Spiritual Gifts
Lesson 10: Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians,
Part 4
1 Corinthians 12:21-31
I. Introduction
A. A Woman feels that her gender, and
thus her silence in the Meeting of the
Church, renders her useless
B. A preacher will not let others speak
from “his pulpit.” He tells his audience
that if they do not know Hebrew and
Greek they cannot possibly be a
student of the Scriptures
C. Our goals for this lesson:
1. Walk through the argument of chapter 12
2. Focus on verses 21-31
3. Carefully consider Paul’s inverted value
system in verses 22-26
4. Explore the implications and applications
of Paul’s teaching for us
II.
The Outer Limits of Spirituality – 12:1-3
A. 1 Corinthians 12-14 is all about spiritual
matters (see 12:1)
B. Paul is going to broaden their horizons
with regard to spiritual gifts and the
ministry of the Holy Spirit
C. But he must first establish the
boundaries within which the Spirit
operates
D. There is much that is spiritual that is not
Christian (of the Holy Spirit)
E. Thus, the test:
“Jesus is Lord” (12:3)
III. Diversity, yet unity (12:4-11)
A. A Trinitarian view of gifts (12:4-6)
1. Variety of gifts, one Spirit
2. Variety of ministries, one Lord
3. Variety of results, one God
B.
Examples of this diversity of spiritual
gifts (12:7-11)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Word of knowledge
Word of wisdom
Faith
Gifts of healing
Performing miracles
Prophecy
Discerning spirits
Tongues
Interpretation of tongues
IV. Body life (12:12-14)
A. The human body: one body, many
members (12:12)
B. The body of Christ
1. Its origins and composition (12:13)
2. Its nature: one body, many members
(12:14)
V.
Thinking that is detrimental to body
life (12:15-20)
A. My gift doesn’t really matter (12:1520)
1. The argument: Since I don’t possess a
gift of status I have nothing of value
to contribute (v. 15)
2. Paul’s response (vss. 16-20):
a. Saying so doesn’t make it so (vss. 15-16)
b. A body needs the diversity of many parts
(vss. 17, 19)
c. God assigns the members, as He desires
(v. 18)
d. Review: many parts, one body (v. 20)
B.
Your gift doesn’t really matter – I don’t
need you (or anyone else) (12:21)
VI. A whole new way of thinking about
spiritual gifts (12:22-26)
22 On
the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker
are essential, 23 and those members we consider less
honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our
unpresentable members are clothed with dignity, 24 but our
presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has
blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser
member, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but
the members may have mutual concern for one another. 26 If
one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member
is honored, all rejoice with it (1 Corinthians 12:22-26).
A. Your values are upside-down
B. A new appraisal of “weaker” members –
they are more than necessary; they are
essential
C. “Weaker” members are in good
company:
25 For
the foolishness of God is wiser than human
wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than
human strength. 26 Think about the circumstances of
your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise
by human standards, not many were powerful, not
many were born to a privileged position. 27 But God
chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the
wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to
shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:25-27, emphasis
mine).
10 We
are fools for Christ, but you are wise in
Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are
distinguished, we are dishonored (1 Corinthians
4:10)!
D. Consider how we deal with the weaker
members of our body:
23
and those members we consider less
honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our
unpresentable members are clothed with dignity,
24 but our presentable members do not need this
(1Corinthians 12:22-24a).
E. Consider the basis on which we
determine that a member is stronger
1.
2.
3.
4.
Visibility
Prominence, especially in church
Preeminence – puts us ahead of others
Appearance: what makes us look good
F. What really makes a member more
important?
1. Vital to the body’s life
2. Vital to the body’s health
3. Vital to the body’s activities
G. Consider how God has designed the
body to work:
Instead, God has blended together the body, giving
greater honor to the lesser member, 25 so that there
may be no division in the body, but the members
may have mutual concern for one another. 26 If one
member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a
member is honored, all rejoice with it (1 Corinthians
12:24b-26).
1. God compensates for the sake of equity
2. The parts that are lacking get the greater
honor
3. The goal is mutual care for one another.
4. The manifestation of this kind of unity is
empathizing with the hurts and joys of
others in the body. What happens to them
is happening to us, because we are a body
VII. Summing it up (12:27-31)
A. We are the body of Christ (verse 27)
B. God has appointed various gifts in
the church (verse 28)
C. Everyone does not have the same
gift (verses 29-30)
D. The church should desire the best
gifts, which is probably a different set
of gifts than they have sought before
(verse 31)
VIII. Conclusion
A. What if the best gifts are not spectacular,
and not highly visible to others?
B. What if the more visible and prominent
gifts are not the best gifts?
C. What if spiritual gifts are to equip the
church to minister outside of church?
D. What if what you see on Sunday is not all
that there is to spiritual gifts?
E. What if the most significant ministry is
not visible (apparent to all)?
a. The work of the Holy Spirit is often
invisible (John 3:8)
b. The ministry of Jesus, who left His
glory, took form of a servant
(Philippians 2:5-8)
c. The Father is invisible (John 1:18)
F. What an encouragement to those whose
ministry is not visible
a. Women, who do not have a visible,
verbal role in the meeting of the church
b. Those whose ministry is prayer
c. Men, whose ministry is not out front
Copyright © 2007 by Community Bible Chapel, 418 E. Main Street, Richardson, TX 75081. This is the edited PowerPoint
Presentation in the Spiritual Gifts series prepared by Bob Deffinbaugh for November 5, 2007. Anyone is at liberty to use this
presentation for educational purposes only, with or without credit. The Chapel believes the material presented herein to be true to
the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication
of this material is a grace ministry of Community Bible Chapel.