Why does God give different gifts and callings to members of the church? In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul’s questions make clear that not everyone has the same place or function in the body of Christ. Yet those differences were never meant to become measures of spiritual importance. Pastor Jake emphasizes that gifts and callings are given for mutual service, not for making much of ourselves.
As he considers Paul’s words about coveting the greater gifts, Pastor Jake explains why the surrounding context matters and how the “more excellent way” leads into the love described in 1 Corinthians 13. He then surveys the biblical passages concerning spiritual gifts and examines the unique calling of the apostles—their qualifications, their witness to Christ, and their foundational service to the church.
The apostles’ contribution was extraordinary, but the believer who quietly encourages others to keep trusting Jesus is not therefore less valuable to God. The church benefits when every member receives his or her place with humility and seeks to serve others in love.
Hear Pastor Jake’s teaching to follow the biblical distinctions more fully and consider how God’s gifts and callings are meant to build up the whole body of Christ.