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1 Corinthians 12: 1-31
Background passages: Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-16
The Apostle Paul is writing to give the Corinthian congregation an understanding of the significance of spiritual gifts in their own community of faith. As we read his instruction to these early Christians, let’s keep in mind that the same revelation is for us today. Both in Corinth and at First Methodist, Albany, there is a connection between unity, diversity, and interdependence as they relate to our understanding and use of spiritual gifts.
Verse 1-3
Many in the church in Corinth were Gentiles who had come to Christ from a background of idol worship. Paul is warning them not to bring the practices or understanding associated with their idol worship to their worship of the one true God. It is the Holy Spirit who makes it possible for any person in any time in history to believe and proclaim that “Jesus is Lord.”
Verses 4-7
In these verses, Paul emphasizes that varied or different gifts, service, and ministries are part of the life of the church, but the Spirit is the single source of gifting and empowerment. The Holy Spirit gives the gifts not for individual satisfaction. The gifts are for one purpose – to build up and to contribute to the life of the community of faith.
Verses 8-11, 28
The Apostle Paul provides a list of the gifts of the Spirit. It is important to realize that this list is not complete. (Other listings are found in the background passages.) The emphasis of the passage is that one Spirit gives gifts to all Christians. The gifts are given and activated as the Spirit wills. Each Christian has the responsibility to use their gifts for the benefit of the church. No Christian determines which gift he or she receives. No Christian should feel inferior or superior because of the gifts they have received. We must trust the judgment of the Holy Spirit in the decisions about the giftings of ourselves and others.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these lists were written at the same time by the same person. What can we discern from the fact that the lists are not identical? What happens when we fail to recognize we all have been gifted to serve? What happens if we fail to understand that our gifts are given for the good of the church?
Verses 12- 26
Paul uses a beautiful metaphor to describe the way the gifts are to work together in the body of Christ. He says that the church is made up of people with diverse gifts and abilities who work together in unity to be one body of Christ. Paul’s metaphor was startling to the Corinthian audience. In the ancient world, the comparison between the body and human society was commonplace. But the comparison was primarily used to tell people to stay in their place and not upset the social order by rebelling against superiors. Paul takes the thought in a more complex direction as he argues that the members of the body are interdependent with one another. No gift works alone, just as no body part functions by itself.
In verse 12 we read that Paul is comparing Christ and the human body. The church is not an organization created and sustained by humans. The church is brought into being by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit binds believers in union with Christ. Those who have trusted Christ are in Christ because of the Spirit’s work in their lives. Unity in Christ is through the Holy Spirit, and the members are sustained by the work of the Holy Spirit.
In verse 13, Paul continues to emphasize the union of all believers. There is no separation between slave and free, Jew and Gentile. Jesus broke down the dividing walls between human beings with his death on the cross. The church includes members from different backgrounds and different social and economic backgrounds. These differences are not to be seen as reasons for division. The Holy Spirit brings the people of God together as one.
We are usually most comfortable with those who are most like us, so it requires something from us to embrace the differences in a community of faith. What kinds of differences do you notice in our congregation? How is the Spirit working to bring unity in the midst of these differences? What part do you play in this process of living as one body united in Christ?
Paul transitions to a discussion of diversity in the body of Christ (verse 14). In verses 15-16 the apostle says that all parts of the body and all members of the church belong. All are needed and no one is dismissed because they are unimportant. Each member of the body and each member of the church has something to contribute for the good of the whole. Verses 17 and 19 invites us to consider what would happen if the body were made up of only one part. In verse 18, Paul emphasizes that God has created the human body as he wants it to be. In the same way, he has created the body of Christ according to his specific design. Genesis tells us that God breathed life into humans and now by his Spirit, God breathes life into the church.
What changes when you see the church as a living body of Christ as opposed to an institution? How does it change your view of the church when you consider that your community of faith is created by God, empowered by God and receives life from God?
Verse 20-25
All the parts of the body and all the members of the church work together for the benefit of the whole. Paul discusses the interdependence that exists between the parts of the body and the members of the church. He emphasizes that the weakest parts are most necessary and the less honorable are given honor. The apostle wants his readers to understand that those who serve and give in quiet way have as much significance in the life of the church as those who are more visible. The result is that members do not compete with one another. Instead, the members of the church understand that all are significant and they work to build one another up.
If you watched the video, you heard a description of a tutoring program. The men who drove the vans were the actual linchpins in the ministry. Describe a ministry or activity of the church where those who serve behind the scenes make a significant contribution to the overall effort. Can you describe a time when a “behind-the-scenes” person made a difference in your life?
Verse 26-27
God created the church to be a community who cares for one another. If a member suffers, all suffer with them. If a member is rejoicing, all rejoice with them. He encourages all members to apply the insight they gain from reflecting on the human body to their shared life in the body of Christ.
Verse 28
God has called different members of the church to serve in different roles. He identified some of these in this verse as well as in verses 8-10.
Verses 29-30
Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions to bring the discussion of spiritual gifts to a conclusion. Before he leaves the topic, he points forward to his beautiful description of the best gift of all, found in chapter 13. Paul wants the church to understand that love is foundational to every aspect of the life of the church.
What part does love play in how you serve in the church? What part does love play in your acceptance of those who are different from you? How might you nurture love in your own lives and in the lives of others?
