When we hear the term spiritual gifts, most Christians see it as this mystical, almost magical work of God that comes over you, and all of a sudden, you can speak in tongues or heal people, but is that how the Bible describes spiritual gifts in practice?

The Pentecostal movement has, in many ways, driven the conversation about spiritual gifts and the way that we use language to discuss them. Even many Reformed Christians have been affected by their teaching and often describe the work of the Holy Spirit through gifts as something so miraculous and supernatural that their operation must be opposed to ordinary means. But Paul, who is the apostle that teaches the most about spiritual gifts, doesn’t treat them that way. In Romans 1, he plainly talks about imparting spiritual gifts to the church in Rome and in Corinthians and Timothy, he talks about spiritual gifts as if they can be practiced and built up in a way that suggests that they are not as “magical” as the Pentecostals would have us think. So here’s the question: If spiritual gifts are not opposed to ordinary means, how should we think of spiritual gifts and their use in the church?

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Permanent Hosts – Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson