Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.
Synopsis
Sequeira explains that when Christ ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit and bestowed spiritual gifts so the church, His body, could reveal Him to a world that can no longer see Him in the flesh. Every believer, baptized into one body by the Spirit, receives a gift chosen by the Spirit's sovereign will, not by natural talent — a truth he illustrates from his own reluctant call to preaching. He distinguishes three biblical uses of the word 'grace,' showing gifts flow from grace, not achievement. Gifts exist for the common good, not for private status; the gift of tongues, for instance, is a sign to unbelievers, not a badge of superior spirituality. Sequeira laments the clergy-laity divide inherited from the Dark Ages, insisting all members stand on the same level, each necessary for the body's health. He closes by tying gifts to unity, since the world will believe the gospel only when it sees genuine, humble, self-sacrificing love among believers.
Key points
- Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit's sovereign choice, not according to natural ability, to build up the one body of Christ.
- Gifts serve the common good of the church, never individual status — the gift of tongues is a sign to unbelievers, not proof of superior faith.
- The clergy-laity divide from the Dark Ages contradicts the New Testament ideal that every member has an equally vital function.
- Unity and self-sacrificing love among believers, empowered by the gifts, is the church's most powerful witness to the world.
Key texts
- Ephesians 4:11-16
- 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
- Romans 12:4-8
From the book
Chapter 14 · Belief 17 · Read this chapter
- “Today Christ is in heaven, invisible to the human race He redeemed. The only way, then, that the world can see the matchless charms of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is through the church, which now represents His body.” (ch. 14)
- “The gifts of the Spirit, therefore, are not for the individual benefit of individual believers, but for the benefit of the church, as a whole: 1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (ch. 14)
- “Such a system is hierarchical and contradicts the New Testament ideal for the church. As we've already seen, all members of Christ's body are on the same level, but each member has a unique and important part to play if the church is to function as one body.” (ch. 14)
Put it into practice
- Identify your Spirit-given gift and find a concrete ministry outlet for it in your local church this month.
- Resist ranking spiritual gifts as more or less important; value every member's contribution to the body.
- Refuse a clergy-laity mindset — treat pastors and lay members as equally vital parts of Christ's body.
- Pursue unity and humble love with fellow believers as the church's clearest witness to the world.
- Comprehension
1. Why does Sequeira say spiritual gifts became necessary after Christ ascended to heaven?
- Scripture
2. According to 1 Corinthians 12:7, what is the purpose of the manifestation of the Spirit given to each believer?
- Doctrinal Clarity
3. How does Sequeira's personal story about his call to ministry illustrate how the Spirit assigns gifts?
- Contrast
4. Contrast the New Testament model of ministry with the clergy-laity model that developed in the Dark Ages.
- Scripture
5. Why does Paul say the gift of tongues is 'a sign not for believers but for unbelievers'?
- Comprehension
6. Name the three biblical meanings of the word 'grace' that Sequeira identifies.
- Doctrinal Clarity
7. What does Sequeira say will finally convince the world of the truth of the gospel?
- Application
8. Have you identified and are you using the spiritual gift(s) the Spirit has given you for the good of your church? What is one step you could take this month?