Church Unity & Diversity (Part 2)

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Introduction:

What should the church expect when it comes to spiritual gifts? How do they function? Why are they given? Why do certain church members seem to have spiritual gifts while others It just doesn’t seem to be so obvious?

Obviously Spiritual gifts had become a big issue within the church at Corinth. They had become like the Lords Supper a source of contention. So Paul addresses this controversial issue. He provides Apostolic teaching on this issue. While he was speaking to the church at Corinth he as speaking to them through us.

So in order to teach he provides an Analogy!

Analogy

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

Paul employees a brilliant comparison between between the physical body and the local church.

The body is one even while it is composed of a diversity of parts or members.

When he is speaking of the church one of the things he emphasizes with the gifts of the spirit.

Unity

1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

What is the enemy of unity?

The local church is the body of Christ. Please know that contextually he is speaking of the Local not the universal church.

The universal church is every believer - despite their location.

The local church is the believers in a particular location. In this case it would be all believers in the church of Corinth.

He is speaking about the unity of that church.

You see the Spiritual gifts that God had given to empower that church and bring them together was actually causing division.

They were using or abusing spiritual gifts in a way that actually stratified their local fellowship causing division rather than union.

So Paul employees this metaphor to teach the church at Corinth.

Church unity doesn’t mean uniformity.

Look at how he shows this within the local church fellowship.

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Diversity

1 Corinthians 12:14 (ESV)

For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

Diversity in our world creates division.

But the kingdom turns that paradigm upside down and through that diversity we have unity.

How is it possible to have unity though the diversity of the local church.

1 Corinthians 12:20 (ESV)

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The reason that there are diffrent parts of the one body is because - Every part - every member is necessary! God designed the church to be dependent.

Dependance

1 Corinthians 12:14–22 (ESV)

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

God designed the church to lean on each other.

He made each part with a purpose.

Ears are important in the body but ears don’t smell. I know ears can smell but they don’t smell. Noses can smell but what happens if the nose itches. A nose can’t scratch itself. A nose needs a hand.

There is a great temptation in our age to try be part of the church community while maintain personal autonomy.

Autonomy

God didn’t wire you as a believe to be self sufficent.

God gifted and arranged And organized the church in such a way that members must rely on each other.

So no matter what your spiritual gift or gifts are…No matter how impressive and how proficient your are with that gift...

You need your church family.

The worlds philosophy is it takes a village.

It takes a body!

Everybody in the body needs the body.

You are incomplete without the other members of the body complementing your gifts.

Autonomy is not God’s intention for your Christian life.

The Corinthians had prioritized the showy gifts the high visibility gifts as what was most important. But Paul says it is often those gifts that are low visibility - that aren’t real flashy - The gifts that go unnoticed that are most significant.

A finger is visible and very significant. But its not the pancreas.

But his point is that God designed the body in such a way that he created interdependence.

Pastor as a Swiss Army Knife.

Pastor must be Preacher/Teacher!

Pastor must be a good leader!

Pastor must be a good administrator!

God didn’t call you to be the body all by yourself.

1 Corinthians 12:23–25 ESV

23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

Is there an attitude in me that tends to resist my dependence on my church family?

If your attitude is more, ‘I got this’ then may I say “you are not getting this!”

While it is true that everybody in the Body needs the Body.

It is also true that the Body needs everybody in the Body.

Your church family needs you.

Serve, and teach, and give, and pray, and sing, help!

Your gift is vital.

You service matters.

Your spiritual gifts are indispensable.

They are given to you to help this body accomplish the mission Christ has given her.

So ask yourself this question:

Is there a tendency to view your spiritual gifts as unimportant?

If you deem you gifts to be unimportant then chances are you want use them.

STOP!!! The Spirit of God doesn’t give unnecessary gifts.

Ask yourself this question:

If God thinks your spiritual gift matters shouldn’t you?

If God thinks my gift matters - it does!

What excuses am I making for not serving?

Isn’t it time to let those go...

The body needs everybody in the body.