The Church
Unity without Uniformity,
Diversity without Division
My Church
What would my church be like…..
If everyone were just like me?
Historical Background
Influenced greatly by the pagan ideologies
and immorality which surrounded it, the
Corinthian Church had begun to depart from
the doctrines and spirituality that Paul had
established in their founding. Paul’s letter to
them (I Corinthians) is a balance between
reproof, and an invitation to seek true
spirituality.
The Principles and Tests of
Spiritual Gifts, 12:1-7
Summary of 12:1-7
• Spirituality -- the false and the true, 12:1-3
• There are a variety of spiritual gifts, 12:4
• God determines which gift(s) you get, 12:4-6
• Every believer has at least one gift, 12:7
The Manifestation of the Spirit
I Cor. 12:8-11
• Though these manifestations of the Spirit
vary, they all indicate the presence and
working of the Spirit of God.
• The Holy Spirit manifests His presence
and His work through YOUR spiritual
gift(s)!
Life in the Body of Christ
I Corinthians 12: 12 - 26
A. One Body; Many Parts - 12:12-13
“Just as each of us has one body with many
members, and these members do not all
have the same function, so in Christ we
who are many form one body, and each
member belongs to all the others.”
Romans 12:4-5
Life in the Body of Christ
I Corinthians 12: 12 - 26
B. There is a place for every believer - 12:14-20
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into
one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or
free-- and we were all given the one Spirit
to drink.”
I Corinthians 12:13
Life in the Body of Christ
I Corinthians 12: 12 - 26
C. All believers are essential to the Body,
12:21-26
“Holy Father, protect them by the power of
your name--the name you gave me-- so that
they may be one as we are one.”
John 17:11
Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle
• All pieces are different
• No one piece is more important than
another
• Each piece is essential to the completion
of the puzzle.
• You cannot get the full picture of the
puzzle by looking at any one piece.
Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle
(Cont’d)
• Your piece may not fit the pieces of
anyone around you. That’s OK. It will fit
somewhere.
• You cannot complete the puzzle if some
people keep their puzzle piece in their
pocket.
Conclusion
• I Corinthians 12:27
• Our “final exam” in Heaven:
What did you do with my Son, Jesus?
Did you bring anybody with you?
What did you do with what I gave you?