Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ
Summary
In our journey through Paul's letter to the Corinthians, we find ourselves delving into the complexities of the Corinthian church, a community that, despite its challenges, offers us profound lessons on unity and spiritual gifts. The Corinthian church was marked by chaos and disunity, with members exercising their spiritual gifts in a manner that was self-serving rather than edifying to the body of Christ. Paul addresses this by emphasizing the importance of unity within the church, grounded in the lordship of Christ and the Trinitarian nature of God.
Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians that their unity is rooted in the lordship of Christ. This foundational truth is what binds us together as believers. The confession that "Jesus is Lord" is not merely a verbal acknowledgment but a declaration that can only be genuinely made through the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. This confession unites us as a community of believers who recognize Christ as the sovereign ruler over our lives.
Furthermore, Paul highlights the diversity of spiritual gifts, which are given by the same Spirit, for the purpose of building up the church. These gifts are not natural talents but supernatural endowments bestowed upon believers to serve the body of Christ. The diversity of gifts reflects the Trinitarian nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—working in harmony to empower and equip the church for its mission.
Our identity as part of the body of Christ is another crucial aspect of our unity. Each believer is a vital member of this body, with unique gifts and roles that contribute to the whole. This interconnectedness means that we cannot function effectively in isolation; we are called to work together for the common good, just as the various parts of a physical body work in unison.
Finally, Paul speaks of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which occurs at the moment of salvation. This baptism immerses us into the body of Christ, making us part of God's family. It is a unifying act that transcends cultural and social barriers, bringing us together as one in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Unity in the church is grounded in the lordship of Christ. Our confession that "Jesus is Lord" is a profound declaration that unites us as believers, made possible only through the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. This unity is not based on human effort but on our shared recognition of Christ's sovereignty. [12:14]
- Spiritual gifts are diverse but given by the same Spirit for the edification of the church. These gifts are not natural talents but supernatural endowments meant to build up the body of Christ. The diversity of gifts reflects the Trinitarian nature of God, emphasizing the harmony and unity within the church. [20:04]
- Our identity as part of the body of Christ is essential for our spiritual growth and effectiveness. Each believer is a vital member with unique gifts and roles, contributing to the whole. This interconnectedness calls us to work together for the common good, just as the various parts of a physical body function in unison. [35:19]
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation, immersing us into the body of Christ. This act unites us as one family, transcending cultural and social barriers. It is a unifying experience that brings us together as part of God's family. [40:49]
- God empowers us to use our spiritual gifts for His glory. While we may feel inadequate, it is through reliance on the Holy Spirit that we find the strength and ability to serve. God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called, equipping us to fulfill His purposes. [50:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:51] - Chaos in Corinth
[06:33] - Unity in the Lordship of Christ
[10:19] - The Role of Spiritual Gifts
[14:25] - Confession of Jesus as Lord
[17:02] - The Trinitarian Nature of God
[20:04] - Diversity of Gifts, Unity of Spirit
[23:36] - Empowerment by the Spirit
[27:02] - Our Identity in the Body of Christ
[29:55] - Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
[33:00] - Analogy of the Body
[36:19] - Working Together as One
[39:00] - Baptism of the Holy Spirit
[44:00] - Becoming Part of God's Family
[46:04] - Using Gifts for God's Glory
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 12:1-13
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the main issue Paul addressed in the Corinthian church regarding spiritual gifts? [02:51]
2. How does Paul describe the relationship between spiritual gifts and the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6? [20:04]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the confession "Jesus is Lord"? [12:14]
4. How does Paul use the analogy of the body to describe the church in 1 Corinthians 12:12? [35:19]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Paul emphasize the lordship of Christ as a foundational bond of unity in the church? [12:14]
2. How does the diversity of spiritual gifts reflect the Trinitarian nature of God, and why is this important for church unity? [20:04]
3. What does it mean to be baptized by the Holy Spirit, and how does this contribute to our identity as part of the body of Christ? [40:49]
4. How can the analogy of the body help us understand our roles and responsibilities within the church community? [35:19]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual gifts. How are you currently using them to serve the body of Christ, and what steps can you take to use them more effectively? [50:48]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of unity in the church. What are some practical ways you can promote unity within your small group or church community? [12:14]
3. Consider the confession "Jesus is Lord" in your daily life. How does this declaration influence your decisions and actions? [14:25]
4. How can you ensure that your use of spiritual gifts is for the edification of the church rather than self-promotion? [29:55]
5. The sermon mentioned the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a unifying act. How does understanding this concept change your perspective on your relationship with other believers? [40:49]
6. Think about a time when you felt inadequate to serve. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to empower you in those moments? [21:49]
7. How can you encourage others in your church to discover and use their spiritual gifts for God's glory? [50:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Unity in Christ's Lordship
Our unity as believers is deeply rooted in the lordship of Christ. This unity is not a product of human effort but a divine reality established through the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. When we confess that "Jesus is Lord," it is more than a verbal statement; it is a profound declaration of faith that acknowledges Christ's sovereignty over our lives. This confession unites us as a community of believers, transcending personal differences and aligning us under the same divine authority. The Corinthian church struggled with disunity, but Paul reminded them that their shared recognition of Christ's lordship was the foundation for true unity. As we reflect on this truth, we are called to examine how our lives reflect this confession and how it shapes our relationships within the church. [12:14]
1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV): "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says 'Jesus is accursed!' and no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: In what ways does your life reflect the confession that "Jesus is Lord"? How can you actively promote unity within your church community today?
Day 2: Diversity of Gifts, Unity of Spirit
The diversity of spiritual gifts within the church is a testament to the Trinitarian nature of God. Each gift, though different, is given by the same Spirit for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. These gifts are not merely natural talents but supernatural endowments that empower believers to serve the church effectively. The Corinthian church faced challenges as members used their gifts for self-serving purposes, leading to chaos and disunity. Paul emphasized that the diversity of gifts should lead to harmony and unity, reflecting the perfect unity within the Trinity. As we consider our own spiritual gifts, we are encouraged to use them for the edification of the church, recognizing that they are given by God for His glory. [20:04]
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."
Reflection: What spiritual gift has God given you, and how can you use it to serve and build up your church community this week?
Day 3: Our Identity in the Body of Christ
As believers, our identity is intricately linked to our role as members of the body of Christ. Each believer is a vital part of this body, possessing unique gifts and roles that contribute to the whole. This interconnectedness means that we cannot function effectively in isolation; we are called to work together for the common good, just as the various parts of a physical body work in unison. The Corinthian church struggled with understanding this concept, leading to divisions and a lack of cooperation. Paul used the analogy of the body to illustrate the importance of unity and cooperation among believers. As we reflect on our identity in Christ, we are reminded of our responsibility to contribute to the health and growth of the church. [35:19]
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."
Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the unity and growth of your church community, recognizing your unique role in the body of Christ?
Day 4: Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a transformative event that occurs at the moment of salvation, immersing us into the body of Christ. This baptism unites us as one family, transcending cultural and social barriers. It is a unifying experience that brings us together as part of God's family, regardless of our backgrounds or differences. The Corinthian church needed to understand that their unity was not based on external factors but on their shared experience of the Holy Spirit's work in their lives. As we reflect on this truth, we are reminded of the profound unity we share with other believers and the call to live as one family in Christ. [40:49]
1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV): "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."
Reflection: How does the reality of being part of God's family through the baptism of the Holy Spirit influence your interactions with fellow believers?
Day 5: Empowered for God's Glory
God empowers us to use our spiritual gifts for His glory. While we may feel inadequate, it is through reliance on the Holy Spirit that we find the strength and ability to serve. The Corinthian church struggled with using their gifts appropriately, often seeking personal recognition rather than God's glory. Paul reminded them that God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called, equipping them to fulfill His purposes. As we reflect on this truth, we are encouraged to trust in God's empowerment and step out in faith to use our gifts for His glory. [50:48]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one area where you feel inadequate to serve? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit's empowerment to step out in faith and use your gifts for God's glory today?
Quotes
Here are the selected quotes from the sermon transcript:
1. "Paul writes this, we'll look at this in more detail a few weeks. He says, how is it then brethren whenever you come together that each of you has a psalm, a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation? He tells them, let all things be done for edification. At the end of that chapter, he says, let all things be done decently and in order. Friends, what we see in the Corinthian church is that the people, they were excited about spiritual gifts. We're going to see from this chapter, evidently they were pretty, they were ignorant about spiritual gifts, but everybody wanted the gifts that were well seen and that people would cause them to be well thought of or everybody to look at them. And so they wanted to do what their own heart desired, maybe even like what they came from in the pagan temples and some of what they saw there, rather than what, how God wanted it to be. And so Paul teaches them here some, some, just some basic things to help them and to kind of straighten them out, to set them straight in this." [00:03:22] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And he wanted to emphasize the togetherness and the unity of the church. And so Paul sets out to remind them of several bonds of unity, several things. Did you know that there are some basic things that unite us, that are the reason we're even here this morning? And without such, we would not have the unity and the oneness that we do. And so I want to talk to you about that this morning. Before next week and so forth, when Paul goes on to talk about the different parts of the body and the various giftedness of the body, Paul starts out by talking about the unity of the body and what holds us and brings us together." [00:06:09] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so, as Paul writes this, he wants to make clear, no one speaking by the Spirit of God curses Christ. Amen? Absolutely. And then he turns around and gives us the other side of that, and he says, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. So, Paul wants to make clear that what was going on was not by the Spirit. It was not of the Spirit. But what we should be doing is proclaiming that Jesus is Lord, not cursing him. You know, I think we can say, I hope, and maybe, you're here and you're investigating Christianity and you're thinking about, I don't know if he is or isn't, I'm trying to decide that. We welcome you to that. But as a body of Christ, as a member of this church, one thing we stand around is the fact that we believe Jesus is Lord. He is the boss of our lives, and he is Lord over all. Amen?" [00:12:14] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So here in verse 1, the word pneumatika, pneumatika is used. Down in verse 4, we'll see here in a minute, where it's actually translated gifts. That's the word charismata. both are used to refer to spiritual gifts by the apostle Paul. But as he begins, he says, now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, or the spirituals, I do not want you to be ignorant. That's kind of a nice way of saying that Paul thought they were, right? I don't want you to be ignorant. Well, that's kind of saying you are. And Paul saw that and whatever, if he had what he'd heard from them or what they'd written to him, they needed some instruction on spiritual gifts. And so he, as he does, does a great job teaching them." [00:07:45] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So what Paul is saying here is the sense that, listen, you know that before you were Christian, when you were still pagans, you were enticed, you were led away by these mute, these idols that were really nothing, but you allowed them, to lead you away. So his emphasis was in that these, even though these idols were nothing, you let them lead you astray. And by what we read next in verse three, Paul seems to be indicating that some of them were maybe even still doing this. Look at verse 3. He says, therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed." [00:09:50] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "So he says here, there are diversities of gifts. There's lots of different gifts, various kinds of gifts, but notice what his emphasis here is on, but what? The same spirit, the same spirit. So there's lots of different gifts, but the same spirit, as we're going to see as it continues on, who gives each and every one of them. So there's a unifying factor to the various gifts. Verse five, he continues on, says there are differences of ministries. Now, the word differences there is actually the same Greek word that is translated diversities in verse four. So again, it means various kinds. I guess just in English here, they just wanted to vary it up a little bit, but it's the same word. There are various kinds of ministries, ways and places in which those gifts can be used, right? So there's various gifts, but the same spirit. Verse five, he says there are various kinds of ministries, but the same Lord." [00:20:04] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And so God is the one who empowers us and bestows the gift upon us and provides, even provides the opportunity, for us to use them. He opens the doors for us to use our gifts for him. Amen. And the wonderful thing is we get a chance to do that and therefore be involved in eternal work. That's why he does all of this, friends, because he wants each and every one of us to have the privilege of the process. Do you know everything that God does through us, he could do on his own? He could. But he chooses us to do it because there is a greater good involved." [00:22:40] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And so that's why when we talk about baptism, when somebody gets physically baptized, it is a symbol, a representation of what happened spiritually when they got saved. But that physical baptism represents them becoming part of the body of Christ. Why? Because when they were saved, well, look at what it says here, for by one spirit, we were all baptized into one body. So when we were saved, that's the moment at which you got saved. This phrase equates the time of this baptism of the spirit with when a person gets saved. So being baptized by the spirit is the same as being baptized into the body of Christ. It's when you become a part of the body of Christ or a part of God's family, not later on, but that is at that moment." [00:41:25] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "That is what unites us, friends. That is what makes us. And we become one family, a part of his family, a part of the same family, friends. And it is nothing we can brag about because I didn't do anything to deserve that. God did that in me by me just hearing the gospel and responding to that, friends. And so we all unite around that because when we are saved, we are all baptized by the spirit into the family of God. And we become one family, whether you like it or not. So let's work together. Amen? Amen. Let's work together. Let's use our gifts for the glory of God." [00:45:19] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "How many of you ever seen a flock of geese flying south for the winter? You ever seen that? Okay. Well, I guess technically you don't know that they're flying south for the winter. You know, I have, Hey guys, what you doing up there? You know, but you see them flying, right? And they're, you can tell they're headed long distances and stuff. And you've seen a flock of geese and, and, and when they are flying, they're not all flying haphazardly, are they? They're flying in all in line and it's usually in a V, right? And so there's one in the front. And it's interesting if you study that, that, you know, that front bird breaks through the wind and creates, you know, breaks through for the most resistance and they're flying the others. But as they go, as the front bird gets tired, they go to the back and they take turns. And so it's so beautiful how they do that. So that instead of flying individually, they are all flying individually. As one." [00:46:39] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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