Sermon Notes:
What is the spiritual gift of tongues?
1. It is the supernatural ability to speak in a language which one has never learned. (Acts 2)
2. It can be used as a supernatural sign to help open the door in sharing the Gospel with unbelievers. (Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 14:22)
3. When a person speaks in tongues they speak to God and not to people! (1 Corinthians 14:2)
4. It is a unique gift that edifies the self. (1 Corinthians 14:4)
5. Not everyone receives the gift of tongues. (1 Corinthians12:30)
6. The New Testament gift of prophecy is the Spirit-filled ability to declare God’s thoughts and will to the body of Christ for the purpose of strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Digging Deeper:
1. Jesus said in John 14:16-17 that the “Helper” was coming to us in the person of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit gives us certain spiritual gifts, what do you think is their ultimate purpose?
2. In 1 Corinthians 12:1, Paul begins teaching on spiritual gifts by telling the church that he does not want them to be uninformed about them. In what ways do you think Christians are uninformed on them today? What do you think are some of the dangers of not understanding spiritual gifts?
3. In the Corinthian church there was a lot of division and fighting over spiritual gifts and that is why Paul wrote three chapters on the topic. In between Chapters 12 and 14, Paul wrote the famous love chapter. Read 1 Corinthians 13 out loud. What do you think Paul is trying to say in this chapter? How does this chapter personally apply to your life?
4. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul begins teaching about two gifts that needed clarification– tongues and prophecy. Read the definitions of these in the notes and discuss what you think is so unique about these gifts. How can they both be used to edify the individual and the church?
5. Study the graph on the “Scales of the Church”. Which side do you personally lean to? Where would you say our church is? Where do you think Jesus would be on this graph?
Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with understanding of your personal gifts and how to operate in the spirit of love.