When folks call the church asking for information about what we believe, 99% of the time what they really want to know is what we believe about the exercising of certain gifts of the Holy Spirit.

People have very strong opinions with regards to this subject and they normally fall into one of two camps:

• Either they are cessationists who believe certain gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased to function in the church;

• Or they are charismatics in the sense that they believe certain gifts of the Holy Spirit must function in almost every meeting of the church.

I always answer that we believe all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available and operational in the church today but that they must be exercised decently and orderly. Since we believe all the gifts continue throughout the church age, we are properly referred to as continuationists.

Just about every possible question a person might have about this issue is answered somewhere in First Corinthians chapters twelve, thirteen, and fourteen. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

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