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Copyright 1994. John Creamer. All rights reserved.
I OPENING TIME
QUESTIONS: Our bodies are made up of many parts; some we think of and care for often
and some we think of only when they break down. Which parts of our body receive most of our attention? What are the parts of our body we rarely think about? Which part of your body functions best? Is there a part of your body that you would like to change or improve? What part of our body is the most important? What steps do we take to keep our bodies in shape? When one of our parts is damaged, injured, or broken, how is the overall
function of our body affected? The Bible compares the group of people who place their faith in Jesus
Christ as their Lord and their Savior to a body...the Body of Christ.
Each person in that body has a role in the same way each part of our body
has a special function. The roles, or functions we have in the Body of
Christ are called ministries. Some people clearly understand their ministry;
others aren't quite sure what theirs is or ought to be. This lesson will
be a confirmation for some, a new thought for others. Let's see what the
Bible says about the Body of Christ and the different parts that comprise
it. LESSON PURPOSE: Countless publications exist that explain the
different spiritual gifts and their application and use in the Body of
Christ. This lesson is not intended to be another. SCRIPTURE: Romans 12: 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members
do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs
to all the others. To what are those in Christ compared in verses 4 and 5? (A body with
many members.) How does verse 5 say the members are to relate to each other? If this verse is true, (and let's assume that it is!) and I belong to
you and vice versa as a fellow member in the body of Christ, then what
will be the impact on you and others who depend on my "body function"
if I don't feel like going to church (or any other activity that keeps
us together as a functioning body)? Many people say "I don't need to go to church to be a Christian!",
or "I can worship God on the lake and in the woods!", but what
does this philosophy do to a group of people who are depending on that
person's function in the body? 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's
gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to
the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let
him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. What are the functions of the body members listed in verses 6, 7, and
8? What are these functions called in verse 6? Verses 4-8 deal specifically with spiritual gifts, a topic many Christians
study with great interest. But! Why are these verses preceded in chapter
12 with three verses and followed by thirteen? Do those sixteen verses
have any relationship to verses 4-8, or were they randomly selected to
surround them? Let's investigate. 1. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer
your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your
spiritual {[1] Or <reasonable>} act of worship. How would you summarize verse 1 in your own words? Paul recommends the reader do something in verse 1. What is it? (Offer
yourselves to God.) 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will. Verse 2 has three parts: Something we should not do, something we should do, and what will be the result if we do. What should we not do? ...Do? What will result? Why do you think the verses preceding our unique function in the body
of Christ talk about understanding God's will in our life? If you had to choose one of the following options about God's will, which
would you think is true? 1. God's will for my life is difficult to know...apparently God doesn't
care if we know what it is. 2. God really has a definite will for my life, He wants me to know what
it is and will help me find it. Now really! Does that make any sense? Doesn't #2 seem to make more sense?
(Let's assume Yes.) Having assumed that, what does verse two say is the secret to discovering
His will for us? (Being transformed in our minds.) How do we do that?
(Until someone discovers a better way...reading the Bible and prayer every
day.) 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think
of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with
sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given
you. When we are transforming our minds and finding God's will for us, what
are we advised to do in verse 3? (Look honestly at what He made us in
light of our faith...our trust in Him...our walk with Him.) 1. Offer ourselves to God. 2. Don't conform to "patterns of the world" in terms of
who we are. 3. As we transform our minds through reading God's word, we begin
to think of ourselves in a new light...from God's perspective. 4. As we do the first three, we will be able to know and understand
God's will for our life. 5. On the basis of 1-4, do an honest self-evaluation of who we are...who
God made us to be. If verses 1-3 give us the parameters for conditioning ourselves to
be able to understand the gifts and ministry to which God is calling us,
is there a possibility the verses after 4-8 also relate? 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another
above yourselves. What is the key word and focus of verse 9? (Love that is sincere.) What does verse 10 gives us as a target for this sincere love? (One another.) What do you think is the meaning of "Be devoted to one another in
brotherly love"? What do you think "Honor one another above yourselves" means? How would you summarize the conduct recommended in vs.9,10? 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving
the Lord. What does "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord." mean to you? What do you think a person doing the opposite of this verse would be
like? (Not interested in spiritual things, especially in the lives of
others; characterized by complaints and gripes instead of enthusiasm.) 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Verse 12 has three parts. How do these three relate to each other? (Patience
is linked to joy, e.g., an impatient person is definitely not joyful;
faithful prayer is the means for achieving both patience and a joyful
attitude.) 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. How does verse 13 deal a selfish attitude a fatal blow? (We are supposed
to be conscious of giving to others rather than the "normal temptation"
to constantly focus on our own needs being met.) What are some of the ways we can practice hospitality? 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Verse 14: Is the context of our "personal ministry" always
designed around people whom we like and those who are kind to us? 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Verse 15: When others around us are happy, we are to _________. When others around us are down, we are to _________. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing
to associate with people of low position. {[16] Or <willing to do menial
work>} Do not be conceited. Verse 16: How are we supposed to get along with others? (In harmony.) The rest of verse 16 tells us two things we should not be and one thing
we should be. What are they? 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath,
for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says
the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he
is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap
burning coals on his head." {[20] Prov. 25:21,22} 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Verses 17-21 address the recommended conduct in adversarial relationships. How would you summarize the topic of verses 9-21? (Christian conduct
and behavior.) Why would Christian conduct and behavior benefit the use of spiritual
gifts and ministry? (Spiritual gifts and ministry without corresponding
character, conduct and behavior is an open invitation to being labeled
a hypocrite.) BOTTOM LINE: God has given each member of the body of Christ unique gifts and ministries
and He wants each of us to discover what they are. The method of discovery is in the context of spiritual transformation, and the application is in the context of Christ like conduct and behavior. We are to: 1. Cease a focus of human development based on an unspiritual, worldly
value system. 2. Begin a mental transformation through the study of scripture to discover
His will for our life. 3. Do an accurate self-evaluation, then begin to see what He uniquely
equipped us to do. 4. Make sure our conduct and behavior is complimentary, not harmful,
to our ministry. CLOSE WITH PRAYER. TABLE TIME. QUESTION: How do you think the phrase "A
person who talks the talk should walk the walk" relates to the subject
of a person's spiritual gift? SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12: 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all
of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the
common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom,
to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing
by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing
between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, {[10]
Or <languages>; also in verse 28} and to still another the interpretation
of tongues. {[10] Or <languages>; also in verse 28} 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives
them to each one, just as he determines. 12. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though
all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by {[13] Or <with>; or <in>}
one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and
we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not
belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part
of the body. 16 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 cease to be
part of the body. 17 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? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of
them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 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!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker
are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special
honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God
has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the
parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts
should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is
honored, every part rejoices with it. 27. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part
of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having
gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration,
and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? {[30] Or
<other languages>} Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire {[31] Or <But you are eagerly desiring>} the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. Often, we gravitate to a church where the people are just like us. In
light of verses 12-26, what impact could this desire for uniformity have
on a body that God designed to thrive on the multiplicity of gifts? According to verses 4-6, what should we expect to be different in the
Body of Christ and what is the same? Why is it important for Christians
to understand different gifts given to us by the same Spirit? According to verse 7, what is the ultimate goal of the gifts given to
us by the Holy Spirit? (The common good [of the whole body].) What are the gifts and ministries given to us by the Holy Spirit in verses
8-11 and 27-31? 1 Corinthians 13: 1. If I speak in the tongues {[1] Or <languages>} of men and
of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging
cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and
all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have
not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the
flames, {[3] Some early manuscripts <body that I may boast>} but
have not love, I gain nothing. 4. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease;
where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge,
it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind
me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall
see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as
I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest
of these is love. What do verses 1-3 say about ministry without love? Often we speak of love in a cheap context..."I love ice cream.",
or "I love to ski.", or even "I love you." The word
sometimes means little more to us than an infatuation or emotion. How
do verses 4-7 broaden the definition of love? How does the definition in these verses differ from our traditional understanding
of the word? (Love is defined here as conduct and behavior, not an emotion.) Once again, why is love as defined in these verses a necessary ingredient
in our life for us to properly utilize our spiritual gifts? Verses 8-13 give us a comparison of the relative importance of spiritual gifts and love. Which is greater? What does that tell us about gifts without love? Ephesians 4: 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some
to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body
of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the
Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness
of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the
waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning
and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow
up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. A short list of spiritual gifts is given in v.11. Would you care to guess
what precedes this list? (You are correct! ...several verses on Christian
conduct and behavior.) List all the benefits derived by the body (verses 12-16) when these parts
function properly in their unique ministry. Are these benefits an appropriate description of the local body of Christ
in which you participate? How can you allow God to work through you to enable verses 12-16 happen
in your church? BOTTOM LINE: God has given each of us a unique ministry through the spiritual gifts
given by His Holy Spirit. Do you know your gift and ministry? If so, are
you utilizing them? If not, are you searching for it? CLOSE WITH PRAYER. |