All written materials for this series will be posted on this website, http://servingandsharing.com/, under the category, “1 Corinthians – Called to Be Saints.” Here is my video presentation introducing 1 Corinthians – https://youtu.be/MiaMXIyVrRU. All other video presentations in this series will be posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI-t5t25Ptg&list=PL7JRppjEn33bJCwx5j1l6O8BE3ozid-JB. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, send a message via the “Contact” button.
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The Christians in Corinth had been blessed with multiple gifts from the Holy Spirit. In fact, Paul’s inspired letter noted at the beginning that, because of God’s grace, they were “not lacking in any gift.” 1 Co 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
However, these brothers and sisters did not understand the nature of these gifts. They were intended to be used in cooperation and conjunction with each other, just as the various parts of the human body serve each other and the whole. In our own day, though we do not miraculously prophesy, speak in tongues, or raise the dead, the principle remains. We are many members but one body, working together for the common good and the glory of God.
12:1-3 Spirituality and Lordship
Spiritual _______ (gifts, people, things, ideas, attitudes, churches, ministries, activities) …
Begin with a Spiritual change (leaving pagan idols, practices, and ideals) …
And a Spiritual confession. (“Jesus is Lord.”)
12:4-11 Many Gifts, One Giver
Diversity of … From one …
Gifts (Gk., charisma) Spirit
Services (Gk., diakonia) Lord
Activities (Gk., energema) God
Unity of …
Purpose: “the common good.”
12:12-27 Many Members, One Body
Rom 12:3-8; Eph 4:7-16; 1 Pet 4:10-11
How to enter? When a person is baptized (water and Spirit), the Spirit then brings that person into the one body of Christ.
Parts working together in the local church body.
1 Cor 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth …
Phil 1:1 To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons …
Belonging – Accountable – Activated – Connected
1 Cor 12:8 For to one is given the WORD OF WISDOM through the Spirit, and to another the WORD OF KNOWLEDGE according to the same Spirit; 9 to another FAITH by the same Spirit, and to another GIFTS OF HEALING by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the EFFECTING OF MIRACLES, and to another PROPHECY, and to another the DISTINGUISHING OF SPIRITS, to another VARIOUS KINDS OF TONGUES, and to another the INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
1 Cor 12:12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
PRINCIPLES
You are a part of the whole. 12:14
No one can play your part but you. 12:15-16
Jealousy and friction damage the whole. 12:15-16
No one part can do it all. 12:17
The body’s needs outweigh your own desires. 12:17
You are here because God has a job for you. 12:18
If it’s all about you or me, there is no body! 12:19
You need the body and its other parts; the body and all its other parts need you. 12:21-24
Weaker or unpresentable parts deserve / receive special care and greater modesty. We protect and cover them. 12:22-23
Division in the body destroys it. 12:25
Members have the same care for each other. 12:25
When one members hurts, all hurt. 12:26
When one is honored, all rejoice. 12:26
Health blesses all; friction hurts all.
A healthy body grows as part of its nature.
12:28-31 Many Assignments, One God
“God has appointed …” Not, “You have earned …”
First, second, third, … Hierarchy, priority (cf. 12:31).
1 Co 12:28 … first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
Why this order, with the apostles first, etc.?
Which item is last and least in the list?
Rhetorical questions: “Are all …” “Do all …” No!
What is the more excellent, all-surpassing way?
