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The Lord’s Day Sermon Manuscript — December 28, 2025
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (I)
Sermon Manuscript (English Translation)
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7–10a
Title: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (I) (Dec 28, 2025 · “The Church and Mutual Love” Sermon Series #2)
Theme Statement: We must gain a thorough understanding of the kinds of spiritual gifts, so that we may receive the benefit of those gifts.
Guiding Question: How should we face the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Transition: We will consider this from the following aspects.
Key Word: How
Introduction
Today, we continue the sermon series “The Church and Mutual Love” by learning about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Because there is a great deal of material, I will share about spiritual gifts in two parts.
I. Understand the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
1) In verse 7, the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. Of course, the “good” meant here is spiritual benefit, not benefit for one’s flesh or for one’s own worldly advantage.
This is also a common error among Charismatics: they think that when the Holy Spirit comes upon someone, it means that person gains supernatural abilities—dreams and visions; the ability, as soon as they pray, to know hidden things; to predict the future; to control what is coming—like the characters in X-Men or in The Avengers. This is a total misunderstanding of spiritual gifts, and it has also led some Charismatics onto a false path in their pursuit of faith.
2) The purpose of spiritual gifts is to serve others, not to exalt oneself. From this perspective, once the Holy Spirit grants us gifts, we must not become proud. For these gifts come from the Spirit; they are not our own possession. What, then, do we have to boast about?
This also warns those who appear to have certain gifts to be especially careful: do not deceive yourself; do not immerse yourself in a kind of illusory “success,” lest you come under God’s discipline.
3) On the other hand, the purpose of spiritual gifts is to make one’s service fruitful rather than futile. If our service often bears no fruit, we may develop feelings of inferiority within ourselves, as though we are useless. Therefore, to encourage us to serve, the Holy Spirit grants various gifts, so that our service may at times be greatly fruitful, thereby strengthening and encouraging our faith—so that the more we serve, the more confidence we gain, and the more thankful we become to God.
II. Know the Kinds of Spiritual Gifts
Now let us look at the gifts listed by the apostle Paul—gifts given by the Holy Spirit:
1) Before we discuss specific gifts, we must emphasize one point. We should not fall into the misconception that these gifts of the Holy Spirit come upon us suddenly, all at once, and that we can master them instantly. That is not the case. These gifts are like seeds: they need to be cultivated slowly and gradually formed within us.
In this respect, spiritual gifts are similar to the common gifts God gives to people in general: they also require cultivation. The Holy Spirit grants the seed, and we must continually practice and nurture these gifts so that they can truly be used.
2) The utterance of wisdom. Wisdom is a superior ability to apply knowledge skillfully. There is a clear difference between someone who handles matters wisely and someone who merely possesses a variety of knowledge.
Many people have knowledge but do not know how to use it. Therefore, how to apply what one has learned so that one’s spiritual life grows is a profound matter. Many people have some understanding of the Lord Jesus; they can even speak about Him at length and with impressive clarity, yet they do not apply that spiritual knowledge to their real life, as if they had no wisdom. This is truly regrettable.
Therefore, wisdom must be learned.
3) The utterance of knowledge. This refers to knowledge of God—spiritual knowledge. Although wisdom is important, knowledge is equally important, because knowledge is the material wisdom uses. The more knowledge one has, the more room wisdom has to work; the less knowledge one has, the less room wisdom has. Therefore, knowledge and wisdom must grow together.
However, the accumulation of knowledge truly takes time: it requires continual refinement, continual accumulation, continual improvement. Knowledge must also be learned. For a Christian, learning is indispensable. Wisdom and knowledge are gifts of the Holy Spirit, yet most of the time they are also obtained through learning. Learning is a means the Holy Spirit frequently uses.
4) Faith. Some people receive God’s word quickly and can believe quickly. But some people are indeed weak in faith. Faith also must be continually exercised in daily life so that it may grow.
5) Gifts of healing. This gift can be understood on two levels. One is a physical, practical level: someone may be skilled at diagnosing illness, identifying problems quickly, and resolving them effectively— perhaps through medical knowledge, or through particular wisdom in caring for and restoring the body.
The other level is that some people may indeed, through prayer, be used to heal diseases. This is not uncommon in the life of the church, and its purpose is that God would make known that He is the true Healer. Likewise, the gift of healing requires continual exercise.
6) The working of miracles. The Greek word dunamis does not mean a special kind of ability, as though it were some extraordinary skill—like “Iron Palm” or “walking on water”—found in Jin Yong’s martial-arts novels, as if one possessed a unique kung fu technique or an unusual power. Rather, the power of spiritual gifts usually refers to authority and capacity. For example, having influence, wealth, learning, reputation, and so on—these are what is meant here.
This is not success theology. Instead, for the sake of His own name, God intentionally allows the church to possess a measure of honor. To explain this, I will cite several passages of Scripture.
For example, in Luke 8:3, when the Lord Jesus preached the gospel, among those who supported Him was Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager. In Acts 13:1, in the church at Antioch, there was Manaen, a close associate of Herod the tetrarch—clearly someone of noble standing. Also, the first Gentile convert was Cornelius and his household, a centurion of the Italian cohort—again a person of relatively high social rank. Therefore, do not fall into the misconception that believing in Jesus is merely the behavior of the lower classes or merely the refuge of the poor. That is a lie. In truth, all people—poor and rich alike—need Jesus.
In fact, this kind of “above-average capacity” that Paul speaks of can be very good when it is used to help others. Because, in a sense, helping others also requires capacity. Sometimes we cannot help because we have the desire but lack the ability. But if God grants us ability—if God makes us both willing and able—then our help can be fruitful and effective.
By God’s mercy, He is also willing to grant such power within the church. God may cause certain people to possess certain special capacities, and thus be raised up in society. The purpose is to display God’s glory, not to serve one’s own benefit. If it is only for one’s own benefit, in the end not only will salvation not be obtained, but one will also face a heavier judgment from God.
Concluding Sentence
May God lead us to understand and make good use of the various gifts He gives. Let each one serve one another according to the gift he has received, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
Translator’s Notes
TN 1 (Cultural Reference): Jin Yong
Jin Yong (金庸, 1924–2018) was a celebrated Chinese novelist best known for classic martial-arts (wuxia) fiction. His stories often portray fictional characters with exaggerated, impossible combat techniques and feats (e.g., “Iron Palm” and “walking on water”), which are used here as an illustration—not as a theological claim.
TN 2 (Greek Term): dunamis
The preacher uses dunamis (δύναμις) in a broad sense to describe “power/capacity/ability,” emphasizing authority and practical capacity. This note explains the cultural contrast he draws, without altering his sermon wording.
Prepared by: Yufan (Translation & Editing) · Speaker: Pastor John Chen
I. Understanding the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts 1. The Purpose of Gifts: For the Benefit of Others The purpose of spiritual gifts is for the common good, that others may benefit. The coming of the Holy Spirit is not for the benefit of the flesh, nor merely for so-called “supernatural” experienc… Read more
I. Understanding the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
1. The Purpose of Gifts: For the Benefit of Others
The purpose of spiritual gifts is for the common good, that others may benefit.
The coming of the Holy Spirit is not for the benefit of the flesh, nor merely for so-called “supernatural” experiences such as dreams, visions, or predicting the future.
Neither is it simply that whenever we face difficulties, we pray and all problems disappear. Some people even hope to profit from spiritual gifts.
Rather, the Holy Spirit grants spiritual benefit, not personal gain.
Using gifts to exalt oneself is a common human sin.
Every single person has been given a gift.
If someone says, “I have no gift,” that is not true—at the very least, you can intercede in prayer for your brothers and sisters.
We are called to use and train these gifts, and then to serve others. That is what truly benefits people.
In the world, people often use their gifts to discriminate against one another.
Those who do things well should teach those who do not, instead of becoming proud or looking down on them.
In the church, if you have a particular or outstanding gift, do not become proud.
The more humble you are, and the more you serve others, the more effective your gift will be.
2. Why God Gives Gifts
God gives spiritual gifts so that our service may be fruitful.
Out of His mercy toward us, God enables our service to bear fruit, and He also uses gifts to encourage us.
There are different kinds of gifts.
We are born with a first kind of gift, such as natural abilities—running fast, playing sports, and so on.
The second kind of gifts are spiritual gifts given within the church. These are given so that our service may be effective, and these are the gifts we will discuss next—the following nine gifts.
Reminder
Spiritual gifts are not received instantly.
They are similar to worldly skills in that they require practice and training.
The Holy Spirit plants the seed, but our discipline and exercise cause it to grow stronger.
Just as becoming a top athlete (such as Kobe Bryant) requires continual training, so do spiritual gifts.
Most of the nine gifts are related to words and speech.
Spiritual gifts are often connected with language because, in Christianity, words are of utmost importance.
Many Chinese people live in an environment shaped by mistrust and falsehood, having been taught from a young age, “Do not trust anyone.” As a result, people become insensitive to words and suspicious of them.
But God created the world by His word.
Words reveal what is in the heart.
God teaches through words, and people are changed through words.
Why is preaching central in Christian worship?
Because it is the most effective way to change the human heart.
Therefore, we must be careful with our words—
with the words we speak to ourselves,
the words we speak to our children,
and the words we speak to our brothers and sisters.
We should speak words that build others up.
II. Understanding the Kinds of Spiritual Gifts
1. The Utterance of Wisdom
Wisdom and knowledge are not the same.
Wisdom is how knowledge is used.
For example, different chefs may use the same ingredients, yet produce very different dishes—this difference lies in wisdom.
Or consider furnishing a house: all the furniture may already be prepared, but how to arrange it well is a matter of wisdom.
Some people possess extensive knowledge of the natural world, yet they do not recognize that the world was created by the Creator.
In the book of Exodus, we are told that wisdom was required to make the furnishings of the tabernacle.
In terms of knowledge alone, we cannot compete with many people in the world.
Yet the world often lacks true wisdom.
For example, Friedrich Hayek wrote The Road to Serfdom, but he lacked heavenly wisdom. Because he could not know God, he could not obtain salvation.
The first spiritual gift is wisdom—wisdom in understanding God’s Word, following His Word, and living a godly life.
When someone cannot see the testimony of love among believers in the church, that is a sign of lacking wisdom.
2. The Utterance of Knowledge
Knowledge is also important.
Knowledge is like an arsenal of weapons, while wisdom determines how those weapons are used.
For preachers, studying theology and acquiring knowledge is necessary.
When wisdom and knowledge work together, their effect grows exponentially.
As mentioned earlier, spiritual gifts also require training.
Both the utterance of knowledge and the utterance of wisdom are seeds planted by God within people, and the more one learns and practices, the more these gifts grow.
These gifts are to be used through words, so that others may come to know God.
3. Faith
This does not refer to saving faith, but rather to a gift whereby some people have stronger faith—they more readily trust God’s Word and apply it in their own lives.
The gift of faith also needs to be exercised and trained.
We are called to live a life characterized by faith.
The God who gives faith also calls us to love those whose faith is weaker.
We should show compassion, encouragement, and help the weak grow together with us.
Jesus Christ Himself walks with us every day, patiently holding our hands—leading us like slow-moving snails on a walk.
Therefore, we must not look down on those who are weak.
4. The Gifts of Healing
This gift can refer to physical healing.
For example, doctors often need careful observation, patience, and courage in order to diagnose and treat illness. Some people are especially sensitive to caring for the human body, and this too can be understood as a spiritual gift.
Of course, this gift may also refer to healing through prayer.
However, this is not a gift that many people possess, and even when it is given, it requires continual prayer and practice.
5. The Working of Miracles
This does not mean having supernatural powers such as walking on water or striking with an “iron palm.”
Rather, it refers to authority and power—influence that goes beyond ordinary people. This may include power expressed through position, wealth, education, reputation, or social influence.
This is not prosperity theology.
For the sake of His own glory, God intentionally grants authority and power to certain people.
The church is not composed only of the poor, the weak, or the sick. From the very beginning, the church included people of influence—such as high-ranking officials and even the wives of governors. The book of Acts also mentions believers who held significant authority.
However, the greater the power, the greater the responsibility.
Brothers and sisters who have much wealth should use it to support those who have little, without demanding repayment.
Those with exceptional knowledge—such as doctoral supervisors or scholars—should use their learning to serve others.
When we criticize prosperity theology, we are not criticizing the earning of money itself.
Out of His mercy and love, God may grant some people the ability to make money, or give them wealth, authority, or exceptional ability. This, in itself, is not prosperity theology.
Power and money are morally neutral.
The problem is that many people treat power as their own possession and act as they please.
In the church, many second-generation believers are gifted in education or in making money. Some pursue wealth but no longer worship God. In the end, they fall away—not because they had power, but because they failed to use that power to serve the church and others.
God gives money, authority, and exceptional ability to certain people so that they may help others.