The Sense of WE 1 Corinthians 12 The Sense of WE 1 Corinthians 12

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, [WE] were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where [WE] were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to [US] and rested on each one of [US]. 4 And [WE] were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave [US] utterance.

Acts 2:42-47 And [WE] devoted [ourselves] to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And [WE] were selling [OUR] possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by…

Acts 2:42-47 day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in [OUR] homes, [WE] received [OUR] food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to [OUR] number day by day those who were being saved.

We Share the Same Confession 1 Corinthians 12:1–3 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 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.

We Serve the Same God 1 Corinthians 12:4–6 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

We Seek to Build the Same Body 1 Corinthians 12:7–13 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish…

We Seek to Build the Same Body between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 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

1. Some Less Gifted Feel They Are Unimportant to the Body a.Each member is necessary (v.15-16) b.Each member has an essential function (v.17) c.Each member is set in the body as God wills (v.18) d.Each member is distinct, but together there is only one body (v.19-20)

2. Some More Gifted Feel They Are More Important to the Body a.The weaker members (less gifted) are actually more necessary (v.22)

2. Some More Gifted Feel They Are More Important to the Body Ephesians 4:11–13 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

2. Some More Gifted Feel They Are More Important to the Body a.The weaker members (less gifted) are actually more necessary (v.22) b. The unpresentable parts are treated with greater honor (v.23-24)

SpurgeonSpurgeon I want every member of this church to be a worker. We do not want any drones. If there are any of you who want to eat and drink, and do nothing, there are plenty of places elsewhere, where you can do it; there are empty pews about in abundance; go and fill them, for we do not want you. Every Christian who is not a bee is a wasp. The most quarrelsome persons are the most useless, and they who are the most happy are peaceable, are generally those who are doing most for Christ.

Ephesians 4:16 … from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

3. Each is a Member of the Body of Christ and Has Their Own Place in It

HenryHenry As in the natural body of man, the members should be closely united by the strongest bonds of love; the good of the whole should be the object of all. All Christians are dependent one upon another; each is to expect and receive help from the rest.