Sermon Notes: 2 Lies to the Church based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Introduction: This morning, we continue in 1 Corinthians 12.  We are going to see how Satan, the father of lies, tries to keep the Church from being what Christ intended it to be with two lies.  Paul uses a great analogy for us.  So, before I review previous weeks and we get into these lies, we are going to read together as one voice the first few verses of the passage for today.  So, that we are all using the same translation, I have the words up on the screen.  Please read with me 1 Corinthians 12:12-13.

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.

Review: Varieties of gifts, service, activities but same Spirit, Lord, and God who EMPOWERS them all in EVERYONE. Manifestation gifts are for common good. 

             Not for comparison, competition, conceit (pride)
 These must be shared along with Fruit of the Spirit and for God’s glory and for His Kingdom purposes.

I do not belong (vs. 14-20)

·         Vs. 14-The Truth-not one member but many

o   “member” in this case would mean a part or organ of the human body and not “member” in the sense of a member of a social organization or church-member^[1]

o   “There is unity in plurality, but not uniformity.^[2]

·         Vs. 15-16-The Lie-Foot-Because I am not a hand…Ear-Because I am not an eye

o   Notice the purpose of the pairs-hand/foot; eye/ear-related parts or similar function

o   No matter who you are you want to belong to something.  People will even choose to belong in negative, harmful things such as gangs and unhealthy relationships because of our human need for belonging. 

o   Satan does not want you to feel a part of the church.  He will do everything in his power through lies to keep you moving from church to church.  Satan will keep you isolated at Hesston MB so you don’t experience the God given desire to belong. Satan will make you look at many things that divide so you will not consider belonging. (baptism, communion, spiritual gifts, race, politics, masks, people)

·         Vs. 17,19-The Logic-If….Where

o   All eyes-hearing; All ears-smell; All single member-body

§  The wisdom of the church’s body-like function reflects God’s wisdom in creating the human body.^[3]

§  Picture this—what would you and I look like if we were all eyes?  What a strange sight!  But the same is true in the church.  A church full of people exactly like me and with my same gifts would be strange.  It might seem to be less divisive and easier but it would not be effective. 

§  Our differences in gifts and personalities makes the church beautiful and is what makes the church most effective.  I am a thinker, administrator, pray-er, teacher, introvert but I need people with gifts of mercy, behind the scenes workers, feelers, dreamers, singers, extroverts.

§  Knowing and using our gifts provides us with a way to fight the lie of not belonging.  As we each use our gifts for God’s kingdom and glory, we will experience belonging.

·         Vs. 18-The Truth-God arranged the members in the body, each of them, as HE chose.

o   Why do I have the gifts of teacher, wisdom, administrative, tongues?  Because that is what God wanted me to have for HIS Church, HIS agenda.  And He has gifted you as well and placed you here for a reason. You are not here by accident. Trust God knows what He is doing

·         Vs. 20-Truth-Many parts, One Body

I am not needed (vs. 21-26)

·         Vs. 21-The Lie-Eye to hand-I have no need of you, Head to feet-I have no need of you

o   Notice the purpose of the pairs-eye/hand; head/foot-different categories-hierarchical assumptions

o   This lie can be spoken from others as well as within our minds. 

o   I am not needed because my gifts don’t matter or will not help.  Because I cannot offer mercy like Brad who feels, my gift of mercy is not needed so I will just let him do it. He’s better at it anyway.  Because I am not a teacher like J.L., I will just let him teach because I can’t do it like him.  Because I cannot encourage or disciple teenagers like Jared, I will just let him interact and serve the youth.  All of these are lies of the Enemy.  If you believe that the ministry of the church is dependent and the responsibility of just us three pastors, you have bought into this lie.  We, as pastors, equip you to be the priesthood of all believers as Martin Luther called it.  The church is you.  Your gifts are needed.  And they are needed now.

·         Vs. 22-24-The Logic-Weaker, Less honorable, Unpresentable

o   Weaker/Less honorable

o   Unpresentable

§  Cultural conditioning leads to a modest hiding of what is most essential for creation and nurture, while we display parts of the body which play a less indispensable function in such terms.^[4]

o   The implication is that there is no unimportant gift or person in the body of Christ.^[5]

o   He wants all members of the body to enjoy equal honor so that there should be no division in the body. The need for the church to be marked by unity rather than divisions is a constant theme of this letter.^[6]

·         Vs. 25-26-The Truth-But God…has composed the body

o   No division but care for one another

o   If one suffers, all suffer together, if one member is honored, all rejoice together

 

Closing: Song “As One” by Micah Bentley as you listen, may we be open to confession and repentance personally and corporately.

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^[1] Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S. (2010). The First Letter to the Corinthians (p. 590). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

^[2] Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S. (2010). The First Letter to the Corinthians (p. 590). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

^[3] Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S. (2010). The First Letter to the Corinthians (p. 597). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

^[4] Thiselton, A. C. (2000). The First Epistle to the Corinthians: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 1008). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.

^[5] Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S. (2010). The First Letter to the Corinthians (p. 604). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

^[6] Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S. (2010). The First Letter to the Corinthians (p. 607). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.