Beyond the Weekend

August 23 | Spiritual Gifts

August 23, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 1 Corinthians 12:14

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14
Listen: 
1 Corinthians 12

TODAY’S MESSAGE

The Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian Jesus-followers of their beautiful uniqueness. The church family is also made up of a unique group from all levels of society and backgrounds. Each person matters, whether an enslaved person or born free, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor. The Holy Spirit gives each believer a spiritual gift so that the whole body can receive encouragement, comfort, challenge, healing and direction. God gives individual gifts to parts of the body to build up the whole body.

One of a church community’s beautiful gifts today is still how God brings together unique people. Few other places offer the opportunity for such a wide variety of life experiences, education and economic levels, workplace situations and cultural backgrounds to interact and care for one other. The CEO of a company may sit in one row, with the newest hire of the same company just a few seats down. One who struggles in school may sit next to one for whom school comes easily. One who retired well and one who is unable to retire may belong to the same small group. We’ve all been radically lost and radically forgiven through Jesus.

This kind of unity and appreciation for each other may not come naturally. Yet as we each surrender to the Spirit, we can embrace and appreciate the uniqueness of the body around us. Everybody brings something AND nobody brings everything. God desires each of us to bring our “something” and surrender it to him for the good of his body.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

In your journal or mobile device, list the unique giftings and variety of backgrounds you see in the church body around you. Thank God for the variety of people and gifts he has brought together to form and build up his body.


2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE

Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.

PROVERBS 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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