Sermon Summary

This week, guest pastor Adam Narciso began a new sermon series entitled “Gifted” with a powerful word on the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and miracles. Adam shared how the gifts are a testament to God’s power and omnipotence. They are the manifestation of the Spirit of God in us for the common good. God has created each of us uniquely that we may serve one another and operate as Christ’s hands and feet here on Earth. Both the Church and the world need the gifts that each of us possess. Adam shared how this is a time for each of us to learn and to lean in.

1 Corinthians 4:1

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.

1 Corinthians 4:4-7

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 4:11

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Various Gift Lists:

Romans 12

1 Corinthians 12, 14

Ephesians 4

1 Peter 4

Doorways to Spiritual Gifts: 

1. True Worship and Body-Membership (Rom. 12)

2.  Body-Membership, the Way of Love and Serving the Gathering (1 Cor. 12-14)

3. Jesus’ Plan for Maturing the Church (Eph. 4)

4. The End of All Things is at Hand! (1 Pt. 4)

If we don’t enter through the Doorway of True Worship, our gifts will be highjacked by self’s desire for personal glory. 

If we don’t enter through the Doorway of Love, we will use our gifts to compete with each other instead of advance each other.

If we don’t enter through the Doorway of Body-Membership, our gifts will be reduced to the professional expression of our career; we will miss the prophetic expression of our ministry to Jesus’ body.

If we don’t enter through the Doorway of Serving the Gathering, we will eventually trivialize the Gathering and tire of attending; or we will attend merely as consumers who’ve come to receive instead of royal priests who’ve come to minister.

If we don’t enter through the Doorway of Jesus’ Plan for a Mature Church, our gifts will become about self-actualization rather than body-actualization. Ministry becomes about ME using MY gifts, operating in MY original design, and fulfilling MY calling.

Ephesians 4:15-16

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Prophecy, Tongues, and Miracles

  1. The gift of Prophecy: The supernatural ability to hear God’s voice and share his word with others.

1 Corinthians 14:3

the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

2. The gift of Tongues: The supernatural ability to speak in a language unknown to the speaker. 

Kinds of Tongues in the New Testament

  • Pentecost Tongues (Acts 2): An earthly language given as a sign that God who disinherited and divided the nations at Babel (Gen. 11) is now redeeming and uniting the nations through Christ.

Genesis 11:9

“Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.”

Acts 2:6

“—they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.”

  • Prophetic Tongues (1 Cor. 14:5, 12-13, 26-29, 32-33, 39-40) — Heavenly languages that, when shared in public, require the gift of interpretation in order that hearers may benefit from the prophetic message.

1 Corinthians 14:5

“Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.”

  • Prayer Tongues (1 Cor. 14:2, 4, 14, 28; Jude 20) — Heavenly languages given to enable the believer to pray in the Holy Spirit and build oneself up in faith.

1 Corinthians 14:4

“The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself.”

3. The Working of Miracles: The supernatural ability to alter natural outcomes by releasing the kingdom of God into a matter.

1 Corinthians 12:10

“—to another the working of miracles.”

Discussion Questions

  1. Adam said that it matters how we enter into a word regarding spiritual gifts, explaining how it can be beneficial to enter in childlike faith. How would you say you are entering into this series? As a rookie or a veteran? 
  2. Do you know your spiritual gifts? If you do, are you currently serving in a way that utilizes your gifts for the body? Share your top 3 gifts with the group.
  3. Have you ever entered into church with a consumer mindset? Why is this an unbiblical approach? 
  4. Have you ever had your faith stirred by a fellow believer who utilized their gift of prophecy, tongues, or miracles? Share your experience with the group.
  5. How do you believe the enemy schemes against a believer when it comes to their unique, spiritual gifting? Give an example.

Application Questions

  1. Do you know your spiritual gifts? If you don’t, take the Spiritual Gifts test on the app this week! 
  2. Is it possible you have not been activated in your personal gifting in the Lord? If so, share this with a close friend or mentor this week. Ask them to pray for the Lord to activate your hands for the works of the ministry, and to reveal specific ways for you to start using them in the Church.