Many Make One
Lessons From 1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Theme: Lessons From 1 Corinthians
Hope: To draw closer to God through a better understanding of the various doctrines within the book of 1 Corinthians.
Now we left off two weeks ago looking at 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 wherein talked about the context.
The church in Corinth struggled with their attitudes concerning the miraculous gifts given them due to their background in pagan worship.
They needed to be reminded that these came from “the one true God” who expects fellowship with him in the attitudes of those using them.
There is no doubt that the focus from chapter 12 through 14 is on miraculous gifts and our text 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 is no different.
Paul’s main focus in our text is to remind the church that each spiritual gift has a purpose, a use, and reason and not any singular gift stands above the rest when the whole is considered.
Now, because we do not have theses gifts today how can we apply the principles lesson Paul is getting at?
It turns out that each of us in the church bring a assortment of different “gifts from God” to the table that help make the church function collectively (Romans 12:1-8).
So it is with that in mind we are going to take a look at how in the church “Many Make One.”
Let’s begin by understanding how…
We Are All Different
We Are All Different
But There’s No Distinction In Christ.
But There’s No Distinction In Christ.
There is no doubt that God’s word is full of inspired passages pointing out that in Christ there is no distinction between us from a salvational point of view.
12 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. 13 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.
Acts 10:34 (ESV)
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality”
Galatians 3:26–28 (ESV)
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Though there is no distinction in Christ from a salvational point of view that does not mean we are all the same from a “gift” or “talent” point of view.
When it comes to “God given gifts or talents” of each member of the church…
No One Is Exactly The Same.
No One Is Exactly The Same.
Paul explains it in out text this way in 1 Corinthians 12:14-20.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
Each of us bring different God given gifts to the church.
Romans 12:4 (ESV)
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Summary
Summary
Yes, we are to be fully united in God’s word and we are all equally same wherein salvation is concerned.
But, we all bring different gifts or talents individually to the church and each individual talent is needed to help us “function” as the church as a whole is meant to function.
We must also remember that…
We Are Not Better Than Another
We Are Not Better Than Another
Our Differences Don’t Exclude Us.
Our Differences Don’t Exclude Us.
Paul would go on to right in 1 Corinthians 12:21-26…
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Just because someone is better at encouraging others than us, or hospitality than us, or visitation than us doesn’t mean that person’s gifts or talents are more important than ours.
No one is perfectly talented in every area of biblical and spiritual life and therefore EVERYONE needs the benefits of the gifts of others.
Romans 12:3 (ESV)
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Our differences don’t exclude us from each other, just the opposite…
Our Differences Make Us Stronger.
Our Differences Make Us Stronger.
The church is made strong when brothers and sisters with varying and various gifts and talents all band together in fellowship for the work of God.
The bible is clear, there is strength in numbers.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Summary
Summary
There is no situation wherein each individual member of the church is better off alone.
There is no gift or talent that is inferior to that of another.
The one that encourages is just as important as the one that visits.
The one that takes care of the building making it look nice is just as important as the one serving on the Lord’s table.
The one teaching the kids bible class is just as important as the preacher.
Our gifts or talents don’t make us better than someone else in the church they makes us stronger when united.
That brings us to our last point…
Unity Takes Effort
Unity Takes Effort
It Isn’t Easy.
It Isn’t Easy.
Paul continues our text by writing in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31…
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
1 Corinthians 12:31 (ESV)
31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
What is that more excellent way?”
It is the love we show for each other that allows us to be unified in the work of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV)
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
It takes a lot of effort to work with each other’s different strengths and allow the other person’s gifts to shine.
That takes an ego check.
Romans 12:3 (ESV)
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…
It takes a servants attitude.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
It takes an agape love for the soul of others.
1 Corinthians 9:22–23 (ESV)
22 …I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Summary
Summary
It isn’t easy seeking unity in our efforts to work for God as a collective when we are all different.
But God never said it would be, however he did say it would be worth it to do such.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In the family of God we individually combine to make his church (Matthew 16:18).
There is no “I” in church and through hard work and dedication to our love for each other (1 John 4:7-21) we can have a fellowship with each other in Christ like that which is intended.
A joy that springs forth from within us for each other because of our partnership.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.