Sermon Tone Analysis

We Need the Church

1 Corinthians

The verses in question are part of a larger flow of thought.

Actually the entire book of 1 Corinthians has a flow to it.

It's always a good idea to drill down on the uncertain details by starting with the big picture message of the book and looking at how the passage fits in to that overall message.

The Corinthians had a huge problem with being self-seeking, self-serving, and self-exalting.

The book of 1 Corinthians is one big long exhortation to them to stop being selfish and start loving each other.

In Chapters 12-14 the topic of focus is "spiritual gifts" and their operation in the Corinthian church.

The message of Chapter 12 is: Stop exalting yourself and your "amazing spiritual gifts" and start valuing the unique, important place that God has given to every member of the body.

The message of Chapter 12 is: Stop exalting yourself and your "amazing spiritual gifts" and start valuing the unique, important place that God has given to every member of the body.

The message of Chapter 13 is: All of your "amazing spiritual gifts" that you boast so much about are all worthless if you're not loving one another

The message of Chapter 13 is: All of your "amazing spiritual gifts" that you boast so much about are all worthless if you're not loving one another

The message of Chapter 14 is: As you are putting your attention toward loving each other, do pursue the spiritual gifts (because they edify others), but stop trying to use your "gifts" to "edify" yourself at everyone else's expense!

The message of Chapter 14 is: As you are putting your attention toward loving each other, do pursue the spiritual gifts (because they edify others), but stop trying to use your "gifts" to "edify" yourself at everyone else's expense!

The Corinthian church had a huge problem.

Everyone was seeking his own edification and his own glory.

They loved to revel in their "spirituality" by making a big show of their "amazing spiritual gift" of speaking in tongues, even though they were doing zilch to build up the body of Christ.

They were totally missing the point of spiritual gifts: to build up the body of Christ in love.

Unity within the church is like a portrait of Christ.

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All Christians are Created Equal (Explain)

Declaration of Independence:

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Oneness or Unity isn’t a physical attribute but rather a spiritual attribute

Vs 15-16 deal with our outlook on our own positions in the body

Verse 21 deals with our outlook on others roles in the body

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