The Human Body pt II - An Illustration of Unity an

- we're working our way through I Corinthians 12 as part of our study on Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts.
- INPUT - Who can tell me why we're handling this study this way?
- [cf. we're taking an expository approach…discuss implications]

- I've said that one of the upshots of this is that I hope every person in our class could think through the argument of this passage of Scripture.
- so far, we've worked on verses 1-18…so the summary might sound something like this…

1. God wants us to understand this topic- v. 1.
2. Prior to coming to Christ, we were enslaved to all kinds of idolatry - v. 2.
[we were seeking fulfillment in false gods and false approaches to living]
3. Acknowledging the Lordship of Christ is foundational to a right approach to spiritual gifts - v. 3.
4. God has built the principles of unity and diversity into this subject - vv. 4-6.
- diversity in that there are varieties of gifts, ministries, effects
- unity in that there is the same God, Spirit, and Lord.
5. The purpose of this design is twofold, the glory of God [manifestation of the Spirit] and the edification of Christ's church [for the common good] - v. 7
6. This principle is illustrated by the many different gifts given to believers - vv. 8-11.
- the word of wisdom through the Spirit…
- the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit…
- faith by the same spirit.
- gifts of healing by One Spirit.
- the effecting of miracles
- prophecy
- distinguishing of spirits
- tongues
- interpretation of tongues
7. This principle is also illustrated by the unity and diversity of the human body - vv. 12-14.
8. Believers must not depreciate the importance of their gifts - vv. 15-18.

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- that's where we left the argument last week.
- today, we'd like to add the rest of the verses in the chapter ---- for continuity, we're just going to add to the outline we've already started.
[Nancy - no blanks until Roman numeral III.]

I. The Church is Like a Physical Body - vv. 12-14.

A. The physical body is one organism with many members - verse 12
B. The church is one organism with many members - verse 12 b

II. Church Members Must Not Depreciate the Importance of Their Gifts - vv. 15-17.

A. Depreciating ones gifts is irrational - v. 15-16
B. Depreciating ones gifts is devastating - v. 17
C. Depreciating ones gifts is offensive - v. 18

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- with that in mind, let's read the next verses in the text - READ I Cor. 12:19-31

III. Church Members Must Not Depreciate the Importance of the Gifts of Others - vv. 19-27.

- the relationship between these verses and what we studied last week is clear…
- last week's person said, they don't need me…
- this week's person says, I don't need them…
- both tendencies displease God.
- let's think about the reasons listed in the verses….

A. Uniformity kills the body - v. 19.
- INPUT - What was the anticipated answer to the question in verse 19?
- the answer is --- the person would die…life is impossible without all the parts being present and working together.

B. Depreciating someone else's gifts is irrational - v. 21
- Paul made the same point last week [in verses 15-16] about depreciating your own gifts.
- it demonstrates again the principle that just because someone says something, or thinks something…that doesn't make it true.

- now, let's pull over there and park for a minute…
- INPUT - How might a person depreciate someone else's gift in the church, and therefore violate the principle in this text?

C. Often in the body, the parts that are most hidden are also most vital - v. 22.
- this is certainly true of the body…
- a person can survive losing their hair, or even losing an ear or a foot…
- but you can't lose your heart, liver, kidneys…
- the point is, in the body often the parts we think about the least [and perhaps even appreciate the least] are actually the most important.
- Paul says, the same thing is true in the church.

- and that means, people who tend to have "up front" gifts better not get too full of themselves…
- when any of us start thinking…boy the church is sure lucky to have me…they'd really be in trouble without me….etc….trouble is just around the corner.
- if I've learned anything at this church it's this---the ministry here is a whole lot bigger than one person, or even one group of persons…
- God can field whatever team He wants and do just fine…
- I don’t wake up and think---FBC is lucky to have me---I think, I am very fortunate to be able to serve in such a place with such people…

D. We should seek to balance the honor given in the church - vv. 23-24
- the argument here is a bit challenging to follow, but it yields an important point.
- bestow - peritithemi - "to put around"
- unseemly - aschemon - shameful, indecent, unpresentable.
- the point from the physical body is clear…in all cultures there are certain parts of the body [let's just say the torso] that we believe ought to be covered for sake of modesty.
- but what do we do with those parts?….the argument of the text is…we bestow more honor on them….in what sense…
- we're sure they are covered….or dressed….and we care for them first…
- for example…if a man left the house and forgot his hat, that would be one kind of "bad"….if he left the home and forgot his ________, that would be worse.
- the point is, by giving more honor/attention to the more unseemly parts, the honor they receive is balanced out.

- from there, it is simple to transfer the principle to care on the church…
- some positions/gifts receive honor by their very nature…
- we need to work hard not to overemphasize them, and at the same time work hard to give honor to those people/positions that are important and not as well known.

INPUT - Practical ways to apply these principles in the church today?

E. These principles will impact the church in two important ways - v. 25
- INPUT?

1. no division

2. no favoritism

F. This impact will be especially evident on 2 occasions - v. 26
- INPUT?

1. when one member suffers.

2. when one member rejoices.

- INPUT - How are these two issues related to the overall principle of seeking to balance the honor given in the church?

IV. A Unified Body Has to Come to Grips With Several Important Truths - vv. 28-31

A. God is the one who "appointed" the gifts - v. 28

- we're about to get another list of gifts…
- when you compare it to the one we read earlier in the chapter, we see that some are repeated, some are deleted, some are added….
- but the overall point is that we must continue to emphasize the fact that this diversity exists because God wanted it to exist.

1. apostles

2. prophets

- cf. Eph. 2:20 - for the foundation of the church

3. teachers

4. miracles

5. healings

6. helps

7. administrations

8. tongues

B. Not everyone possesses the same gifts - v. 29-30

1. apostles

2. prophets

3. teachers

4. miracles

5. healings

6. tongues

7. interpretation of tongues

C. It is wrong to covet the showy gifts - v. 31

- there are different ways to interpret this verse…
- in light of the context, I believe it is best to think that Paul was not telling them to do something, but condemning them because they were doing something.

D. There is a principle that governs and directs the use of the gifts.

- this is what prepares the readers for chapter 13.

Adult Bible Fellowship
Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts
The Human Body - An Illustration of
Unity and Diversity in Christ’s Church - Part II

Introduction
I. The Church is Like a Physical Body – vv. 12-14.
A. The physical body is one organism with many members - verse 12
B. The church is one organism with many members - verse 12 b
II. Church Members Must Not Depreciate the Importance of Their Gifts.
A. Depreciating ones gifts is irrational - v. 15-16
B. Depreciating ones gifts is devastating - v. 17
C. Depreciating ones gifts is offensive - v. 18
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III. Church Members Must Not _______________ the ________________ of the Gifts of ___________ - vv. 19-27.
A. _______________ kills the body - v. 19.
INPUT - What was the anticipated answer to the question in verse 19?
B. Depreciating ______________ _________ gifts is irrational - v. 21
INPUT - How might a person depreciate someone else's gift in the church, and therefore violate the principle in this text?
C. Often in the body, the parts that are most _____________ are also most __________ - v. 22.
D. We should seek to balance the __________ given in the church - vv. 23-24
INPUT - Practical ways to apply these principles in the church today?
E. These principles will ____________ the church in two important ways - v. 25
1. No _____________
2. No _____________
F. This impact will be especially evident on two _______________ - v. 26
1. When one member _____________.
2. When one member _____________.
INPUT - How are these two issues related to the overall principle of seeking to balance the honor given in the church?

IV. A ____________ _________ Has to Come to Grips With Several Important Truths - vv. 28-31

A. God is the one who "________________" the gifts - v. 28
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Teachers
4. Miracles
5. Healings
6. Helps
7. Administrations
8. Tongues
B. Not _______________ possesses the same gifts - v. 29-30
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Teachers
4. Miracles
5. Healings
6. Tongues
7. Interpretation of tongues
C. It is wrong to ___________ the ____________ gifts - v. 31
D. There is a principle that ______________ and _____________ the use of the gifts.

Adult Bible Fellowship
Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts
The Human Body - An Illustration of
Unity and Diversity in Christ’s Church - Part II

1. God wants us to understand this topic- v. 1.
2. Prior to coming to Christ, we were enslaved to all kinds of idolatry - v. 2.
[we were seeking fulfillment in false gods and false approaches to living]
3. Acknowledging the Lordship of Christ is foundational to a right approach to spiritual gifts - v. 3.
4. God has built the principles of unity and diversity into this subject - vv. 4-6.
5. The purpose of this design is twofold, the glory of God [manifestation of the Spirit] and the edification of Christ's church [for the common good] - v. 7
6. This principle is illustrated by the many different gifts given to believers - vv. 8-11.
7. This principle is also illustrated by the unity and diversity of the human body - vv. 12-14.
8. Believers must not depreciate the importance of their gifts - vv. 15-18.

I. The Church is Like a Physical Body - vv. 12-14.
A. The physical body is one organism with many members - verse 12
B. The church is one organism with many members - verse 12b
II. Church Members Must Not Depreciate the Importance of Their Gifts - vv. 15-17.
A. Depreciating ones gifts is irrational - v. 15-16
B. Depreciating ones gifts is devastating - v. 17
C. Depreciating ones gifts is offensive - v. 18
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III. Church Members Must Not Depreciate the Importance of the Gifts of Others - vv. 19-27.
A. Uniformity kills the body - v. 19.
INPUT - What was the anticipated answer to the question in verse 19?
B. Depreciating someone else's gifts is irrational - v. 21

INPUT - How might a person depreciate someone else's gift in the church, and therefore violate the principle in this text?
C. Often in the body, the parts that are most hidden are also most vital - v. 22.
D. We should seek to balance the honor given in the church - vv. 23-24
INPUT - Practical ways to apply these principles in the church today?
E. These principles will impact the church in two important ways - v. 25
1. No division
2. No favoritism
F. This impact will be especially evident on two occasions - v. 26
1. When one member suffers.
2. When one member rejoices.
INPUT - How are these two issues related to the overall principle of seeking to balance the honor given in the church?

IV. A Unified Body Has to Come to Grips With Several Important Truths - vv. 28-31

A. God is the one who "appointed" the gifts - v. 28
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Teachers
4. Miracles
5. Healings
6. Helps
7. Administrations
8. Tongues
B. Not everyone possesses the same gifts - v. 29-30
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Teachers
4. Miracles
5. Healings
6. Tongues
7. Interpretation of tongues
C. It is wrong to covet the showy gifts - v. 31
D. There is a principle that governs and directs the use of the gifts.