Will We Use Power Tools or Tonka Trucks to Help Build Up the Church? Unwrapping the Gifts of the Spirit Today
My most recent blogs have dealt with the Gifts of the Spirit mentioned in First Corinthians 12. For some of you, this might have been very informative as a history lesson on early church practices, but the thought of seeing these gifts in action today made you ask: “Didn’t...
The Gift of Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues; or How to Avoid Making Sad Pandas
Tongues is widely considered the most controversial spiritual gift. Perhaps it was controversial even in Paul’s day. Fee believes that the Corinthians were so obsessed with tongues that Paul wrote chapters twelve to fourteen to address their obsession. “The problem is almost certainly an abuse of the gift of...
Paul was the first Ghostbuster?: The Discernment of Spirits in First Corinthians 12
Continuing our discussion of the Gifts of the Spirit, we come to one that is probably the most misunderstood of all. Many people read “discernment” and stop there. Discernment is NOT a gift; it is a skill one develops as one matures spiritually. As you read the Bible and...
Eeyore wasn’t the first talking donkey: The Gift of Prophecy in I Corinthians 12
“Thus saith the Lord. You are like cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. God is preparing you for a feast. Do not be burned! Do not let the icing be poured upon you making you a soggy pastry! Do not be eaten by the birds of prey or be...
Wet Willies for Jesus: Gifts of Healing and Workings of Power (1 Corinthians 12)
Peanut butter and jelly, fries and ketchup, milk and orange juice. These combinations complement each other to produce something even more delicious than if one was to eat just one of the ingredients alone. (Try the third one with a dash of sugar; it tastes like a creamsicle milkshake!)...
Gotta Have Faith: The Gift of Faith in 1 Corinthians 12
Previously we discussed the gifts (or manifestations) of knowledge and wisdom. The next gift is faith, one of the most misunderstood of the nine listed in 1 Corinthians 12. Throughout the Bible, faith has several different definitions depending on the context in which it is used. Usually faith means trusting...
Knowledge is Power: Understanding the Gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12)
Right now there is someone reading this blog wearing Spiderman pajamas and bunny slippers and eating a snack consisting of pretzels, nacho cheese, popcorn, and chocolate syrup. Sound plausible? Maybe. But what if I was exactly right? What if my description was so exact that the person described dropped...