news bearers? Caring overseers? Engaging teachers?
3. Are these skills for occasional or one-time use? What does verse 13 say they are for?

Practice When We Gather (1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 26-32)

Now we’ll read a passage on prophesying in the church. And it may not be what you think it is.

Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 26-32 (ESV)

Let’s look at verse 1 together. Paul says: Pursue love.

Why do you think that’s the foundation? Why does he start there?

Then he says: “Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…” What gifts did we just talk about in Ephesians 4?

But then he adds: “…especially that you may prophesy.”

Why do you think Paul highlights this gift above the others, when the church gathers? What makes it so important in the life of the body?

According to verse 3, can someone tell me what a New Testament prophet does? Not OT fire-from-heaven prophecy, but right here, right now, in the church today.

“The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation.” Not to show off. Not to scare.

Honestly, if someone opens with “Thus saith the Lord…”, I’m changing the channel. My Bible already tells me what the Lord saith.

So if you’ve got something to say, it better build up, encourage, or comfort. Otherwise, best to keep quiet. And if you have a concern or something weighty, bring it to an overseer, a shepherd, someone responsible to weigh and discern.

Verses 3, 4, and 5. What do all three of these verses say about the goal of prophecy? Who benefits when we prophesy in this way? Answer: The church is built up.

Now drop down to verse 26. When we come together, what kinds of things does Paul say might happen? (Wait for answers: hymn, teaching, revelation, tongue, interpretation…)

How does he end that verse? “Let some things be done?” NOPE, what does it say? “Let all things be done for building up.”

Verse 29 and following. Look at verse 29. Paul says, “Let two or three prophets speak.” What are those prophets speaking? (Hint: look back at verse 3, edification, encouragement, consolation)

Now look at verse 31. Who can prophesy? Just a few? Just the spiritually elite? No, “You can all prophesy, one by one…”

What if we all grew in this gift? What if we came to church not just to receive, but ready to offer a word of encouragement or comfort to someone else?

But my deeper hope is this: That we develop this gift right here, this habit of encouraging, strengthening, and comforting one another every time we gather. Are you with me on this?

Discussion

1. Paul says: Pursue love. Why do you think that’s the foundation? Why does he start there?
2. Why do you think Paul highlights prophecy above the other gifts, when the church gathers? What makes it so important in the life of the body?
3. According to verse 3, what does a New Testament prophet do?
4. Look at verse 31. Who can prophesy? Just a few? Just the spiritually elite?
5. What if we all grew in this gift? What if we came to church not just to receive, but ready to offer a word of encouragement or comfort to someone else?

Participation of Every Disciple (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

This one is from 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul reminds us that we are all members of one body. And every part matters.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (ESV)

The Body Metaphor (verses 12-14)

We’re not just connected to Christ. We’re connected to one another.

We don’t just attend church. We belong to a body.

1. What picture is Paul using to describe the church?
2. Why do you think he compares the church to a body?
3. What does that tell us about how Christians are meant to relate to one another?

Feeling Left Out (verses 15-20)

God intentionally arranged every member. No one is an accident. No gift is extra.

1. What is happening in this part of the passage. How does the foot feel? Or the ear?
2. Have you ever felt like your gift or role didn’t matter?
3. What do verses 18 and 20 say about who placed each part in the body?

Thinking We Don’t Need Others (verses 21-26)

In Christ, there’s no such thing as an independent Christian. We’re called to mutual care and shared joy.

1. What’s the opposite problem here?
2. Who is saying, “I don’t need you” and to whom?
3. Why does Paul say even the “weaker” or “unpresentable” parts are indispensable?
4. What does it mean to suffer together and rejoice together?

The Big Picture (verses 27-30)

1. Why do you think Paul starts listing different gifts again here?
2. Does everyone have the same gifts? So what does that mean for how we function together?
3. So if we don’t all have the same gifts, and no one is unnecessary, and no one is self-sufficient… what does that say about how the church should operate?

The POINT: Participation Is the Mission

This is the mission. Not just to gather. But to participate in making disciples.

Not just to believe. But to build the kingdom.

Every disciple, every part, has a role in the body of Christ.

1. What do you think this whole chapter is pushing us toward?
2. What happens to the body if some parts don’t participate?
3. What happens when every part does its part… even in small, unseen ways?

Something to Sit With

• What part of the body might God have placed you as?
• What gift or grace do you carry that could strengthen someone else?
• Who in this room do you need? And who might need you?

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the five gifts in Ephesians 4?

Paul lists apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. These are not positions of authority for their own sake. They are gifts Christ gave to the church to equip every believer for the work of ministry and to build up the body.

Is prophecy the same as predicting the future?

Not in the way Paul uses it. In 1 Corinthians 14:3, Paul defines prophecy as speaking to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation. It is truth-telling that strengthens the body. Paul says everyone can prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:31).

What does “building up” mean in the New Testament?

The Greek word is oikodomē, which means edification or construction. Paul uses it repeatedly to describe the purpose of spiritual gifts. The picture is a house being built, each member contributing something that strengthens the whole structure.

Does every Christian have a spiritual gift?

Yes. Paul makes clear in both Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12 that every believer has been given gifts by the Spirit for the common good. No one is left out. No one is unnecessary. Every member of the body has a role.

Why does Paul compare the church to a human body?

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Paul uses the body metaphor to show that every member is necessary. No gift is more important than another.

The foot can’t quit because it isn’t a hand. The eye can’t dismiss the hand. God arranged every part as he chose, and the parts that seem weaker are indispensable. The point is participation, not hierarchy.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway.