Mariners Church Weekend Messages

Episode: January 25 - What About Those Crazy Spiritual Gifts?

Speaker: Senior Pastor Eric Geiger
Date: January 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this message, Eric Geiger explores one of Christianity’s most debated topics: spiritual gifts, especially the so-called “crazy” or sign gifts like tongues, prophecy, and healing. With humor, vulnerability, and clear teaching, Geiger breaks down what spiritual gifts are, different Christian perspectives on them, what the Bible teaches, and how they are to be used today—landing on how these gifts exist to build up others and urging every Christian to discover and use their unique gift. Geiger shares his personal journey and addresses misunderstandings, aiming to demystify the subject and paint a balanced, generous vision for spiritual gifts in the church.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eric’s Personal Story: Early Encounters with Spiritual Gifts

• [00:27] Eric shares his first exposure to spiritual gifts (notably tongues) while working construction in New Orleans with three Christian coworkers, Duke, Denny, and Gary. They met for Bible study in the "tool room chapel."
• “I had never spoken in tongues… I asked God to be able to speak in tongues… it didn’t happen for me.” – Eric Geiger ([04:20])
• Attendance at a Pentecostal revival service, seeking more of God, led him to wrestle with his own experience and expectations around the gifts.

2. Basics of the Christian Faith and Spiritual Gifts

• [06:50] Geiger summarizes core Christian beliefs: Trinity—God the Father, Son, and Spirit; the Spirit “moves in” when one believes in Jesus.
• Spiritual gifts are given at the new birth, distinct from natural abilities.
  • 1 Peter 4:10 cited as biblical basis: "Each one has received a gift, use it to serve others."

3. Categories of Spiritual Gifts & Where Christians Disagree

• [09:45] Geiger explains three categories:
  • Speaking Gifts (teaching, leadership)
  • Serving Gifts (mercy, hospitality)
  • Sign Gifts (tongues, prophecy, healing)
• Main debate: Do sign gifts continue today?
  • Cessationists: These gifts ceased once the biblical canon was complete.
  • Continuationists: These gifts continue until Christ returns.
• 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 is explored:
  • “We see that at some point the gifts are going to come to an end. But when?”
  • Distinction: "when the perfect comes" = completion of Scripture (cessationist) vs. Christ’s return (continuationist).

4. Mariners Church’s Position

• [14:20] Mariners holds a continuationist position: Gifts continue today.
• There is diversity even within continuationists:
  • Open but cautious (Geiger’s position): Believe gifts exist but are wary due to abuses.
  • Charismatic: Gifts are normal and expected.
  • Pentecostal: Gifts are for all believers, always.
• “I never want you to be made to feel as if you don’t have God if you don’t have a sign gift. The sign that you belong to God is that you believe in Jesus.” – Eric Geiger ([16:35])

5. Definitions and Purpose of the Sign Gifts

• Tongues: “The supernatural ability to speak in a language unfamiliar to the speaker or mysteriously in the spirit.” Primarily for personal edification unless interpreted.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:18 - Paul speaks in tongues but values prophecy more in public worship.

• Prophecy: “The supernatural ability to speak words to someone that the Holy Spirit has sovereignly and spontaneously revealed.”

  • Not just prepared sermons, but spontaneous insight.
  • Prophecy should be delivered humbly and tested.

• Healing: “Divine intervention resulting in spiritual or physical restoration.”

  • Gifts of healing are plural, distributed by the Spirit as He chooses; Mariners doesn’t elevate “healers” as individuals but sees healing as God’s regular work.

• Memorable Story ([27:16]): Geiger shares a healing story of a girl, Evelyn, whose parents received prayer for infertility—Evelyn is living evidence of God’s healing.

6. Five Exhortations about Gifts and the Holy Spirit

a) Don’t Stifle the Spirit ([29:05])

• “Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
• Approach the Spirit’s work with expectancy, not fear. But always be discerning.

b) Be Filled With the Spirit ([31:17])

• Difference between “baptized by the Spirit” (when you believe in Jesus; initial immersion) and “filled with the Spirit” (continual yielding of your life).
• Illustration: Chocolate milk—Holy Spirit as Hershey’s syrup stirred into milk. “Being filled with the Spirit means the Holy Spirit gets more of you.”

c) Care More About Spiritual Fruit Than Spiritual Gifts ([33:34])

• “God actually cares more about your spiritual fruit than your spiritual gifts.”
• Galatians 5:22-23 – Fruit of the Spirit is the internal evidence; gifts are external.
• Noted Christian thinker John Stott quoted: “The evidence of the Spirit’s fullness is not the exercise of his gifts, but the ripening of his fruit.”

d) Use Your Gifts Wisely ([34:27])

• Prophecy: Share humbly (“I sense God is saying… but test it”) rather than “God told me…”
• Tongues: Use for personal prayer and praise unless there is an interpreter, per the Apostle Paul.

e) Serve to Discover Your Gifts ([36:18])

• “The Bible does not give you an assessment, the Bible gives you a command to serve.”
• Spiritual gift assessments can help, but serving is the primary way gifts become clear.

7. The Purpose of Gifts—Ministry for Others

• Gifts are given to serve and bless others, not just for personal fulfillment.
• Story ([38:15]): When Geiger visited his old “tool room” group, he learned their Bible study grew so much it had to move to the cafeteria—their gifts led to mission and transformation.
• “Some of you have had the wrong impression of church…You perhaps think, I’ll give some money and then they can pay pastors like Eric to minister to people. But you know, that's not how the scripture says the church is set up.”
• Ephesians 4:11-13 cited: Pastors equip the people for ministry; every Christian is called to serve.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “The sign that you belong to God is not that you have a sign gift. The sign that you belong to God is that you believe in Jesus.” – Eric Geiger ([16:35])
• “Being filled with the Spirit does not mean you get more Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit means the Holy Spirit gets more of you.” – Eric Geiger ([32:10])
• (On gifts and fruit) “Spiritual fruit looks the same for every Christian… be fascinated with this, with the Spirit controlling every part of you.” ([33:50])
• “If you struggle with happiness and joy in your life, you need some charismatic friends. Charismatics will bring joy into your life.” ([18:55])
• “You have a gift. Now, mine is too, because I’m a Christian. My job as a pastor is to equip all of us to do ministry. And if you don’t find your gift and do ministry, you’re going to miss out on God working through you. I don’t want you to miss out.” ([41:30])

Important Timestamps

• 00:27 – Eric’s construction job story, first exposure to spiritual gifts
• 04:20 – “I asked God to be able to speak in tongues… it didn’t happen for me.”
• 06:50 – Clear explanation of Trinity and how the Holy Spirit lives in believers
• 09:45 – Categories of spiritual gifts; where churches disagree
• 14:20 – Mariners’ continuationist position, diversity within continuationists
• 16:35 – “The sign that you belong to God…”
• 18:55 – Value of charismatic Christians, importance of charitable dialogue
• 22:30 – Definitions of tongues, prophecy, healing
• 27:16 – Healing story: Evelyn and her family
• 29:05 – Five exhortations: Don’t stifle the Spirit
• 31:17 – Illustration: Filled with the Spirit vs. Baptized by the Spirit
• 33:34 – Fruit of the Spirit v. gifts; John Stott quote
• 34:27 – Wisdom for using prophecy and tongues
• 36:18 – How to discover your spiritual gifts: serve!
• 38:15 – Duke, Denny, and Gary’s Bible study growth
• 41:30 – Ephesians 4 and the calling for all believers to serve

Summary Table: How to Approach Spiritual Gifts

| Guidance Principle | Key Insight | |----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Don’t stifle the Spirit | Be open and expectant, but discerning | | Be filled with the Spirit | Continually yield control of your life to God | | Care more about spiritual fruit than gifts | Focus on character and the work of the Spirit within | | Use your gifts wisely | Operate in humility, clarity, and love | | Serve to discover your gifts | Step out and serve to see how God empowers you | | Gifts are for others | Ministry is for every Christian, not just pastors or leaders |

Final Takeaway

Eric Geiger invites listeners to embrace their spiritual gift, whatever it may be, with gratitude, humility, and a commitment to serve others. At Mariners, all spiritual gifts are honored, but always with a focus on building up the body, loving others, and seeking both the fruit and filling of the Spirit—not just the “exciting” gifts. By demystifying and encouraging open but discerning pursuit of the gifts, Geiger calls everyone to find and use their unique gift as part of the greater mission of God.

(For more messages and resources, visit marinschurch.org)