The Human Body pt III - An Illustration of Unity a

- we've been working our way through I Corinthians 12 as part of our study on Discovering and Using Your Spiritual Gifts.
- if you were with us last week, you know that I tried to get through chapter 12, but we had some very good input on some of the verses in the middle of the chapter so we really didn't do justice to the last portion of chapter 12.
- as I was trying to think through the best way to proceed, it dawned on me that this chapter also gives us a good opportunity to "be Americans" for a moment…in other words, since there are three different lists of gifts in this single chapter, it provides an opportunity to do some listing, comparing, "tuperwaring" that might be helpful.
- the point is, we're going to spend this morning finishing chapter 12 and Lord willing moving into chapter 13 next week.

- we're calling this… The Human Body - An Illustration of Unity and Diversity in Christ's Church - Part III
- you'll also notice that in your handout, we printed two things, just to help in your overall recollection of these ideas…
1. The flow of thought through chapter 12 thus far.
- we're not going to say anything about that other than to encourage you to take some time at home, get a cup of coffee, and work through the chapter in a way that you could talk through the argument yourself.
2. The outline we've used for this chapter thus far.
- we just want you to see the thrust of the material we've covered so we have a running start at what we're doing today.

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.
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.
9. Believers must not depreciate the importance of the gifts of others - vv. 19-27

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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
III. Church Members Must Not Depreciate the Importance of the Gifts of Others - vv. 19-27.
A. Uniformity kills the body - v. 19.
B. Depreciating someone else's gifts is irrational - v. 21
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

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- last week we worked our way through a very important part of the discussion, but a somewhat challenging one…
- I didn't take the time to point out a couple of ideas from verse 23 that helps the overall point come together….
- 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…

- the implication to the church is, because 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.

- let reads those verses again and then get into the ones we especially want to work on today…READ I Cor. 12:23-31

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

1. no division

2. no favoritism

- INPUT - what is the relationship between the overall argument we've been looking at, and the topics of division and favoritism? How does this fit together?

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

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

[Teachers - at this point I plan to use the white board to compare the three "gift lists" we have in this chapter --- 12:8-11, 28, and 29-30.
- I plan to have the class help me fill out the chart, with the nine gifts listed in 8-11 first.
- then in the next column, we'll note which ones from 8-11 are repeated in 28, and which ones are new.
- then in the third column, we'll do the same thing for vv. 29-30.
- when we're done, I plan for the chart to look something like the typed one on the following page…

I Corinthians 12:8-11 I Corinthians 12:28 I Corinthians 12:29-30

1. word of wisdom
2. word of knowledge
3. faith
4. gifts of healing X X
5. effecting of miracles X X
6. prophecy X X
7. distinguishing of spirits
8. various kinds of tongues X X
9. interpretation of tonues X
10. Apostles X
11. Teachers X
12. Helps
13. Administrations

- then I'll ask the class to make observations about what they see.
- the observations will include…
1. all the lists are different
2. the lists contain a different number of gifts (9, 8, 7)
3. some gifts are repeated twice, some three times
4. some words describe the gifts themselves, others describe the person/office.]

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.
- 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 III

Introduction
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.
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.
9. Believers must not depreciate the importance of the gifts of others - vv. 19-27

****************************************************************************************************
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
III. Church Members Must Not Depreciate the Importance of the Gifts of Others - vv. 19-27.
A. Uniformity kills the body - v. 19.
B. Depreciating someone else's gifts is irrational - v. 21
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

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E. These principles will ____________ the church in two important ways - v. 25
1. No _____________
2. No _____________
INPUT - what is the relationship between the overall argument we've been looking at, and the topics of division and favoritism? How does this fit together?

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
B. Not _______________ possesses the same gifts - v. 29-30
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 III
Introduction
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.
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.
9. Believers must not depreciate the importance of the gifts of others - vv. 19-27
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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
III. Church Members Must Not Depreciate the Importance of the Gifts of Others - vv. 19-27.
A. Uniformity kills the body - v. 19.
B. Depreciating someone else's gifts is irrational - v. 21
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
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E. These principles will impact the church in two important ways - v. 25
1. No division
2. No favoritism
INPUT - what is the relationship between the overall argument we've been looking at, and the topics of division and favoritism? How does this fit together?
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
B. Not everyone possesses the same gifts - v. 29-30
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.