Looking Ahead: How Do Spiritual Gifts Glorify the Lord?

When you think about church, what comes to mind?

Maybe it’s a building with stained glass and pews. Maybe it’s the relationships—some deeply meaningful, others maybe... complicated. Maybe it’s a worship service, a Sunday routine, or even just something you “show up for.”

But this week, before you walk through the doors of our church building, we’re inviting you to ask a different question: What does God think about the church? Because as we open 1 Corinthians 12 this Sunday, we’re going to discover something powerful—the church doesn’t belong to us.

It’s not a product of human creativity or preference. It’s not a platform for talent or a place to build a following. The church belongs to God. He designed it. He fills it with His Spirit. And He has a specific purpose for how it functions.

1 Corinthians 12 helps us see that design clearly. Paul is writing to a church with no shortage of spiritual gifts—but with plenty of confusion about how to use them. They were caught up in comparison, pride, and the desire for visibility. Sound familiar?

But instead of just giving them a list of rules, Paul gives them a vision. He paints a picture of what the church looks like when every member recognizes that they’ve been gifted by God, placed by God, and called to glorify God—together.

Here’s the big takeaway we’ll explore: Spiritual gifts are never about spotlighting ourselves. They’re about exalting Jesus and strengthening His body.

This Sunday, we’ll learn:

How the Holy Spirit empowers every believer
Why variety in gifting is God’s plan, not a problem
What it means to be a functioning member of Christ’s body
And how true maturity is measured by love and service—not visibility

So as you prepare your heart, take a moment to pray:

“Lord, show me where You’ve gifted me—and how You want me to serve for Your glory.”

Come ready. Come expectant. Come willing to see the church through God’s eyes.
We can’t wait to worship with you. Let’s discover together what happens when every part of the body does its work in love.