What’s Your Spiritual Gift? (1 Corinthians 12:3-31) Printable Bible Lesson & Sunday School Activities

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This passage comes from one of Paul’s letters to the church of Corinth, urging them to consider how they could work together as the body of Christ, and use their gifts to serve the church. Take turns reading verses, or read them out loud for younger children. Explain what these important words mean as you go through the passage. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3-11 NIV Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (4) There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. (5) There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. (6) There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (7) Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (8) To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, (10) to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. (11) All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Paul wants to remind the people of the Corinthian church that every blessing comes from the Lord. Many of these people were formerly pagans who worshiped idols and made-up gods, and thought that they somehow could get themselves great things on their own power. Paul tells them that all gifts and powers and abilities are given through the Holy Spirit. He gives different unique talents and treasures to different people, but they all come from Him first and foremost. Decide how in-depth you wish to go with students in describing these various gifts. Some of them could be harder to explain for younger students (tongues, healing, etc.), as far as how those are manifested today, but they could still be discussed. Consider talking about other gifts and abilities that God gives to us, and how we might figure out what our gifts are. Some think there’s a magic formula or secret way to discern our giftings, but it can be as simple as what we enjoy or do well! Ask: What are some things that you are extra good at? What kinds of gifts has God given you? 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. (13) For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. This is a pretty classic, but wonderful illustration. Invite students to think of how our bodies work. Everything that we do, from eating a sandwich to throwing a baseball, involves a lot of parts working together. If all of the body parts are not cooperating, things don’t happen like they should. It’s the same way with the church. The church is the body of Jesus, and we all contribute different things to make it function properly. Note that this verse does not say “we should try to be a body”, but indicates that we already are! We need each other. Ask: Do you think one of your body parts is the most important? Which one? 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 NIV Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (15) Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. (16) And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? (18) But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. (19) If they were all one part, where would the body be? (20) As it is, there are many parts, but one body. Sometimes we start to feel like our role is less glamorous or important than someone else’s. The truth is that all parts are essential. In our human bodies, we might not think too much about something like a pinky toe, until it gets broken on a door jamb and suddenly renders walking difficult. There is no most or least critical body part. In the same way, there is no best or worst church member or contributor. Even kids have a purpose and a job in the church! We cannot think we aren’t important to Christ’s body. We also can’t look down on others or tell them that they are less significant. Perhaps being an usher or janitor doesn’t feel as “cool” as choir director or Sunday School superintendent, but every job is necessary to the church. Ask: What are some things that you can do in the church right now? How can God use your talents? 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 NIV The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” (22) On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (23) and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, (24) while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, (25) so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (26) If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. We need each other! There might be times (okay, there will be times) when we don’t get along with everyone else around. There will be people we might prefer not to work with or even hang out with. This does not mean we should avoid them, or that they don’t also have important jobs to do in God’s church. If we ignore people or push them away, they might stop coming to church, which could deprive the body of a needed part! God has put us together in a certain way, and we are to help one another, rejoicing with those who rejoice and suffering when another suffers. This is not something we choose, but a design God has already set for His church! Ask: How can you be more welcoming to someone you don’t always get along with well? 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 NIV Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (28) And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? (30) Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (31) Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. These verses might make it seem like there is a “ranking” order or hierarchy to spiritual gifts, which is not true. Paul is merely pointing out that not everyone has the same gift. It would be pretty boring and pointless if we were all exactly the same! We don’t all do the same thing, but the things we do are all important. Desiring “higher gifts” does not mean we should be envious of others or want abilities we do not have, but simply that we should want to use our talents in the best way, and to ask God to help us use the gifts we are given. When Paul says that he will “show you a still more excellent way”, it is preparation for the next passage! 1 Corinthians 13 (following 12, as numbers go) is the great chapter on love, which will show how love is even more important than all of the other spiritual gifts, and is the very highest and greatest thing we can do as Christians. Ask: How do you think God can use some of the things you are good at? What’s something you might want to be even better at? Close with prayer, thanking God for His gifts and asking for His help in discerning how to best use them for His glory.