PROBLEMS WITH CORINTHIAN CONGREGATION

1 Corinthians

Do you remember what problems the Corinthian congregation were going through?

Read 12:1-3. Notice the similarity between vs. 1 of chapters 7, 8, 12, and 16. What does this tell us?

What did Paul mention about their past life?

How were they continually led into that kind of worship?

Yet with all of the smooth talk to join in pagan worship, what were the idols unable to do?

The smooth talk and trappings of speech which brought them into idol worship would be the topic of Paul’s discussion in this chapter - the usage of the tongue.

How do vs. 1+2 connect with vs. 3? There are two points of comparison ~

What kind of speech does Paul say is the most important?

Fredrich notes: Were Jews at that time cursing Jesus in the synagogues? Were pagan worshipers cursing Jesus? Did some Christians curse Jesus to escape persecution and then claimed after they were released that the Holy Spirit told them to do so? Were there Christians who disliked the shame of the cross but like the glory of the spiritual gifts? Or did Paul use this hypothetically because of it’s parallelism with calling Jesus “Lord.” The last point would seem to be preferred - that no one speaking by the Holy Spirit would curse Jesus.

Read 4-6. What is the basic truth that Paul lays out?

Read 7-11. What is the purpose in God’s giving a variety of gifts?

Paul lists a whole bunch of gifts that the Spirit has given the Church ~

1. Message of wisdom

6. Prophecy

2. Message of knowledge

7. Distinguishing between spirits

3.Faith

8.Speaking in different kinds of tonues

4.Gifts of healing

9. Interpretation of tongues

5.Miraculous powers

NOTE: Even in the Apostles times - not everyone had all these gifts. Prophecy could be preaching the Word and also direct revelation to an individual by the Holy Spirit - including foretelling future events - in early days of the church this gift was of special significance. These are DISTINCT gifts. Even faith was a miracle working faith which was not common to all.

Where do all of these gifts come from?

What does this reminder keep us from doing?

Paul now uses an illustration to prove his point ~

Read 12:12-13. What does he compare the church to?

What makes us a part of the body?

Read 14-26. What sin is Paul speaking against with vs. 14-16?

What sin is he talking about in vs. 21?

What would happen if everyone could choose their spiritual gifts - what would people choose?

What would happen to the church as a result?

Are there more and less prominent positions in a church?

What can we learn from this section?

Toppe: The church would be as poorly served under those circumstances as the human body would be if each part of the body chose to be the eye, or the ear. The body would become a monstrosity. We might think of the liver as a “weaker” member that is not as strong and active as others but performs vital functions in the body. “Less honorable” members might be such internal organs as the glands, to which we pay little attention, and of whose existence we may perhaps be unaware. They receive little credit for what they contribute to the well-being of our bodies. Or they might be the external members that we feel the need to adorn or dress up. (117) Fredrich notes: If nobody needed anybody else it wouldn’t be a congregation - it would be ugly to think of a church in that way.

Read 27-31. Paul makes another list of gifts. Is this an order in sense of importance?

Why would prophets and apostles and teachers be the most important?

Why don’t we have some of these gifts today?

What would we consider “gifts of administration” today?

What does this show us about the gift of tongues?

What does vs. 31 mean, especially after telling us not to be jealous over others gifts?

Toppe: Many Christians have more than one gift; they should strive to develop those that render the greatest service to the church. Or the Holy Spirit will bestow gifts we now lack; or our gifts could be more highly developed. Many could have more knowledge, wisdom, ability to interpret, and ability to win others to the gospel if they eagerly pursued or developed such gifts. (121)

Any questions? Email Pastor at bslc@birch.net