Studies in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians INDUCTIVE LESSON TWELVE 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 Unity Out of Diversity The first year our new high school opened, the administration thought having friendly staff versus student competitions would be a great way to build school spirit because most of the fledgling athletic teams were taking a real beating. The initial contest was a tug-of-war between fifteen of the largest students on campus versus the only fifteen staff members foolish enough to volunteer, including me. The entire campus turned out at lunch expecting to see fifteen teachers pulled head over heels into the mud pit separating the two teams. Looking at the mass and the muscle on the two teams, a student victory seemed a foregone conclusion. However, one of our varsity coaches stepped forward and said if we would work in unison with each other doing only his assigned task we would trounce our opponents. Our shot put coach was to serve as the anchor, I was assigned to the front and told to taunt and trash talk our rivals, and all others were to give a forceful short tug every time the coach shouted go teachers. When the principal yelled Go!!! we lost a little ground but as we worked together we slowly moved the students closer to the pit until every student got a mud bath. That day we forged the motto for our new school, Together we can, together we will. This is the essence of the message Paul is giving to the Corinthians in chapter twelve. Within the Body of Christ, which is the church, there is a wide variety of spiritual gifts given to different members of the body. The use and exercise of these spiritual gifts is essential for the smooth operation and success of ministry. Recently, my family moved into a new house and as part of the welcome to the neighborhood mail, we have received many gifts from local merchants. When you accepted Jesus as your Savior you received a welcome to the kingdom package, which included one or more spiritual gifts. According to verse seven we are expected to use our gift for the common good of the Body. Unfortunately, on any given Sunday, the church resembles a stadium of fans at a professional football game. You have twenty-two men on the field desperately in need of a rest, while they are being watched by fifty thousand in the stands who are desperately in need of exercise. When our talents go unused, we suffer and the Body suffers as well. We do not want to be like the servant chastised in Matthew 25:24 27 for not using our talent but hiding it in the ground. Christianity is not a spectator sport. John MacArthur goes so far as to say that not using your spiritual gift is an act of disobedience. Paul goes to great length to establish that all gifts are of worth and are essential to a healthy church body. In God s economy there is no hierarchy of gifts, meaning that helps ministries are as valuable as teaching. We tend to admire those with more visible gifts such as teaching and take for granted those exercising less showy gifts. Paul uses a metaphor of parts of the human body to dispel this notion. Indeed, this was the message of our founding fathers when they chose the Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many One) imprinted on American coins opposite the phrase In God We Trust. 1
There is some controversy today concerning the gifts listed in this chapter. Certain denominations focus on the extensive use of certain gifts (such as speaking in tongues). Other denominations feel that some of the gifts (healings, miracles, tongues, and interpretation of tongues) were temporary or sign gifts that were active during the apostolic period of the church in the first century, but have since ceased to function. Harvest believes that all spiritual gifts listed are available today as the Holy Spirit sees appropriate for use. However, Harvest recognizes this is not an essential doctrine and is tolerant of other viewpoints. Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom in understanding it, and then read through the entire passage two or three times. Study Text / Worksheet Write down your observations, comments, or questions directly on the text as you go over it. 1 Corinthians 12:1 31 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But 2
now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And 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 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Ephesians Chapter 4 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9 (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of 3
the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV) Observation: Please Note: We are shortening the study section to allow time to take and evaluate the Spiritual Gifts Inventory found at the end of this week s study. 4
1. My Observations: In the left column write down observations you make directly from the text. Inductive tips (things to look for): a) What are the promises? b) What are the commands? c) What are the sources of conflict? d) What are the cause/effect relationships? e) What are the repeated words and ideas? g) What do we know about who is speaking and who is receiving the message? h) What comparisons and contrasts can you identify and what do they illustrate? i) Do you have unanswered questions on part of the passage? (Share them with your group.) 2. Digging Deeper: In the right column write down any additional observations you can add from other sources such as: a) other scriptures that apply (cross references) b) dictionaries for specific words (English or Greek dictionary) c) Bible dictionaries for historical information d) commentaries. See the Tool Box at the end of the study for suggested sources. 1 Corinthians 12:1 11 (Spiritual Gifts) My Observations Digging Deeper 1 Corinthians 12:12 31 (One Body with Many Parts) Ephesians 4:1 16 (Walk in Unity) 5
Ephesians 4:17 32 (Live as Children of Light) Interpretation Webster tells us that interpret means to explain the meaning or make understandable. What is the spiritual truth or lesson that God is trying to teach in this passage? Don t isolate the passage but read into it and read out of it. Look for commands, imperatives, promises, or warnings. What is God saying to those people at that time? You will share what God is saying to you in the next section. State the spiritual truth or lesson in a single sentence. Application This is where you purpose to do what God has taught you in your time with Him. It is through applying the Word that God changes lives. Application does not happen by osmosis but by intent. God enlightens us with His Word, we apply what we ve learned with our wills, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out these choices. The goal of all application is to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for... Teaching: What did I learn? Reproof: Where do I fall short? Why do I fall short? Correction: What will I do about it? Training in righteousness: How can I make this principle a consistent part of my life? 1 Corinthians 12:1 11: Interpretation: 6
Application: 1 Corinthians 12:12 31: Interpretation: Application: Ephesians 4:1 16: Interpretation: Application: Ephesians 4:17 32 Interpretation: Application: Take Away / Summary If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did last night, you would tell them you went to a Bible Study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the 7
passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. Memory Verse Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29 Key Words / Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. Manifestation of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7): Prisoner of the Lord (Ephesians 4:1): Unity of the Faith (Ephesians 4:13): Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read the passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, choose one of the versions lower in order on this list of translations. The translations listed at the top are the most accurate or literal while the ones towards the bottom are more readable. 8
Word for Word Translations NASB New American Standard Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new- American-Bible-NASB/ AMP-Amplified Bible http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/amplified-bible-mp/ ESV- English Standard Version http://www.esvstudybible.org/ KJV King James Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/king-james-version-kjv- Bible/ NKJV New King James Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new-king-james- Version-NKJV-Bible/ NIV New International Version http://wwwbiblica.com/niv/ Thought for Thought Translations NLT New Living Translation http://newlivingtranslation.com/ The Message http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/message-msg-bible/ Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger s Bible Dictionary 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com Word Studies: 1) Zodhiates s The Complete Word Study New Testament 2) Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary 3) Strong s Dictionary of Bible Words 4) The two websites listed above Step 3: Commentaries. Do not use in place of studying God s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Listed by author: John MacArthur, H.A. Ironsides, J. Vernon McGee, F.F. Bruce, Charles Hodge, William Barclay (great for background and culture but be careful of his spiritual applications), Craig Blomberg (NIV Application Commentary), Alan Redpath, Leon Morris Step 4: For Further Study: If you found this study truly engaging or convicting and want to read further on the issues covered in the reading a suggested book is: "19 Gifts of the Spirit" by Leslie Flynn. It is available in the bookstore. 2011 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. www.harvest.org Message Notes: 9
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