Cross City Church
Join us this week as we seek to understand God's plan for our spiritual gifts.
When the Gospel Moves
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
An Obvious Order
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers… v. 28
Apostle = “sent one”
Acts 1:21-22
“Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
“The word apostle is used in a more general sense of other men in the early church, such as Barnabas, Silas and Timothy, and a few other outstanding leaders.”
- John MacArthur
First, apostles go in with the gospel. Second, prophets forthtell God’s Word. And third, teachers (and pastors) apply and consistently instruct people from Scripture how to live out the Christian life.
The Southern Baptist Convention has more than 47,000 churches who send more than 5,000 missionaries to 153 different nations, and 5,000 more missionaries to the North America region.
An Obvious Dependency
All are not apostles, are they? v. 29
Romans 10:13-15
…for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?
Over $21M given to missions causes in the past 15 years.
An Obvious Priority
But earnestly desire the greater gifts. v. 31
1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
1 Corinthians 14:39
Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy…
We all have gifts that we exercise and ministry areas we serve, but we must also all desire and rally around the teaching of the Word of God.And I show you a still more excellent way. v. 31
And I show you a still more excellent way. v. 31