The purpose of this lesson: To stress that the Christian individual exists to bless the body. To stress Christs body is much bigger than the assemblies at the building.
Begin this lesson with a reading of the text. The initial points made in the lesson will come from this reading. It is important that you realize the observations are not speculation, but an unfolding of scripture itself.
Stress the importance of reading scripture to firmly anchor your thoughts in Gods word.
One of Pauls favorite analogies in his writings is that of the human body. He frequently used this illustration. Paul used the same illustration to apply his point in Romans 12:3-8. Paul made reference to the body in 1 Corinthians 10:17; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 1:22, 23; 2:16; 4:4, 14-16; and Colossians 2:19, 3:15. Paul even declared all Christians become a part of Christs body through baptism (Romans 6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13). He declared the Christians body becomes Gods temple (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). Thus that which housed evil became Gods house. The writer of Hebrews said no matter the circumstance of the individual Christian, the person in Christ is still a part of the body (Hebrews 13:3).
Writers of scripture used illustration and analogies to make or clarify a point just as do we. The purpose is to increase insight and understandings. One of Pauls favorite illustrations/analogies was to compare Gods people, the church, to a human body.
In Pauls extended analogy in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, note these points:
1. Just as a persons physical body is composed of many parts, the same is true of Christs body (those in Christ are parts who compose Christs body).
Stress the church is composed of many parts, all contributing to the bodys health when they function wellnot a few parts who do the essentials.
2. Everyone who is a Christian (regardless of lineage, heritage, or circumstance) is nourished by the same spiritual food.
We all are spiritually nourished in the body in the same wayGod through His Spirit provides us strength and endurance.
3. Because one member of Christs body cannot function in the way another member of Christs body functions does NOT mean they do not need each other or are not needed by the body.
Even in the early church, no one Christian served all the needs of the body through occupying all roles. All members were not apostles, or prophets, or teachers, or miracle workers, or helpers, or administrators, or tongue speakers. Different members served in different roles.
4. In the first-century church, God decided (ultimately) what role in the body each person served.
In the early church it was God who decided ultimately who served in what role. It was more than personal aspiration; it involved divine appointment. For example, one did not choose to be an apostle in the sense of the twelve or Paul.
5. The divine intention was to produce a BODY and not merely ONE PART of a body that served a single function.
Gods purposes are not served by every Christian serving in identical ways.
6. A body has multiple functions, but a body part many have a restricted function.
Gods objectives in the church involve more than one function. If Gods objectives in Christs church are realized, there are many roles requiring service.
7. The objective of body parts is to function for the preservation of the body, not to reject each other because all body parts do not have the same function.
Christians work to preserve the body, not to tear it apart. Arrogance and jealousy do not serve Gods purposes in the bodyremember Acts 5:1-11 and 6:1-6?
8. Some body parts have high profilepublicly appreciatedfunctions, and some body parts have low profilenot-to-be-openly-talked-aboutfunctions.
There is little comparison between an eye and a pancreas, but both work for the bodys health, and both are essential to the bodys well-being. Everyone sees and notices the eye; no one sees or notices the pancreas. No one discusses the functions of a bladderunless its failure to function properly sickens the body.
9. There is no place in Christs body for one part to arrogantly claim superiority because my function is more importantand honorablethan your function.
No one who had a nonfunctional urinary tract would claim the ear is more important than a healthy urinary tract! Yet, never is there anything attractive about a urinary tract!
10. The point is not what others say of how you serve, but what does God say of how you serve.
People may not think much about what you, as a Christian, do. However, God may deeply value what you do.
11. God never intended for all Christians to serve Him in the same capacity by doing the same thing.
There is no body if every Christian does identical things.
12. Showing love is more valued by God than a showy and obvious spiritual gift.
God values demonstrating love more than demonstrating power or deeds of high profile (to people). Helping people is more valued divinely than is impressing people.
Following will be some observations you are challenged to consider.
Observation one: Individual Christians must consider Gods objectives through the church collectively and through Christ as being more important than their personal desires. (1) It is simple to substitute a personal desire for an objective of God. We can want something so badly (that of itself may appear to be good) that we can assume it is Gods objective. (2) It is easy to assume that if we want it, God must want and value our objective. Gods objectives are to be discovered through scripture, not assumed by human beings. Because I value something does not automatically mean God values the same thing. (3) Example: people often emphasize the dramatically obvious (such as miracles, healings, or tongues) while God values demonstrating love. Are you not glad (in your own life) that God values demonstrating love? Where would you be if divine love did not produce forgiveness, mercy, and grace? Do you realize that forgiveness is rarely dramatic? Showing love is more difficult and demanding than showing power.
Gods objectives and the Christians objectives (as the church) may be dramatically different. Too often the churchs objectives are rooted in human desire rather than divine objectives. Divine objectives are reflected by divine values.
Observation two: Serving Gods purpose may have little to do with what you personally would prefer to do. The idea that serving Gods purposes is pleasurable should be dispelled by a number of biblical people. Consider just a few. Consider Moses by reading Exodus 3-4:17 and Exodus 5:15-23. Consider Jeremiah by reading Jeremiah 20:17-18 and 38:1-10. Consider Jesus in Matthew 26:36-44. Consider Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:22-23 and 2 Timothy 4:7-18. It is amazing how often people do not find fulfillment in what they can do well. Why do we assume, If I can do it, anyone can do it. I wish to do something others cannot do!
Gods use of people is not dependent on the peoples preferences. Serving Gods objective did and can involve physical suffering. Our call is not necessarily God, get rid of this, but God use this! Consider 2 Corinthians 12:1-12. Notice the thorn was from Satan, but God used it for His objectives.
Observation three: Today in the American society, the praise of God is so performance based in the Sunday morning assembly, that many do not feel important unless they have a high profile role in the Sunday morning worship assembly. The object of worship is the praise of God, not the demonstration of personal ability. In Pauls body analogy, service to God occurs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are no restrictions or time limitations on showing love to others and meeting the needs of others. The object of serving God is NOT impressing people. True, you wish to be an example whose involvements encourage people, but you do not seek to impress them with you but with the God who enables you (consider Matthew 5:16). The Christian serves Gods objectives because he or she is impressed with God, not the praise of people. Christians do it for God. They serve Him in love of Him. They serve others because, of first importance, they love Him.
Performance can be for people, not for God.
Observation four: The overriding concern of Christians is the well-being of Christs body because Gods work and values are evident in that body. The collective influence of Christians is the fact that God is at work in them to achieve His eternal objectives.
The Christians earthly objective is body centered, not self centered.
For Thought and Discussion
1. How does this lesson begin? Why did it begin in this way? Did you?
It begins by requesting a reading of the text (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). The initial points of this lesson come from this reading. You need to realize the observations are an unfolding of scripture.
2. What was one of Pauls favorite analogies?
The human body was one of Pauls favorite analogies.
3. What did the writer of the book of Hebrews declare in 13:3?
He said the individual Christian was a part of the body regardless of his (her) circumstance.
4. State the 12 points from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 listed in this lesson.
1) Christs body is composed of many parts, just as the human body.
2) All Christian individuals are nourished by the same spiritual food.
3) All members of Christs body need each other, regardless of their function.
4) In the first- century church, God decided each persons role.
5) Gods intention was to produce a multi-functional body, not one part with a single function.
6) The objective of the body is to have many functions.
7) The objective of the parts is to preserve the body, not to reject each other.
8) Some parts have high profile functions, and some have low profile functions.
9) There is no place in the body for one part to claim superiority because of importance of its function.
10) The point is what God says of your service, not what others say of your service.
11) God never intended for Christians to serve Him in the same capacity by doing the same things.
12) God values showing love over showy spiritual gifts.
5. What was observation one?
Individual Christians must consider Gods objectives through the church as being more important than their personal desires.
6. What was observation two?
Serving Gods purposes may have little to do with your personal preferences.
7. What was observation three?
In todays American society, Gods praise is so often performance based in the Sunday morning assembly that there are roles of importance.
8. What was observation four?
The overriding concern of Christians is the well-being of Christs body because that is where Gods work is evident.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 6