God’s Gifts for Building the Church
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Now, it’s time to expand to another category: God’s gifts for building the church. Up to this point, the majority of the gifts developed Christ-like character in individuals. Based on the evidence we find in creation, and the numerous gifts we’ve covered in these blog posts so far, we shouldn’t be terribly surprised that God gives gifts for more than one purpose.
Are these gifts more important than earlier ones?
The next eleven gifts don’t outweigh the others, but do set the foundation for proving out our character growth in practical ways as we work together as the church. Scripture provides us with two lists for these equipping gifts, one in 1 Corinthians, and another in Ephesians. Some of the gifts are for specific types of leadership. Others enable congregation members to participate, making the church effective in society.
God’s gifts for building the church include Languages, Translation, Help, Administration, Giving, Miracles, Healing, Distinguishing Between Spirits, Apostles, Prophets, and Teachers. Some of these gifts might sound more than a little unusual, but with careful consideration, they’ll become understandable.
All of them, really?
Over time, various groups of Christians have developed differing opinions about some of these gifts, and the listed leadership positions. I do not intend to discuss the validity of those issues, because I think the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are of far greater importance to the effectiveness of the Church than any current preacher’s capacity to perform a miracle or healing.
God’s gifts for building the church are powerful, and to be exercised with prayerful care. We ourselves are not yet finished with the process of sanctification offered via the previous gifts, and we are as likely as new believers in the first century after Christ’s resurrection to place excess emphasis on this last group of eleven gifts.
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Ruth DeMaat
Heidi Kortman
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