READING 1 CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 12

 


  Friday, July 26, 2024

 INTRODUCING 1 CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 12 (NLT)

  After tackling the issues of head coverings for women and the Lord's Supper in the previous chapter, Paul moves to the issue of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. Paul insists that the display of spiritual gifts does not make one believer more spiritual or important than another. Every believer in Jesus has the Spirit, and the Spirit gives to every believer one or more spiritual gifts. The gifts are given for the common good, and the church is like a human body. Each gifted function in the church represents a body part, and all the parts are essential.  (https://www.bibleref.com/1-Corinthians/12/1-Corinthians-chapter-12.html) 

1. Concerning Spiritual Gifts, Verses 1-11, Jeannie

Now, dear brothers and sisters,[a] regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice[b]; to another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.[c] 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still, another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,[d] while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What two things did Paul say about the Holy Spirit? (V.3)

2. What are the 9 gifts of the Spirit mentioned in this section, Sign Gifts/Confirmation Gifts? (V.8)

3. What is the purpose of these gifts? What are we to use them for? (V. 7)

Thought Questions: 

1. Why do you think Paul is writing to the Corinthian church about spiritual gifts? What seems to be their problem?

2. Why do you think the fact that these gifts come from God is so important? 

3. Have you discovered your God-given gifts yet? 


2. Unity and Diversity in the Body, Part 1, Verses 12-21, Destiny

 12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles,[e] some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.[f]14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Who makes up the diversity forming the one body of Christ? (V.13-14)

2. If there was just one member, could it be a body? (V. 19-20)

3. Is every member of the body equal? Explain (V.15-16)

4. Does every member of the body have the same responsibility? Explain. (V.17-21)

Thought Questions: 

1. What is the implication for verses 15-17? 


3. Unity and Diversity in the Body, Part 2, Verses 22-31, Teannie

 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How did God put the body together? (V.24-25)

2. How did God organize the members of the church? (V.27-28)

3. What are some of the gifts appointed for the church? (V.28)

4. What is the greatest gift God gave to us? 


Thought Questions: 

2. Identify the word or words that occur more than any others in this chapter? 

3. How does the metaphor of 'One Body' look in a real church environment? 



Gifts of the Holy Spirit

1.    Wisdom

7. Faith

2.   Understanding

8. Interpretation of Tongues

3.   Knowledge

9. Miracles

4.   Tongues

10. Discernment

6.  Courage

11. Fear of the Lord


Fruit of the Holy Spirit

1.      Charity

7. Generosity

2.      Joy

8. Gentleness

3.      Peace

9. Faithfulness

4.      Patience

10. Modesty

5.      Kindness

11. Self-Control

6.      Goodness

12. Chasity


Prayer Confession for 1Corinthians, Chapter 12:

 Heavenly Father, help me to surrender my life to You and use the gifts and graces with which I have been blessed, with wisdom, and for Your greater glory. Thank You, that I am part of the wider Body of Christ. Thank You, that we are being fitted together as Your holy dwelling place. I pray that together we may learn to use our spiritual gifts for the benefit of the whole Body, and rejoice that we are One in Christ, through time and into eternity. Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus is my Lord and my God, and that He came to earth from heaven to die on the cross for my sins, and the sins of the whole world. Thank You that You lifted me out of the slave-market of sin and seated me together with Christ in heavenly places. Give me wisdom and discernment to identify pretenders in the faith, who are sheep in wolves clothing... and increasingly open the eyes of my understanding to know You more, and to love You better. Heavenly Father, thank You for the gifts of the Spirit and the wide diversity of gifts and graces that You graciously bestow on Your all children. Thank You that I am a member of the Body of Christ and that together, our diverse spiritual gifts can be exercised for the greater benefit of the whole Body. May we all grow in grace and in a knowledge of Jesus, and be enabled to provide edification for one another, as well as being edified by them. Thank You that we are not meant to live in spiritual isolation from other believers, but are a collective Body, that is being built up into the Temple of God. Enable me to exercise the spiritual gift with which I have been endowed, for the greater benefit of the wider Body of Christ. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN. Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/1-Corinthians/12





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ELNORA'S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15 - September 6, 2024

Image
                                 Introduction to Chapter 15 In chapters 12, 13, and 14, Scripture focused on the concept of spiritual gifts and how best to use them. Chapter 15 contains extensive teaching on one last issue about which some Corinthians were confused or misled. Apparently, they harbored some doubts about the physical resurrection of Christians from the dead. Will Christians really be raised from the dead as Christ was after the crucifixion? Some of the Corinthians did not think so. A group of them either believed false teaching or blended Christian ideas with the Greco-Roman philosophies of their day. Perhaps they imagined life completely ends in death. More likely, they thought the human spirit continues into the afterlife without a body of any kind. Paul writes this chapter to correct their thinking, teaching about what resurrection from the dead means for born-again believers. ( https://www.bibleref.com/1-Corinthians/15/1-Corinthians-chapter-15.html) The Resurrection
Read more

ELNORA'S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 2 Corinthians, Chapter 2 - October 11, 2024

Image
           Introduction to Chapter 2 Second Corinthians continues uninterrupted from the previous chapter. Paul is explaining why he waited to come to Corinth. He wanted to see if they would side with him, or with the man who challenged his authority. They disciplined the man. He repented. Paul commands restoration and forgiveness. He then tells of failing to find Titus in Troas with news about them before transitioning into teaching that Christians are the aroma of Christ on earth, smelling of death to the perishing and life to those being saved. This will bring Paul back to the subject of his authority which we will see more of in chapter 3.  ( https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/1/2-Corinthians-chapter-1.html) An Introduction, Verses  1-4 ,  DESTINY So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit.   2  For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved.   3  That is why I wrote to you as I did so that when I do come, I w
Read more

ELNORA'S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 1 Corinthians, Chapter 16 - September 20, 2024 (Charles' Birthday!!!)

Image
                                   Introduction to Chapter 16 First Corinthians 16 concludes Paul's long letter to the church in Corinth with several business matters. He instructs them on how to prepare a special contribution for needy Christians in Jerusalem. He describes his plan to visit them in person after wrapping up his ministry in Ephesus and stopping by churches in Macedonia. He reveals that Timothy is coming to them more quickly and that Apollos is not. Finally, he commends a delegation from Corinth that has come to see him. His final words in the letter are a declaration of love for all of them.  ( https://www.bibleref.com/1-Corinthians/16/1-Corinthians-chapter-16.html) The Collection for Jerusalem, Verses  1-4 ,  TEANNIE 16  Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.   2  On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money
Read more