Many Gifts, One Spirit
Month 9: The Spirit's Power for Witness · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
4 There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.
Memory Verse
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”— 1 Corinthians 12:7 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Psalms 100-102
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 255 of 365 — songs of thanks, mercy, and the everlasting God.)The Heart of It
Paul lists a whole basket of gifts the Holy Spirit hands out. There is wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, and miracles. There is prophecy, discernment, tongues, and the understanding of tongues. They look very different from one another, like instruments in a band. But Paul keeps repeating one word. Same. There are different gifts, but the same Spirit (). One God gives them all. And He decides who gets what. He gives them to each one as He wills (12:11). So no Christian is left empty-handed. And no Christian gets to pick their own gift like choosing candy. The Giver knows exactly what His family needs.
Here is the part kids should hold onto. These gifts are not party tricks to make one person look amazing. Verse 7 says they are given for the common good. That means they are given to help everybody. A trumpet that only plays for itself isn't music. It's just noise. The Spirit hands you something useful for a reason. You can use it to build up other people, point them to Jesus, and serve the church. When we believe gifts are real and active today, we don't get proud or showy. We get grateful. And we get busy loving others with what God placed in our hands.
Around the Table
The Holy Spirit gives every one of God's children a special way to help others. And there are lots of different kinds!
Let's do it: Name one way each person at the table helps the family. Then cheer, "That's a gift from God!"
All the gifts come from the same Spirit. They are given to help everyone, not to show off.
Let's talk: What is one gift you've seen in someone at your church? How did it help people?
Paul says the Spirit gives gifts as He wills. So we receive them. We don't demand them. And every gift aims at one target. It is meant to build up others.
Let's go deeper: Why do you think God spreads different gifts around instead of giving everyone the same one?
💬 Conversation Starter
If our family were a band, what instrument would each person be? And what song could we only play together?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Someone might say Christians are all supposed to be the same. Gently point them to this passage. The Spirit gives different gifts to different people on purpose, all from one God. Unity doesn't mean sameness. And the goal is always to help others, never to show off. Answer the way teaches, with gentleness and respect.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Notice how Paul frames the gifts before he ever names one. It's all Trinity, and it's all for others. The same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God (12:4-6) give a rich variety of gifts. And verse 7 sets the purpose over everything that follows. They are given for the common good. A healthy home treats spiritual gifts as real and active today, but never as status symbols. Watch your own heart here. Do you want the Spirit's power so your family looks impressive? Or so you can actually serve people? Lead your children to expect God to gift them. And in the same breath, teach them to spend those gifts on others.
Draws on: Sam Storms, Understanding Spiritual Gifts.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Your Spirit gives good gifts to each of us. Show us what You've placed in our hands. Help us use it to bless others and point them to Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen."
The Spirit gave me a gift. Not to show off, but to help others and honor Jesus.