You were given a set of tools at your "rebirth" that you may have never opened. Discover the operational system designed to make you effective, impactful, and dangerous to the status quo.
Jeremy Haroldson launches a critical series on Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12). He begins with a diagnosis: The modern church is suffering from an identity crisis caused by ignorance. Paul wrote, "I do not want you to be uninformed," yet many believers live their entire lives without ever unwrapping the tools God gave them.
This isn't about becoming "weird" or "hyper-spiritual." It is about becoming functional. Just as a body cannot function if its organs are asleep, the Body of Christ cannot function if its members are unaware of their gifts. This teaching is the "User Manual" for your spiritual capacity.
Jeremy contrasts the Kingdom with the world. "You were led astray to mute idols... however you were led."
An "idol" is any system that demands your service but gives nothing back. It is mute. It has no revelation, no guidance, no life. The Holy Spirit, however, speaks. The distinguishing mark of a believer is connection to a Living Voice. If your life feels dead or silent, check if you are serving a "mute system" (career, status, religion) instead of the Living God.
Uniformity is the enemy of unity. Jeremy explains: "There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord."
God loves diversity. He didn't design us to be clones. He designed us to be a Body. A body needs eyes, hands, feet, and ears. If you try to make everyone act like you, you mutilate the body. True maturity is recognizing that your way of serving is not the only way, and valuing the people who are wired completely differently.
Why does God give supernatural ability? "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good [profit]."
The gifts are not for your entertainment; they are for the team's profit. A word of wisdom saves a business from bankruptcy. A gift of healing restores a mother to her children. Prophecy gives direction to a lost generation. If we leave our gifts "wrapped," the world suffers a loss. We are stealing from the community by staying passive.
"All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."
This kills jealousy. You didn't choose your gift, so you can't take credit for it. And you can't be mad that you didn't get someone else's. Your job is stewardship, not selection. Discover what you have been given, master it, and use it with humility.
Imagine receiving a life-changing inheritance but leaving the check in a drawer because you didn't know it was there. That is the state of many believers.
Jeremy's challenge is simple: Stop being uninformed. Read the manual (1 Corinthians 12). Ask the Giver what He put inside you. And then, take the risk to use it. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons and daughters of God.
Perfect for:
It means "ignorant" or "lacking knowledge." Paul uses this phrase to signal that the topic is critical but misunderstood. Being uninformed about spiritual gifts leads to misuse (chaos) or disuse (powerlessness). Education is the first step to activation.
No. While they operate in church gatherings, the "common good" extends to all of life. You need wisdom in business, discernment in relationships, and faith in crises. The gifts are tools for living a Kingdom life in a fallen world, not just for Sunday morning meetings.
Start by serving. Gifts are often discovered in motion, not in contemplation. As you try to help others, notice what comes naturally to you and supernaturally blesses them. Do you naturally encourage? Do you have insight into problems? Do you feel a surge of faith when others doubt? Follow the fruit.
Key Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 12:1, 12:11
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed... All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."