1 Corinthians 12
Notes
Transcript
We’ve set today aside as Serving Sunday.
It’s part of our verse and theme for the year...
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
It’s about embracing Christ-like service to one another as the body of Christ, to our community as a gospel-proclaiming local church, to the world as those sent to make disciples of all nations.
Because as Christians, none of us are on earth to please ourselves or to live for our own ambitions.
We’re here to glorify God, and to seek first his kingdom and righteousness.
I take it that we all believe that! I take it that we are all on the same page when it comes to recognising the mission that we’re on, and the responsibilities we therefore have to one another and to our community and world.
The trouble is, the flesh - our sinful nature - is constantly waging war on us. We want to please ourselves! We want to live for our own ambitions and pleasures. We lose sight of what God asks of us and calls us to as his people.
That’s certainly what was happening in Corinth.
This was a church that had so much going for it!
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
Sounds great!
And yet, this church wasn’t functioning as well as it could have! Some thought that they were above everyone else because of their background, or gifts.
Others probably felt they weren’t really part of the body, maybe because they felt didn’t have the right background or the right gifts.
And that can be a problem in every church in every age.
Which is sad because the glorious vision of the church is that we are made up Spirit-filled people from every tribe, tongue and nation, with all everything that divides us removed so that we form one united body of Christ.
By God’s grace, our church is growing. There’s a lot to feel good about!
But with that growth comes danger - particularly the danger that not everyone will feel included in this local expression of the body of Christ.
The danger that not everyone feels able to seek the glory of God in seeking the kingdom of God through the use of the gifts of God.
Let’s allow God’s word in 1 Cor 12 to speak into our current situation, so that together we can all grow into maturity as servants of the Lord Jesus.
God’s message here is wonderfully clear and he starts by showing that spiritual gifts have been given within a very specific context.
WE ARE ONE BODY IN MANY PARTS
WE ARE ONE BODY IN MANY PARTS
Spiritual gifts are given in the context of the church community. By one God. For the health and growth of that community. Yet every individual is gifted and there is great diversity.
Gifts are from one God in three persons
Gifts are from one God in three persons
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord [Jesus]. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same [Father] God at work.
Diversity in unity – in the godhead and in the church. The God who is diverse – three persons in one God – gives diverse gifts to one church.
They are for the common good
They are for the common good
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
The church in Corinth was blessed with many gifts but instead of uniting them they were dividing them. Which is what happens when we forget that God’s gifts are for serving one another.
We’ve all got to watch this because from the earliest age we’ve been longing to be good at something. Haven’t you felt it?
In my early teens I developed a love of music. Piano lessons, self-taught guitar… Dreamed of being a rock star! Used to perform to packed-out stadiums – in my bedroom!! When I did perform to real people it was a thrill.
Gifts are like that. They’re a great blessing. But in the church your gifts are not primarily for you, they’re for us.
Given by one God, for the common good…
To one community which is in many parts
To one community which is in many parts
This is where Paul’s image of the body is so helpful.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
Lift your hand up, turn it over and put it back down. Just think what had to happen for you to do that.
Ears… Brain, decision etc…
Once decided, signals to muscles, tendons…
Energy needed requiring oxygen from the blood…
So many parts of the body involved to make the whole body function well. So with the church.
This is not just a picture. We are the body of Christ. How so?
For we were all baptised 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.
From the moment that Jesus became our Lord and our sins were washed away, his Spirit baptised us. We were immersed in him, and he in us.
There’s no distinction by background “whether Jews or Greeks”. No distinction by earthly status “Slave or free.”
We’re not gifted so we belong. We belong, therefore we’re gifted. We already belong to Christ.
You have a unique and vital part in his body. You’ve been gifted by his Spirit so that you can do this for the good of all. Not so you feel like you belong.
And because we belong, every part is vital…
EVERY PART IS VITAL
EVERY PART IS VITAL
Just like a human body…
And so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Even if we’ve not been getting involved, we’re still needed.
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. 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.
It’s easy to think that our part is less essential when we look at some of the other gifts God has given people. But every part is vital.
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?
Just think about that for a moment! So with the church…
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
You and your gifts are essential if the body here is to be healthy. If we hold back we deprive one another of God’s gifts and the body as a whole suffers.
It’s such an encouragement to see so many serving one another here.
What about you? You may be wondering how to discover what you should be doing. Some helpful questions…
How is God already using me?
How is God already using me?
If you look at the various lists of spiritual gifts in the NT (here, Rom 12, Eph 4) you’ll notice that none of them is exhaustive. But they do have something in common. In all of them are gifts of speaking and serving.
Speaking: wisdom, God’s word, encouragement, teaching.
Serving: Acts of mercy and kindness, administration, healing
So ask yourself, are there ways that my speaking is being used by God to build up my brothers and sisters with the gospel. Are there ways in which my service is doing the same?
Some examples here: Words of wisdom and knowledge. I know that many of you wisely counsel one another with the gospel. In families, between friends, in homegroups, on teams. I’m often a recipient of those bringing words of wisdom, insight etc.
Faith – trusting God for one another, particularly in prayer. What a spiritual gift of faith! It’s almost entirely invisible, but here is a vital gift for the church family.
Encouragement As we all seek to serve the Lord together how vital this one is. If the Lord’s gifted you in this way you may well not be aware of it. Ask those around you.
What are the current needs in the body?
What are the current needs in the body?
That’s partly why we’re having a Serving Sunday! We want to help you discover what areas of ministry currently require more help, to find where you might be able to make a real difference as we labour for Christ and the gospel together.
We’ve heard from some today. There are many other needs in the church more widely. Every current team needs more members, organisers, leaders.
Talk to the leaders, team members, or one of the elders.
We want to help you be equipped for works of service so that the whole body can be built up to maturity in Christ.
Are there any burning desires in your heart?
Are there any burning desires in your heart?
What gets your heart pumping in a good way!? What types of ministry or service gets you excited?
Maybe you really love people and want to help newcomers get stuck into church life - welcome team!
Maybe you’re more creative - design, photography, social media - massive need for that!
Maybe you’re a tech geek - AV!
Maybe it’s children’s work, or youth work, or music, or teaching, or praying, or practical help - there are so many ways to put your passions to work in the church.
Find what God has put on your heart, and then put your heart and soul into serving Him with it!
We are one body in many parts and every part is vital, because…
EVERY PART NEEDS THE OTHERS
EVERY PART NEEDS THE OTHERS
In the body of Christ we are dependent on each other.
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!’
This really does cut across the self-sufficient culture in which we live, but God’s word tells you that you are dependent on your brothers and sisters here.
You need the things that God has given to the people sitting around you. No part is dispensable. No matter how seemingly weak!
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
We need really each other. Do you believe this?
How will you let others serve you? Will you value their encouragement, wisdom, time, hospitality? Will you take time to discover their needs that God has gifted you to meet?
We are so mutually dependant that…
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
Are you regularly suffering with those who suffer here? Rejoicing with those who are honoured?
It’s very difficult for v26 to make any sense if church is no more than something we come to and go from.
What about you? Are you really part of the body of Christ?
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
As we close, just consider for a moment the people around you. We are the body of Christ. They need you. You need them.
We need each other to grow into maturity in Christ. We need each other to make Christ known to our city and world. We need each other to serve the various needs of our church family.
Don’t make the mistake of simply attending when you can truly belong.
We are one body of Christ in many parts
Every part is vital to the whole
And every part needs the others to function well.
We are so blessed to have so many doing so much.
But as God grows our church, more help is needed to keep the body growing, and strong and healthy.
If you’re not yet serving in some way, please don’t leave today until you’ve prayerfully looked at how you might start serving on a team or as part of a ministry.
If you’re already serving, be encouraged! Your labour is not in vain.
Let’s all look to the Lord Jesus who has called us to be free, and let’s use our freedom to serve one another humbly in love.
