Now About Spiritual Gifts

…per the Corinthian context!

1. “Message Of Wisdom” – decision-making

2. “Message Of Knowledge” – helpful re: (1) future (2) healing

3. “Faith”

4. “Gifts Of Healing” - sickness

5. “Miraculous Powers” -

6. “Prophecy” – exhortation… call to repentance

7. Distinguishing Between Spirits” – sp conflict

8. “Speaking In Different Kinds Of Tongues”

Prayer

Worship setting

Sign/evidence of spirit fulness

9. “The Interpretation Of Tongues.”

All are For edification.

Indeed, we could use more of these gifts!

I could stand a few more miracles! – how about you?

** Corinth was far from a perfect church – not even a mature church – Paul calls them “worldly” (3:1)

There are moral concerns in Corinth – yet we have these many expressions of sp gifts too.

**Paul will address this contradiction in ch 13

Are all of these gifts in every local church?

Unlikely?...

“as he determines…”

So, we need each other!

**Maybe Corinth was exceptional?

These Gifts are like an apple tree –…an apple tree that produces fruit -- not for its own consumption but for the consumption of others! Your gifts are given so you can bless others by ministering to them.

**Which leads us to the next section of the chapter…

5. The Church as Christ’s Body: v. 12-31

Q. How Do We Become Part Of The Body?

We weren't born into Christ's body as infants.

we enter by Faith in Jesus.

Paul's explains, "For by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body." (v. 13)

Paul is placing the priority on unity and interdependence.

v. 13 It doesn't make any difference what your ethnic or social origin is.

• There are to be no divisions in the body.

• See ch 1 - 4 -- this is a problem in Corinth.

• It is made up of Jews and Greeks, bondsmen and slaves.

• Everyone is baptized by the same Spirit - into one body

(Paul Says) - All Parts Of The Body Are Necessary!

THEREFORE…

(1) We cannot consider ourselves insignificant!!!

(2) Also… be sure to avoid “gift envy!!!”

Speaking of necessary

• Why 2 kidneys? (spare)

• What does the Appendix do? (hmmm)

• Spleen?

• Finger? (useful) … paper cut can hinder your finger…

•

• What about Hair? – is it really necessary?

• one body – many parts

• all have the same Spirit!

• Foot – hand

• Ear – eye

God has placed them in the body just as he wants!

• “many parts – one body!”

• “I don’t need you”

• God wants interdependence – not division (v. 25)

• Show equal concern…

o In suffering

o In honor/success

Do we have the wrong idea of the church?

• Gathered church

• Scattered church

• We think of gifts for running the “organization” of the church

• There are also gifts for personal ministry

The Sunday morning is not the full extent of the church's purpose.

** All of God’s people” are to be “on mission”!!

• heal the broken-hearted

• deliver the captives

• to open the eyes of the blind

• to preach the good news

• The work of the church is …

And that work doesn't just take place inside the church building; it goes on out in the world…

We come here to be equipped & edified…to fulfill the work of the church out there.

Illustrate - An Underachieving Hockey Team...