We Are Continuationist
1 Corinthians 12:1-14
Jeremy Bell
August 25, 2024
Sermon Recap PDF
Sermon Theme: Today we are considering our continuationst pneumatology – our understanding of the role and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Continuationist simply means that we believe in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit and that all of the gifts listed in scripture are in operation today.
With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, God’s purpose to dwell among His people entered a new era (Exodus 33:14–16; Leviticus 26:12; John 14:16–17; Acts 2:14–21). We believe the Holy Spirit desires to continually fill each believer with increased power for Christian life and witness, including the giving of His supernatural gifts for the building up of the church and for various works of ministry in the world (Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:16–18; 1 Corinthians 12:4–7). We are eager to pursue God’s active presence in all its breadth, that Christ may be magnified in our lives, in the church, and among the nations (Psalm 105:4; 1 Corinthians 14:1; Ephesians 2:22). — Seven Shared Values Statement
“The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, who proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son. He is equal in deity, attributes, and nature with the Father and the Son, and with them is to be worshipped and glorified.” — Sovereign Grace Statement of Faith
“Hear O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is One” — Deuteronomy 6:4
I. The New Covenant: A New Era of Spirit Ministry
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
- When we are born again, the Spirit of God takes up residence in our hearts – and we are changed!
- The Spirit removes from us a heart of stone (a heart that doesn’t by nature love God) and replaces it with a heart of flesh (a heart that loves God).
- God’s law is now written on our hearts. We now have a desire to please God, to serve God, to obey God. We have the power to obey God because Jesus defeated the power of sin and enables us by the indwelling Holy Spirit to have the power over sin.
II. The Filling and the Gifts of the Spirit
“We believe the Holy Spirit desires to continually fill each believer with increased power for Christian life and witness, including the giving of His supernatural gifts for the building up of the church and for various works of ministry in the world (Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:16–18; 1 Corinthians 12:4–7).” — Seven Shared Values Statement
“Do not quench the Spirit” – I Thessalonians 5:19
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” – Ephesians 5:18
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” — Galatians 5:22
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. — Romans 12:6-8
III. The Active Presence of God
We are eager to pursue God’s active presence in all its breadth, that Christ may be magnified in our lives, in the church, and among the nations (Psalm 105:4; 1 Corinthians 14:1; Ephesians 2:22).
— Seven Shared Values Statement
Questions for Discussion/Application:
- Consider taking time to read 1 Corinthians 12:1-14 out loud. What initial insights or observations of the text do you have?
- Read the Sermon Recap above under point I. “The New Covenant.” What is it about the New Covenant empowering of the Spirit that you are particularly grateful for?
- Read the Sermon Recap above under point II. “The filling and Gifts of the Spirit.” A truly “Spirit-filled” person–what would some of the fruits be in their daily lives? What are the greatest hindrances we face in seeking to walk by the Spirit daily and be filled with the Spirit? What does it look like practically to walk by the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit daily?
- The Spirit delights to pour out gifts on his people. How have you been blessed by the spiritual gifts of your brothers and sisters in our Care Group?
- What does it look like practically do be individuals who pursue God’s active presence (point #3)??
- Consider taking time to pray, asking God to fill us with more of His Spirit and to help us to walk by the Spirit increasingly, day-by-day.