University of the Word 

Location: Urbana Assembly of God

By Blessing Adeoye

1.    Establish Prayer Partners (ice breaker)

2.    Semester overview

3.    Group Activities (3 groups)

a.     Different between the spiritual gifts for the believers and the ministry gifts of the church

b.    Is the Holy Spirit a gift?  Why or why not?

c.     What are the relationships between the spiritual gifts and the fruit of the spirits?

 What is “the gift of the Holy Spirit”?

In both secular writings and in the Bible, the phrase “gift of [person]” always means that which the person gives, not the person as the gift. The “gift of the Holy Spirit” is that which He gives, not the Spirit as the gift.

 The terms that the Bible uses for spiritual gifts specify their nature. 

[1] “Spiritual gifts” [Gk pneumatika, derived from pneuma, “Spirit”] refers to supernatural manifestations that come as gifts from the Holy Spirit operating through believers for the common good [12:1,7; 14:1].

[2] “Gifts” or “grace gifts” [Gk charismatic derived from charis, “grace”] indicates that spiritual gifts involve both an inward motivation and the power to perform ministry [i.e., actualized enablement], received from the Spirit; such gifts strengthen the body of Christ and those in need of spiritual help [v. 4; see Ro 12:6, note; Eph 4:11; 1 Pe 4:10]

[3] “Service” or “ministries” [Gk diakoniai, derived from diakoni  “service”] emphasizes that there are different ways of service and that certain gifts involve receiving the ability and power to help others [vv. 4-5,27-31; Eph 4:7; 11-13]. Paul indicates that the ministry aspect of the gifts reflect the “servant” ministry of the Lord Jesus.

[4] “Working” or “effects” [Gk energamata, from energes, “active, energetic”] signifies that spiritual gifts are direct predations of the power of God the Father and produce certain results [vv. 6,10].

[5] “The manifestation of the Spirit” [Gk phanerosis, derived from phaneros, “manifest”] emphasizes that spiritual gifts are direct manifestation of the working and presence of the Holy Spirit in the congregation [vv.  7-11].

 Gifts

1.    The ministry gifts of the church (Eph 4:11-12). Paul states that Christ gave these gifts to the church (Apostles, evangelist, teacher, prophets, pastors)

2.    Spiritual gifts for the believers (1 Cor 12:7)

3.    Fruit of the spirits

 Next Week Read Roman 12:3-8; 1 Co 1:7; 12-14; Eph 4:4-16; 1 Pet 4:10-11.