1 Corinthians 12:1-31
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. {2} You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. {3} Therefore I tell you 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.
{4} There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. {5} There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. {6} There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. {7} Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
{8} To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the 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 gives 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 baptized 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. 14 Even 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.
21 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 honorable we treat with special honor. 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 honor 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. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, 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.
Subject: What is the purpose of spiritual gifts?
Complement: for the common good.
Big idea: spiritual gifts – glorify God & edify God’s people
Introduction:
“The church” is the chief means by which Christ works today (!)
• it is an extension of him.
• the church and Christ together constitute the body of Christ.
• We are part of Christ.
• What an amazing statement!
Context of this letter
• Post-resurrection
• 40 days of appearance …followed by the ascension of Jesus.
Acts 1 – “do not leave Jerusalem”
– wait for the gift my Father promised which you heard me speak about.
• 7 days in the upper room!
Then “the Pentecost event”
• Church is born
• Fire…wind…languages…
• Preaching ? 3000 converts – and it begins!
Pentecost Sunday 2023 is May 28.
Ever since Pentecost the Holy Spirit has been empowering God’s people!!!
Our text today is 1 Corinthians ch 12!
see the story of the founding of the Corinthian church in Acts 18:1-11 (AD_50-51)
Corinth was in Greece, but part of the Roman Empire.
• It was a major commercial center, had a bustling port.
• 3rd largest city in the Empire, known for sexual permissiveness.
Aquila & Priscilla had recently arrived from Italy (18:2)
• Expelled from Rome – along with all the Jews. (by E. Claudius in 49)
Paul arrives from Athens - on his 2nd missionary journey. (AD 50/51)/Acts 18
Acts 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
• started preaching in the synagogue (to jews)
• Silas & Timothy arrive too.
• “testifying that Jesus is the messiah” (acts 18:5)
•
18:6 - Paul suffers “attacks & abuse” But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,
• “now I will go to the gentiles”
• He goes next door (!) to house of “Titius Justus” (18:7)
Crispus (!) – the synagogue leader converts – with his household!
• “many Corinthians believe and were baptized! (18:8)
Paul stayed 18 months
**This Letter is written in AD 55. – so the church is just 5 years old!
(young believers – with some old habits…with a mostly gentile/pagan background!
1. I Don’t Want You to be uninformed about sp. gifts! (v. 1)
I assume Paul covered this topic during his 18 months of teaching!
Now it seems…The Corinthian services were somewhat out of control
• There is already an expression of spiritual gifts – now they need teaching and mentoring in their usage.
• Paul highlights for us the value of teaching in this young church.
First, Paul draws a contrast - As Pagans You Were Led Astray By “Mute Idols”
(Non-Speaking!) (v. 2)
Non-personal.
A “thing” … an “it”
Mere Idols Of Wood…Stone.
** However now we have a speaking God ! … a personal and relational God.
2. We Have A Personal God, Who Speaks - And Reveals Himself/will!
Verse 3 – “speaking by the Holy Spirit”
Test #1 if someone says “Jesus be cursed” – not of God
#2Test if someone says, “Jesus is Lord” – that’s of God – the HS!
So then we have a God who speaks truth to his people.
Paul is referring primarily here to the gathered church.
In the OT – the Spirit spoke through prophets …” the word of the Lord came to…”
3. Paul Says… God Has A Variety Of Gifts…Also Various Services & Works: V. 4-6
• SPIRIT
• LORD
• GOD
GREEK?“CHARISMA” (GIFTS) … RELATED TO “GRACE (CHARIS)
**Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (7)
• Each One – Every One?
• Manifestation Of The Spirit (Gifts/Fruit Too?)
• For Common Good.
**Notice some Key Words - Repeated words In This Passage:
“Same”
“Different”
“For The Common Good”
“All These Are The Work Of The One And The Same Spirit”
4. All The “Gifts” (manifestations of) mentioned in Ch 12 Are “Supernatural” (8-10)…
…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...
• All Defensemen
• All Scorers – No Penalty Killers
• All Goalie’s – No Forwards
CAR DEALERSHIP:
• All Sales – But No Mechanics
• All Mechaincs – No One To Prepare Payroll
• All Admin – But No Sales.
6. How to Receive ‘Spiritual Gifts (minfestations of): “eagerly desire” (v. 31)
12:31 “eagerly desire
14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
Seek the giver – not just the gifts !
• See Eph 5 – “be filled with the Spirit.”
• Rom 5: “the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace”
• Ephesians 3: “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.”
Pray this way…
**There is clearly a note of God’s sovereignty in this passage – he decides – by not passivity.
• “God (!) has placed in the church” (v. 28)
Summary – yes, eagerly desire gifts (be hungry) – coupled with be content with each one’s gifts - recognizing these as “the manifestation of the Spirit.” … and avoid “gift envy”
Also – openness! – we can quench and restrict the Spirit’s working in us.
1 thess 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all;
hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
… beyond openness – there is “desire” (spiritual hunger) – having a desire to be used of God - for his church and for his glory.
We all want to contribute something !
– whether it’s at work or on a sports team
– so it is in church life – we don’t just want to be spectators - we want to serve and contribute.
7. Now… Gifts Needs To Be Developed…They Don’t Come To Us In Finished Form
Hence Paul's Role As Teacher
Getting to know yourself—and your gifts. – experience/maturity/failure.
• Effective teachers & leaders, recognize strengths and focus on them. Peter Drucker
There are too many needful things to be done to wait around for someone to feel gifted. - Kent Hughes, Leadership, Vol. 14, no. 3.
Church leadership provides:
1. Training (Formal & informal)
2. Plan to protect
3. Volunteer appreciation
Q. where do you fit?
• Personality
• Skills/gifts
• Interest/sense of calling
My Story... in my experience…(CBS)
• Teenage years…All of my peer group was into music – fantastic – for them.
• I wasn’t… so it felt like there was no place for me
• At some point (18) I was offered the opport to teach SS - jr boys.
o Every Sunday at 2:45.
• I loved it – we both learned and I grew... And I felt part of things.
A couple of years later – I was asked to lead the men’s ministry
At 21, I was elected to the board – the day after the election – the pastor called – not to welcome me - but to ask my age. I didn’t feel especially welcome.
Somewhere in the midst of that season – someone started a small group – it was “unheard of” … but seemed like a great idea to me. Now, most of the people were older - I think I was the only person under 40?
But I loved it!!! It felt like community! In a home… relaxed… discussion about all things Christian – always concluded with tea and cinnamon toast.
In Conclusion -- Next Steps:
• Pray and reflect – what interests you?/how are you wired?
• Discuss opportunities & needs
• How much is “just me” ( can do this) – and how much is God I really need your help”
• Last week – youth involvement!!!
• Involvement brings (1) GROWTH (2) CLOSER COMMUNITY.
We need more engagement… there are opportunities!!
• Christian
• Consistent attendance
• Teachable
• Good attitude
• Depending on God.. seeking his Spirit.
(Eph 3:14-19 ) For this reason I kneel before the Father, {15} from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. {16} I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, {17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, {18} may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, {19} and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
(Eph 5:18-20 ) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. {19} Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, {20} always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
