For the Common Good
Similar to his point in Romans 12, Paul again emphasizes that the church is like a body. The Spirit of God dwells in the collective body the way an individual’s spirit dwells in an individual. As the Spirit fills the church, he gives various gifts “for the common good” (vs. 7). So often, when we talk about the work of the Spirit, we think about what the Spirit does for each of us individually. But Paul’s emphasis is on what the Spirit does through us for the collective benefit. (Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-13)