SERMON FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY THE 24TH MAY 2026
1 Corinthians Chapter 12 verses 4-7
Pentecost Sunday is the day we celebrate the start of the Christian church. We hear about the Holy Spirit descending upon the disciples and how many people meeting in Jerusalem are converted to Christianity.
This results in the early church manifesting the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how this emerges as the church starting in Jerusalem and then on into wider society.
The early church was a great place to be in. It seems like the perfect church and we hear it was a unique community where unity in belief and purpose was a hallmark of that community.
The Holy Spirit is given to all – sons and daughters, slaves and free, Jews or Greeks – all get baptized in the Spirit. This is why the church is worldwide and not just within Israel.
We may think that unity would continue over the following years as the church expands from Jerusalem outwards. For the most part it did, though there were exceptions that we read about in the book of Acts.
Certain factors led to misunderstanding and division. These were driven by those who thought their spiritual gift had more importance creating unrest in what were, for mostly great church communities.
So, on this Pentecost Sunday, we find some useful insights from Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church that help remind all churches and denominations about what is important in any church.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
We know from Paul’s authentic letters that the first communities, the first churches he planted were united in purpose. In John 17 that Jesus prayed that his disciples would be one, so that we might communicate to the world the grace and truth Jesus embodied. When the Holy Spirit is at work, unity and diversity exist. This is outlined by Paul in his teaching to the Corinthian church. He likens the gifts of the Spirit to those of the interconnection of our bodies. Our bodies rely on interconnection to function.
The problem for some of the Corinthian community was that of putting great emphasis on one type of gift of the Holy Spirit and this had caused division and discouragement in those who didn’t have these gifts.
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 verses 4 to 7, Paul says . ………….“To Each is Given” (12:4-7)
In verses 5, 6 and 7, says “ Now, there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; [5] and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; [6] and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [7] To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”.
Some of the Corinthian community had set about competing to what was the best gift that truly highlighted the ‘true believer’.
In everyday life, we can be competitive. It is natural to be this way in the various aspects of life and can be a good thing in sport or getting ahead in life. We achieve and other people achieve or attain greater things than us. That is a given –though when we are speaking about competition and the gifts of the Holy Spirit ….well, that is different. The rule of God’s kingdom works with a different understanding. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are bestowed on a person and we give thanks as we use these gifts to help and encourage others. Some have greater gifts and what Paul indicates is that whatever our gift, use this to worship God and recognise that it takes all the gifts to work together to worship God. We recognise that God is the giver and we employ whatever gift we have in the church to worship God.
In saying this, we do need leaders and people of vision for the church. This is one gift that is more to the fore, though it is only one gift and interestingly not the gift that sustains any strong church.
We have a hierarchy in a church, or the mega churches that thrive have pastors and musicians that stand out. Even the early church had it’s notable preachers and teachers. The Corinthians community ranked the best preacher (still happens) and let’s face it, some are gifted with wonderful gifts in relating God’s teaching. These are the wonderful gifts in the right way with those who love God and seek the good of all their church community. However, it doesn’t stop there and isn’t the cement for the bricks to hold together. This is where the other gifts of the Holy Spirit are needed and not just as apparent as the front stage roles. What Paul indicates is that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are needed to make any church community the place of good. So, Paul is less interested in the prominent gifts and more about the outworking of the Holy Spirit throughout the whole of the newly fledged churches.
- “There are Varieties”
Paul uses that phrase three times in verses 4-6 (do you see that?)… “there are varieties of gifts… there are varieties of service… there are varieties of activities”.
He is saying not to become preoccupied with one gift, for there are many. He likens the gifts of the Holy Spirit to that of the interaction of function throughout the human body when it is functioning properly.
Our bodies rely on many interactions and interactions to function.
- “But the Same”
The desire to feel special and different from others is a universal human trait. However, with Social Conformity, most people believe they are acting independently, when in fact we frequently act in similar ways in social settings (e.g., at weddings or work), driven by social expectations and conformity.
We like to be unique or stand out or be the trend setter. These are not always wrong. Sometimes, seeing new and better insights into social conformity can be useful. When this applies to the church, some of the greatest unique moments in church history have been for the overall good of the church and focussing us in worship of God. If is uniqueness, without a desire to praise God and focus on the uniqueness of an individual or a church’s stance, then it runs into problems.
Paul describes the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit as “unity in diversity”.
In verse 6 of 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 verse 6 , he states that it is “the same Spirit… the same Lord… the same God” who is behind all of it… or in verse [13] For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free [there’s more diversity!]—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Six times Paul wants to drive home the fact that no matter who you are, no matter where you came from, no matter the gift, no matter the service, no matter the activity, we are “one body” in Christ.
Paul offers a wonderful correction at the outset of chapter 12 verse 3 when he says that the clearest evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power, “…no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”
Where do we see this today?
It is worth pointing out that churches that emphasize the gift of speaking in tongues are not all wrong. A lot of these churches are recognizing God at work in them across a number of gifts. What is important to highlight is that Paul is speaking to extremism, elitism and ultimatums.
We see this elitism as being as a warning flag when it revolves around one leader like in Cults. Those who say they have unique revelations from God or special utterances that add to the Gospel. We also find this where the charisma of the leader is such that they are held in special veneration. There is also a God given justification in some of these extreme movements in churches to act in ways that are far from loving or caring.
We are drawn to strong leaders and churches that seem to be going places. So, what is the missing hallmark that Paul refers to?
The hallmarks are discernment of the people in the church, a common cause for good, a joint discernment of the Bible teachings and the bigger hallmark of caring for one another in the church. This cannot be a coerced care and as Paul states it is the natural outcome or hallmark of God’s love in any community.
In other words, it is not all about ourselves and rather looking to God, seeking God and doing this together in the recognition that God alone is to be praised for any gifts we have. The gifts of the Holy Spirit emanate from God and we rejoice in finding God at work and common purpose in loving what God does in our lives and for each other.
Paul’s image of a church is not dwelling on the celebrities and seeking instead to be a caring community.
He’s clear in 12:24b–26 about the practical application of his emphasis here…
…But God has so composed the body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.
In Chapter 12 verse 7 he states that the barometer or measure of any Spirit led church – “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
What are the outworkings of the Holy Spirit? The gifts of the Holy Spirit have their outworking in the people in the church being built up, encouraged and consoled. “Let all things be done for building up.”
No matter what “gifts… service… activities” I’m engaged in, if I don’t have love, (13:2) “I am nothing”. If I don’t have love, (13:3) “I gain nothing.”
- For us today.
It is easy to become pre occupied with ‘what’ our gifts are from God rather than be concerned with the ‘why.’
Paul doesn’t provide these examples of “gifts… service… activities” as his focus is on the why we do what we do.
The ‘why’ is about the “common good”. The most important thing you’ll ever hear about spiritual gifts is this: (14:12) “strive to excel in building up the church and the church meaning worshipping God and not the institution of any church
Paul mentions the “higher gifts” that Paul mentions in 12:31, gifts like prophesy; in chapter 14 and goes onto say that if these spiritual gifts really are manifestations of the Spirit, then the most important gift has to be any gift, service, or activity that builds up my brothers and sisters in love.
Paul teachings about church is still good advice for us all. He summarises what he says about church in Chapter 15 and on this Pentecost Sunday it is a wonderful guiding principle for all churches today.
Paul mentions in 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” Praise God for the gospel of grace, that not only brings us to Jesus, and puts us in Jesus, but that also makes us his body… even empowering to love one another (and others!) with that same excellent love.
Reference in parts to:
A sermon for Pentecost Sunday and The Most Important Spiritual Gift (I Corinthians 12:4-7) Preacher: Bryce Morgan