Embracing Unique Gifts - Prophecy - Richard Sutton - 11-08-2020
Teachers
Lesson Summary
In this Bible study class, Richard Sutton taught about the gift of prophecy as part of the motivational gifts listed in Romans 12:4-8. He began by noting that prophecy appears first in Paul's list of gifts and stands out as seemingly less natural than the other gifts mentioned. Sutton explained that there is significant debate in Christian circles about the nature of prophecy—whether it refers to ongoing fresh revelation from God or to the completed revelation found in Scripture. He illustrated the confusion through an imaginary conversation between a church member claiming God told him to purchase canary yellow carpet and an elder questioning how he knew this was truly God's message. Sutton then distinguished between two different gift lists: the miraculous gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and the non-miraculous motivational gifts in Romans 12. He clarified that the miraculous gifts (including one form of prophecy) required the apostles' laying on of hands and ceased when the apostolic age ended in the early second century. The gifts of Romans 12, however, are non-miraculous, divinely given through God's grace, and continue to exist in every church and believer today. These gifts remain powerful, impactful, and essential for the church's benefit, even though they are not flashy or demonstrative. Sutton concluded by introducing prophecy in Romans 12 as "God's bold proclamation," distinct from miraculous prophecy but still a vital spiritual gift.
Key Scriptures
For as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly. If prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; or he who gives, with liberality; or he who leads, with diligence; or he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.