Spiritual Gifts | This Changes Everything预览

Types

Up to this point, we’ve discussed Titles and Tendencies in spiritual empowerment, but what about Types of ministry? 

Many people misunderstand how we are to outlet our passions into spiritual ministries. The spiritual “gifts” lists—Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 1 Cor. 12:28, Eph. 4:11, and 1 Pt. 4:11—are NOT complete lists. Each ministry listed (a total of about 28) is a TYPE or representation of ALL the ministries as a whole. Paul tells us how to read his lists by the opening words he includes in his roughly “143 Lists” in Scripture. If he had intended these lists to be read as individual abilities, he would have said just as much. Instead, prior to listing the gifts, he introduces them as functions, administrations, and roles not abilities. Therefore, the best way to view these lists is not as personal “abilities” but as the collective ministries themselves. This interpretation fits better the context in which Paul speaks of us as “The Body.” He speaks to us as “WE” not “I.”

Further, notice how in the example of 1 Corinthians that Paul even lists the gifts in a Trinitarian form to help us interpret them,

A word of Wisdom

A Word of Knowledge

Discerning of Spirits

The gift of Special Faith

The gift of Healings

The Workings of Miracles

The gift of Prophecy

The gift of Tongues

The Interpretation of Tongues

Notice there are three gifts that shepherd, three that do, and three that speak. Even in the list of “types,” Paul structures them in a way that alludes to the priestly, kingly, and prophetic tendencies of sound maturity. Paul’s comparison highlights the power of Jesus as he carries out his leadership on earth through his gifted “we.” His Body. His Bride. His Church. Jesus enables us as a collective community; some with proclivity toward action; some with tendency toward words, and others toward an extra sense of compassion and attentiveness to other people.

In our remaining three days of our study we will focus on how a Trinitarian and community focus on the spiritual ministries changes everything. Our ministries now function for:

                                                  Serving not Spectacle

                                          Making Servants not Superheroes

                            Filling us with the Spirit, not filling a Spot or location