(3) ‘FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY’:      

1 Corinthians 12.12-27

INTRODUCTION:

WE WERE MADE FOR FELLOWSHIP.

Paul has been writing (1 Cor 12.1-11)  of the way the Lord gives diverse and precious gifts by his Spirit to all the members of the church, to enable them to serve each other and himself in vital, different ways.  He wants to give them a PICTURE of how this works.  He chooses the illustration of the human body to show how we, as Christ’s followers, are bound together in mutual love and service – so different, but united in one ‘body’.  Together we form ‘the Body of Christ’ :  CHRIST LIVES IN US, not just individually but IN OUR LIVES TOGETHER.’ And CHRIST WORKS THROUGH US, not just as individuals but IN OUR LIFE AND SERVICE TOGETHER.

READ 1 CORINTHIANS 12.12-27:

THE BIG QUESTIONS: (‘FORMED FOR HIS FAMILY’)

(If you like you can spend all your time just answering these questions.)

How essential to me is it to belong to and play my part in Christ’s body?

• How essential for me?  Why?
• How essential for others?  Why?
• How essential for Christ?  Why?

What am I meant to ‘get out of’ being a part of Christ’s body?

What am I meant to ‘put into’ being a part of it?

SUBSIDIARY QUESTIONS:

OUR UNIQUE IDENTITY: 12.12-13,  12.27

What does this passage teach us about our unique identity?

• What makes a church of Christians unique, distinct from any other ‘body’ of people?
• What are the implications of this?
• How did we (do we) become a part of Christ’ body?

OUR MULTIPLICITY but UNITY:  12.12-14, (12.4-6)

The human body has so many parts yet is one body.  So with Christ’s body.

What does this passage teach about our multiplicity and our unity?

• How do you, personally, get on trying to relate to the many other members (parts) of Christ’s body in a local church?  What problems does it cause?  How can we best relate to others?
• Modern medical research by discovering DNA has revealed the secret of the ‘unity’ of a human body, about its recognition (and rejection) of body parts.  What is the ‘spiritual DNA’ that establishes our unity in the body of Christ?

OUR DIVERSITY but COMPLIMENTARITY and MUTUALITY: 12.14-26

What does the passage teach about these things?

(Complimentarity’ is the way that together we ‘complement’ [or fill out what others don’t have] each other.‘Mutuality’ is the way we exist for and mutually benefit each other.)

• Have you ever thought that the human body, if separated into all its different parts, would present such a bizarre collection of diverse members?? Yet all are part of one special whole, and each so necessary.
• How does this apply to Christ’s body?
• How many diverse gifts and functions of Christ’s body can you identify?  Can you see how each is necessary?
• What does this teach about: Our needing each other?
• Our serving each other?
• Our suffering with each other?

OUR HUMILITY , HARMONY and RESPONSIBILITY: 12.14-26

What does this passage teach us about the humility, the harmony and the responsibility that should characterise our lives together in Christ’s body?

• the humility?
• The harmony?
• The responsibility?

The human body needs all its parts.  Without some , it couldn’t live, Without others it would be defective, deformed, disabled.  WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO YOU ABOUT YOUR PART IN THE BODY OF CHRIST?