SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). We Share the Same Confession (vs 1-3)
(2). We Serve the Same God (vs 4-6)
(3). We seek to build the Same Body (vs 7-13)
(4). We Share the Same Baptism (vs 14-20)
(5). We need each other (vs 21-25)
(6). We Affect Each Other (vs 26-31)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• A man from the big city decides to spend the weekend on a country shoot.
• Wearing all the gear but not have much idea;
• He stands in a field and shoots;
• And by ‘chance’ manages to shoot a pheasant.
• The only problem is the pheasant is in the next field to him;
• And he can’t get to it because of a fence.
• Within a few minutes an old country farmer pulls up in his Land Rover;
• And he asks the city gent what was going on.
• The would be hunter said, “I shot a pheasant and I’m retrieving it.”
• The old farmer replied, “This is my property and you’re not coming over here!”
• Well, this made the hunter mad so he said,
• “If you don’t let me come over the fence I’ll call my London lawyer and I’ll sue you.”
• The farmer smiled and said, “Apparently you don’t know how we do things up here.
• We settle disagreements with the three-kick rule.
• I’ll kick you three times, and then you kick me three times,
• And so on, back and forth, until someone gives up.”
• The city gent liked this challenge;
• Because he thought he could easily take the old farmer.
• And so the contest began:
• The country farmer climbs down from the tractor;
• Asks the man to bend over and gives him a swift kick up the backside.
• He then repeats this act again and again.
• This humiliated the city gent then looks the old farmer in the eye and says;
• “Okay, you old codger, now it’s my turn!”
• To which the farmer responded;
• “Nah, I give up. You can have the pheasant!”
• TRANSITION: Like that hunter;
• Too many Christians fight over things that are not worth fighting over!
• For as long as I can remember ‘The gifts of the Spirit’
• Have always caused Christians to fall out and disagree;
• And this entirely misses the point as to why they were given to us!
Quote:
“God has given gifts to us, his people:
These gifts are not toys to selfishly play with, or weapons to fight with!
They are tools to unselfishly build with.”
• So please as we look at the gifts of the Spirit;
• Keep in mind our main aim is to build each other up in the faith;
• And not fall out over them.
Note:
• We have emphasised observe the previous studies about context;
• And once again we need to make sure we look at this chapter in its context.
• And not just pull out isolated verses to support a theological argument.
• Remember that division was a major problem in the Church at Corinth;
• The Church was spilt with members following different leaders of the Church;
• (Chapter 1 verses 10-16; Chapter 6 verses 1-8; Chapter 11 verses 18-22);
• As a result of this division, the Christians at Corinth exercised their gifts selfishly;
• They cared little for the health or ministry of the whole Church.
• We know from verses 4 to 7;
• That these Christians had received an abundance of spiritual gifts
• But they were lacking in spiritual graces;
• That is in Christian character to handle these gifts.
Ill:
• Remind me of a ‘boy racer’
• That is someone who has just passed his driving test.
• His parents buy him a supped up sports car as a gift;
• And the boy goes out on the road and shows off!
• He has the license and the flash car;
• But he does not have the experience or the road skills to handle that car and so…
• It is only a matter of time before he crashes and harms himself and other people.
• TRANSITION: “God has given gifts to us, his people:
• These gifts are not toys to selfishly play with, or weapons to fight with!
• They are tools to unselfishly build with.”
• When misused they can be destructive;
• When God gave them to constructive.
(1). We Share the Same Confession (vs 1-3).
“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to dumb idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”
• These might seem bizarre words to us;
• Surely anyone who can speak can utter the words; “Jesus is Lord”.
• So the apostle Paul must have had a deeper meaning – and of course he did!
Ill:
• A citizen of the Roman Empire was required once a year;
• To visit the temple and put a pinch of incense on the altar;
• And to publicly say, “Caesar is Lord!”
• He or she could then return home and worship any god they wanted to;
• Just as long as they made that declaration that Caesar came first.
• Now to the early Church this was an anathema and they refused to say it;
• For them “Jesus is Lord” and none other!
• So for the Corinthian Christians what the apostle Paul says;
• Was a big test of loyalty and commitment.
• TRANSITION: I guess for us today;
• We might paraphrase verse 3 as :
• “No one can say that Jesus is Lord (and mean it) except by the Holy Spirit.”
(2). We Serve the Same God (vs 4-6).
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work”
• The Church like the human body has diversity.
• Our bodies are full of variety, many parts, performing many functions.
• i.e. Fingers, hands, arms, legs, feet, toes, torso, neck, ears, eyes, nose, mouth etc.
• Our bodies are full of variety, many parts, performing many functions.
• And yet the body also illustrates for us great unity:
• But the parts of the body must work together.
• Otherwise disaster can happen.
Ill:
• Think of the 4 friends of the paralysed man in Luke chapter 5.
• They took him to Jesus,
• But they had work in cooperation, if they all went off in different directions;
• Then ‘splat!’ the man would have fell to the ground and could be injured!
• As members of the one body of Christ;
• We belong to each other, we minister to each other, and we need each other!
• And so verse 4 reminds us that we possess gifts from the Holy Spirit.
• Verse 5: we use them in our service for the same Lord Jesus Christ.
• Verse 6: we share in the workings or operations of the same Father God.
Note: Contrast between the fruit & the gifts of the Spirit:
• ill: Fruit of the Spirit is like an apple tree,
• Healthy apple tree will produce healthy fruit.
• You and I as we remain healthy as Christians,
• We will automatically be producing Christ-like characteristics!
• ill: Gifts of the Spirit is like a Christmas tree.
• God has given us spiritual gifts as a present.
• Sometimes they are called ‘grace’ gifts,
• We don’t deserve them, but he has given them to us out of love.
Quote:
“God’s gifts to us are not rewards for good behaviour,
and they are not medals for faithful service,
they are loving gifts from a Father to his children”.
• Having informed his readers that they have been given a spiritual gift from God:
• Paul then goes on to describe the out working of those gifts in:
• "The body" "The church".
• That does not mean, just within a building,
• The Church is always the people and never bricks!
• So we may minister our gifts wherever the people of God are found.
(3). We seek to build the Same Body (vs 7-13)
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
• God has given to his church different gifts,
• Many gifts, there might have been given, hundreds of gifts,
• Some have their definition revealed to us in the Bible,
• We have 9 gifts mentioned in these verses.
• But I believe there are many more not mentioned.
Note:
• A spiritual gift is different to a natural talent.
• Some people are born with natural talents:
• ill: Mozart when it comes to music.
• He was able to play the piano at the age of 4 and he was composing from the age of 5.
• (joke: play the piano by ear….why couldn’t he use his fingers like the rest of us!)
• ill: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi when it comes to football.
• ill: Pavarotti when it comes to singing.
• ill: Van Gogh when it comes to painting.
There folks in this room who were born with natural talents:
• Some have artistic or musical talents,
• Some have athletic, some have mental abilities.
• These talents were given us at birth,
• Genetically inherited from our parents etc.
• Natural talents that we can discover and practise and use.
NOW SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE DIFFERENT TO NATURAL TALENTS:
• They are given at our spiritual birth (our conversion) by God,
• Given us independent of our parents, (you do not inherit spiritual gifts)
• i.e. I may be a preacher, but that does not mean my son Arlo will be!
• He may have a totally different spiritual gifting to me.
Quote:
“Spiritual gifts are a skill or ability that enables each Christian to perform a function in the body of Christ with ease and effectiveness”.
Now you have at least one:
• May be two, who knows, maybe 7 or 8 or even more.
• But everybody has at least one.
• Listen! Nobody got missed out!
• They are given by God and he does not make mistakes!
• Now when you discover that gift:
• That is your contribution to the body of Christ, the local Church.
• Notice: It is your responsibility to exercise your gift.
• Not to exercise gifts you have not got.
ill:
• Organist was moaning at another Christian
• "That he's been their 20 years and he's never been asked to preach".
• The man said in reply to him,
• "I know how you feel, I've been here 5 years and I've never been asked to play the organ",
• The organist replied, "But you can't play the organ".
• "Exactly" came the reply".
NOW NOT EVERY ONE HAS ONE OF THE NINE MENTIONED HERE IN VS 8-10:
• A message of wisdom,
• A message of knowledge,
• A gift of faith,
• A gift of healing,
• A gift of miraculous powers,
• A gift prophecy,
• A gift of distinguishing between spirits (discernment),
• A gift of speaking in different kinds of tongues,
• A gift of interpretation of tongues.
The term ‘gift’ simply means:
"A skill or ability that enables each Christian to perform a function in the body of Christ with ease and effectiveness".
Note:
• At least 22 spiritual gifts have their definition revealed to us in the Bible;
• To read what they are you will need to search through six Bible passages:
• Romans 12:6-8.
• 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.
• 1 Corinthians 12:28.
• 1 Corinthians 12:29:30.
• Ephesians 4:11.
• 1 Peter 4:11.
THIS GIFTS FALL INTO THREE NATURAL CATEGORIES:
• Support gifts (e.g. Evangelist, teacher, pastor)
• Foundational gifts that provided direction & leadership for the Church.
• Service gifts (e.g. Administration, giving, helping, serving).
• Work behind the scene building up the body.
• Sign gifts (e.g. Miracles, tongues, word of knowledge).
• Supernatural gifts that are manifested the Holy Spirit’s power,
• These gifts could not be mistaken for natural abilities.
• These of course are the ‘controversial’ gifts that Christians fall out about.
• Some Christians believe these ‘sign’ gifts were for the early Church only;
• Other Christians believe they are still around today.
Quote: Clive Calver in his book ‘The Holy Spirit’ lists 28 New Testament gifts:
• Discerning of spirits,
• Word of knowledge,
• Word of wisdom,
• Tongues,
• Prophecy,
• Interpretation of tongues,
• Healing,
• Faith,
• Miracles,
• Service,
• Teaching,
• Motivation,
• Encouragement,
• Giving,
• Leadership,
• Mercy,
• Apostle,
• Hospitality,
• Administration,
• Exorcisms,
• Evangelism,
• Pastoral guidance,
• Missionary service,
• Gift of martyrdom,
• Helping,
• Intercession.
• Celibacy,
• Now there may well be many more gifts given that are not mentioned:
• But every Christian has at least one spiritual gift – may be more!
Note:
• Spiritual gifts are not limiting,
• They are not exclusive to a particular ministry:
• ill: You may not be an evangelist, but you can still do evangelism.
• ill: I am not a pastor, but I can still do pastoral work,
• Point: We can all do various tasks,
• But I will do those jobs better, easier, more naturally if I am gifted!
Now when you discover that gift, it is your contribution to the body of Christ:
• That is why you were given it;
• It is your responsibility to exercise your gift,
• But remember that spiritual gifts, like natural talents often need working at:
• They need to develop, to expand.
• ill: Preaching (learn by experience, hard work, you develop that gift).
• ill: Visit the sick (mistakes & experience will again teach you in that situation).
Question: How do I discover my gift(s)?
Answer:
• That is a topic that deserves a whole session to itself.
• But I will say 4 things, 4 quick principles:
(1). BE INFORMED.
• Make sure you know what the Bible calls gifts from God.
• Be warned not to have a Supermarket mentality;
• “I’ll have that one & that one but not that one”.
• Information helps you to look at the list and your life and ministry and tie them up.
• Also ask other people what they think your gifting might be!
(2). BE OPEN.
• Your gift may be different from what you think or prefer.
• ill: Les Hardwick (fainted when he preached his first sermon).
• He could have thought I am not a preacher and that would have been a big mistake.
• ill: I often meet people who tell me “I have the gift of????”
• It doesn’t take too long to discover that they do not have that gift.
• So be open to the advice of trusted people.
(3). BE AVAILABLE.
• Get on and serve in as many different ways as you can,
• See what you like and enjoy doing.
• This is the best way to discover your gift.
• Also be actively involved in the local Church,
• And others will see the gifts that God has or has not given you.
(4). BE SENSITIVE.
• To the feedback you receive from others,
• Pay attention to their responses, talk it through with one or two trusted friends/leaders.
Now we do not have time this morning to look at these 9 gifts;
• Or the many other gifts mentioned this morning.
• We have in the past studied these and we no doubt will again in the future.
• This morning we are looking at the big picture;
• Rather than the individual details.
Note:
• These gifts are specifically given for a reason (vs 7b):
• N.I.V.: “…for the common good”
• N.L.B.: “…as a means of helping the entire church”
• That is the big picture – the good of the whole Church;
• And not just the indulgence of one or two members.
(4). We Share the Same Baptism (vs 14-20).
“And so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
• I believe that the expression ‘The baptism of the Holy Spirit’,
• Refers to conversion when God gives his Holy Spirit to every Christian.
• And God places each Christian into his family, his Church.
• Some Christians refer to a second experience after conversion;
• They too call this as ‘The baptism of the Holy Spirit’,
• I do not see that in the New Testament;
• I personally think what they are reefing to is a greater filling of the Holy Spirit.
• As I read the New Testament ‘The baptism of the Holy Spirit’,
• Takes place at conversion,
• Were as we are commanded to be ‘filled’ with the Spirit;
• We are never commanded to be ‘baptised’ in the Spirit;
• Because this has already taken place at conversion.
Quote: Ephesians chapter 4 verses 4-6 says:
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
• As I read the New Testament ‘The baptism of the Holy Spirit’,
• Takes place at conversion,
• For some this happens with great emotion and for some it happens unconsciously.
• But all of us need and commanded to have regular fillings of the Holy Spirit.
Now don’t get side tracked – look at the big picture:
• The big picture is every Christian is part of the body of Christ;
• And every Christian has a role to play.
(5). We need each other (vs 21-25)
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
Ill:
• A rooster minus a hen equals no baby chicks.
• Kellogg’s minus a farmer equals no corn flakes.
• If the nail factory closes what good is the hammer factory?
• Beethovan genius wouldn't have amounted to much if the piano tuner hadn't showed up.
• A cracker maker will do better if there's a cheesemaker,
• The most skilful surgeon needs the ambulance driver who delivers the patient.
• Just RS Rogers needed Hamerstien;
• You need someone and someone needs you.
• TRANSITION: That is the point of verses 21-25!
• Unfortunately that point was being missed at Corinth.
• Some in the Church who possessed spectacular gifts;
• Looked down on other believers and thought they were unimportant.
• So in these verses the apostle Paul teaches;
• That every member of the body is essential to the life, health and growth of the Church.
Ill:
• Professional bodybuilders are interesting creatures.
• They are incredibly disciplined in their pursuit of the perfect physic.
• Sadly, some will do anything legal or illegal, to win a bodybuilding competition.
• Due to the competitive nature of bodybuilding,
• In order to win a competition one cannot have any weak body parts.
• For example, if your calves will not bulge like diamonds in the rough;
• You will never be able to be a competitive bodybuilder.
• If your lats will not flare like a king cobra you will not progress.
• If your biceps will not grow a peak like the Himalayas you might as well hang it up.
• For all of their peculiarities,
• Bodybuilders understand the value and significance of every single part of the body.
• There can be no undeveloped or lagging parts.
• Every single body part must develop and function at its absolute best.
• TRANSITION: That is the point of verses 21-25!
• That every member of the body is essential to the life, health and growth of the Church.
Ill:
• Worth noting that in the human body it is the hidden organs (heart, liver, kidneys etc.);
• That are the most important, not the most visual or eye catching parts.
(6). We Affect Each Other (vs 26-31)
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.”
Ill:
• Snoopy is the lovable beagle in the Peanuts cartoon,
• In one cartoon Snoopy has had his left leg broken.
• And one day while perched on top of his doghouse;
• He looks at the huge white cast on his leg and says;
• "My body blames my foot for not being able to go places.
• My foot says it was my head’s fault, and my head blamed my eyes....
• My eyes say my feet are clumsy,
• And my right foot says not to blame him for what my left foot did...."
• Snoopy looks out at his audience and confesses,
• "I don’t say anything because I don’t want to get involved."
• TRANSITION:
• Well, because you are part of the body, you are involved!
Because we are the body of Christ;
• We must care for one another and seek to build each other up;
• And strengthen one another.
• In the human body the weakness or the pain of one part;
• Can often affect another.
• That is also true in the spiritual body of Christ.
• “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…one part is honoured…”.
• That verse actually puts a responsibility on us as individuals;
• Because if I am weak I will affect others in the body in a negative way;
• But if I am strong I will affect others in a positive way.
Now to help the body of Christ grow strong:
• God has given the Church leaders and spiritual gifts;
• And placed them in the body as he chooses.
(a). Apostles:
• There were in the early Church apostles;
• There are no apostles today, since to qualify as an apostle;
• It was necessary to have seen the risen Christ.
• 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 1 and Acts chapter 1 verses 21-22;
• Make this clear.
• Quote: Ephesians chapter 2 verse 2:
• The apostles were the foundation to the Church;
• Christ is the Chief Cornerstone;
• And we are building on their teaching and examples.
(b). Prophets.
• Prophets we will deal with when we get to chapter 14.
• So you will have to hold on for that one.
(c). Spectacular gifts.
• Bible scholars and Church denominations are split in their understanding of these verses.
• Some scholars teach they were primarily for the early Church;
• Before the New Testament was completed;
• These signs were needed as credentials that God was at work among his people.
• Others teach they are very much around for today.
• It tends to be what we call ‘Charismatic’ Churches that emphasis this.
Note:
• As with the earlier list of gifts;
• This is not an exhaustive list in verses 28-30.
• But he simply is illustrating his point that they are God’s gifts;
• And therefore there are many different gifts given for the benefit of the church.
• The apostle Paul closes this session by reminding this Church;
• That not everyone has all the same gifts (vs 29-30).
• But the gifts are given to build up the Church;
• To bring about unity and not uniformity.
• We may differ on our understanding of some of these issues;
• But we can still be united;
• And focussed on the big picture of building up the Church of God.
Ill:
• We are all familiar with the term "God’s Chosen People,"
• However, a few years ago it became fashionable to describe the church as;
• "God’s Frozen People."
• In fact, C. W. Franke wrote a book entitled, ‘Defrost Your Frozen Assets.’
• The theme of the book is to every member ministry;
• He described people not involved in the local Church as "frozen assets."
• Punchline:
• Don’t be God’s frozen people;
• Rather be God’s chosen people!
Sermon audio:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=wppsIB7NapcECzj8cMMn4di0bwdYsrdK&forceSave&filename=Gender_Differences%2C_Worship_%26_the_Glory_of_God_-_1_Cor_11_vs_2-26_-_sermon_by_Gordon_Curley.mp3
