Epistles

A Body That Works

Message Handout

1 Corinthians 12:1–7 (NLT) — 1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

Three ways the Body works:

The GIFTS of the Spirit
1. The Body works best when it is empowered by the Holy Spirit.
2. A gift is given to each of us! You are included in this grand design.
  1. Word of Wisdom
  2. Word of knowledge
  3. Gift of faith
  4. Gift of healing
  5. Working of miracles
  6. Word of prophecy
  7. Discernment of spirits
  8. Tongues
  9. Interpretation of tongues
3. Your job
  1. Learn your gift - Pray about it. You will instinctively know when you grow in relationship with the Holy Spirit.
  2. Use your gift - Don’t just hope you have one and sit on the sidelines; let that gift become active.
  3. Desire more gifts - 1 Corinthians 14 says we can ask for the gifts.
4. Why do we have the gifts? - For the common good!
The SERVICE of the Son
1. Jesus came doing acts of service.
2. Mark 10:45 (NASB95) — 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
3. The Body of Christ works best when
  1. When each member serves each member (acts of service)
  2. When each member doesn’t need recognition for every service.
  3. When each member does it’s function without pride.
  4. When each member rejoices and weeps with each member.
4. Your job
  1. Do your function.
  2. Appreciate every function.
  3. Pray for our missing functions.
The WORKS of the Father
1. The Spirit gives gifts, The Son gives service, and the Father has works.
  1. The working of Creation
  2. The working of Redemption
  3. The working of Salvation
2. The gifts make sense when they are serving the Body, and the Body makes a difference when it is serving the Father.

Epistles

This journey through the letters from Paul to the early church can give us wisdom and insight on Christian living today.

18 Part Series

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