1 Corinthians 12:4-11 English Standard Version

4 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. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Getting back to the basics, I was studying God’s word alone and one day at the food court of the mall I had an encounter with a Christian. I was writing on a legal pad some of the points of scripture that struck me as important. This man looked over my shoulder and asked, “Are you preparing a sermon?”

What was missing in my life at that point was fellowship and I took this as a sign that I needed to return to attending worship service. But where? My boss at the time was an elder in a church and he had been instrumental in being gracious to me in my distress. So I chose to attend his church.

That first day I found myself crying alone in front of total strangers. When asked what was wrong I said, “The prodigal son has returned.” I had found a home.

What I did not know was that this church was a non-denominational charismatic church. Their focus was in training in the spiritual gifts listed above.

I did not know that. There was much I did not know. That was my basic training ground.