THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
AND THE VITALITY OF THE CHURCH
The Rev. Harold Shepherd, CD, M.A., S.T.M., LL.B., LL.M.,
Ph.D.
Sermon from January 18, 2004
To each is given the manifestation of
the Spirit for the common good.. To one is given through
the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the
utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to
another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of
healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of
miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment
of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another
the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by
one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one
individually just as the Spirit chooses. I Cor
12:7-11
In Paul’s time, Corinth was a prosperous maritime
city that administered two harbors. It was located near the
Aegean Sea at the eastern end of the isthmus that joins the
Peloponnesus to the Greek mainland. Rather than sailing
around the isthmus, cargo was taken the short distance
overland between the Ionian and Aegean Seas. In the 19th
century, a canal was cut to link the two bodies of water.
In addition to being a maritime city, Corinth was a major
exporter of pottery. The City was destroyed by the Romans
in 146 B.C. and lay in ruins until rebuilt by order of
Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. and populated by freedmen of Rome.
By Paul’s day, Corinth was a multinational and
multicultural city with a large Roman, Greek and Jewish
population. As a wealthy commercial city and the
administrative center of a Roman province, Corinth became a
cross-roads of cultures and religions. In addition, it was
also the capital of the Roman Province of Achaia. As a
senatorial province, it was governed by a Proconsul- a
former Consul or Praetor (a magistrate one level below that
of Consul). Acts 18 records Paul’s trial before the
Proconsul Gallio. An inscription found at Delphi refers to
Gallio as a friend of Caesar who was Proconsul of Achai in
AD 51 or 52.
I Corinthians 12 gives as an important insight into the
life of the Corinthian Church. Founded by Paul, he
continued to take a deep interest in its welfare. Paul was
concerned about reports of confusion and lack of charity
within the Corinthian Christian community. Acts 11 records
problems with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
Each would bring his or her own meal according to financial
resources. Some ate and drank well, sometimes to excess,
while others went hungry. According to Acts 14, spiritual
gifts were exercised freely during worship in a way that
led to confusion. Paul focuses the attention of the
Corinthians on mutual edification. I Corinthians 12
provides an outline of the types of ministries and gifts at
work in the community.
For Paul, ministry is not a matter of intelligence,
education and hard work, although each of these has its
place. Ministry is essentially the work of the Holy Spirit
acting through each one of us. This is what distinguishes
Christianity from religious cults. Rather than one person
presuming to be the only person who can speak for God, Paul
points out that each member of the congregation has been
given a manifestation of the Spirit in order to contribute
to the common good. The Church can only be built up and
nurtured if everyone plays his or her part. Examples given
by Paul are: the utterance of wisdom, the utterance of
knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles,
prophecy, discernment of spirits, various kinds of tongues,
and interpretation of tongues.
Some may wonder if the Holy Spirit still works in these
ways today. He does. The problem is that we often lack the
self-confidence to recognize the gifts we have been given
and make them available to the wider Christian community.
Sometimes God’s voice speaks through the most
unlikely of sources. God may ask us to do or say something,
but we are afraid that we are wrong or that we could not
possibly have heard from him.
It is not that the Holy Spirit does not work in these ways
today. Typically, we have not opened ourselves to hear him
and respond. The Charismatic renewal movement within the
Church has attempted to make us more sensitive to the
varied ways in which the Holy Spirit works in and through
us. I Corinthians 12 makes clear what our experience tells
us. Given that every human has a unique blend of
personality, education and life experience, each has a
unique contribution to make to ministry. Failure to
exercise that ministry diminishes all of us. Together, the
early Christian community changed world history. Today the
Church can also be a powerful force for good. Leaders
cannot do it alone. We each need to discern God’s
call for our life and respond by taking a step in faith,
asking him to give us strength and courage for the
journey.