February 27, 2022 · 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 (NLT)

Gifted for the Common Good

And now, dear brothers and sisters, I will write about the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives to each of us. For I must correct your misunderstandings about them. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.

“He alone decides which gift that you should have. If you notice earlier, in verse 7, the way they describe this: "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church." And the NIV says that you are given a spiritual gift "for the common good." Did you hear all the different types of gifts involved? I think it's really important to recognize that Christianity isn't about a one-size-fits-all. It's not about a cookie-cutter — religious. It's not trying to put you in a box and make you a certain type of person, and that's really important, because a lot of us have different ways. A lot of us worship in different ways. I love the worship. I'm pretty — emotional — expressed. I like to dance, even sometimes, if the Spirit hits me. I think that's really important, because it's part of how I've always expressed myself. I love dancing. But I'm not expecting that everyone dances. There's some people who worship God, and — we're — naturally with their mind of thought, and they're contemplating God and reflecting on his beauty. Now, I think we all have to learn to worship in different ways, and we all have to love God with all our heart, soul, body and mind, for sure. And that means, if you're very heady and you live for the work of your mind, maybe you need to learn to worship with your emotions a bit. Or if you're emotional, maybe you need to learn to worship God with your mind a bit. But the reality is that you're always going to go to that natural place. That's just who you are — that heady way of worship, or that emotional way of worship.”