Blessings,
As we continue in our survey of 1 Corinthians, we come to one of the most familiar sections of the book. Chapter 12 leads us to examine spiritual gifts and the function of the body of believers.
The Memory passage is:
1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7, 27 (ESV)
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
The outline theme is "Correct Gifts in the Body"
Paul states his theme early in the chapter. His goal for the Corinthian church is that they 'not be uniformed'. The correction is rooted in the source of the Corinthians spiritual guidance. When they were idolaters, they were led by mute idols; now they are guided by God. Then he gives them a simple test; no one from the Lord will curse Jesus, and only those who have the Spirit will acknowledge Him as Lord.
Then he addresses the use (and misuse) of the gifts given by the Spirit. There are many gifts, services, and activities but they all fall under the sovereign control of God (4-6). And they are given for the common good, not the good of the individual only (7). Following is one of the list of gifts that we find in scripture (for others see 12:28-31, Rom 12:6-8, Eph 4:11, 1 Pet 4:10-11).
This list included nine gifts; wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpreting tongues. Paul never lets us forget (mentioned 6 times in vv7-11) that the Spirit is in charge of giving and managing the gifts.
In verse 12 Paul switches to focus on the body. He starts by stating the metaphor of the human body to the body of Christ (12-13) and then goes into a lengthy argument based on the human body (14-20). His first conclusion is that even though there are many parts, they are still part of one body.
In verses 21-26 we see a glimps of the Masterful design. God is in control of who gets what, who does what, and who gets what glory. It is so in our human bodies and in the body of Christ. Those who are honored less by men can be honored more by God. He 'composed' the body so that there should be no division (24-25). We are individuals, but still members of the body of Christ.
The second list of gifts in this chapter comes in verse 28; apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Some suppose that the 'ranking' of the first three are in response to the emphasis the Corinthian church was placing on the other gifts. Paul ends the chapter with a reminder that no one person will have all the gifts, and that we should seek to excell in the higher gifts that edify the body.
How does this affect my worship?
The principles in this chapter seem to parallel some of the issues on a praise team or in congregational worship. There are many parts that must work together to lift corporate praise to God. Still more connection can be made to a choir; one part without the other sounds empty and alone. God's design is evident in the need for us all to work together in the body of Christ. No one person has all of the gifts, and so in order to compliment each others' weaknesses we must work together. Worship happens in a variety of ways in a variety of venues. But the cooperation required for corporate worship symbolizes the unity that can be achieved if the individual members of the body work together as a body. To Him be glory forever.
How does this affect my discipleship?
I noticed that these lists of gifts (and the others) do not list 'discipleship'. I do not believe that discipleship is a gift given to certain believers and not others. It is a specific command to all who follow Christ (disciples) to help others follow Christ (make disciples). Using one's gifts, by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, is essential in the working of the body of Christ. But responding in obedience to the command of the Lord to make disciples is essential in the life of each Christ-follower.
May to walk in the unity of the Spirit today,
Ethan
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006
1 Corinthians 11
Grace to you and peace,
1 Corinthians 11 deals with two very different issues; head coverings and the Lord's Table. And while these two issues appear on the surface to be unrelated, the underlying theme is the unity and communion in the body of Christ.
The Memory passage is
1 Corinthians 11:1, 3, 23-26 (ESV)
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
The Outline Theme is Correct Communion in Christ.
Verse 1 probably goes with (and is often included in) Chapter 10. Paul's teaching about how to live before all people most likely ends with his appeal to imitate him as he imitates Christ.
Verses 2-16 deal with the topic of head coverings. Paul clearly taught the church correct practices and habits in the church (2). Verse 3 gives a very interesting teaching on authority and submission with three examples; man's head is Christ, a wife's head is her husband, and Christ's Head is God. The last example sheds interesting light on submission. Christ is in no way inferior to God and yet He willfully submitted to Him and His will. He modeled perfect submission to authority as He walked on earth. So should our submission to Christ be, and so should a wife's submission to her husband be.
The covering of one's head was a social sign of respect and submission. Some women were apparently casting off their head coverings, but more importantly, their attitude of respect to others and submission to Christ. Men and women complement each other, and a husband and wife are interdependent. But they still must abide under the Biblical order of authority and submission. Paul teaches in verse 16 that this is the practice in all of the churches and should be adhered to along with other 'traditions'.
Verse 17 through the end of the chapter deal with abuses surrounding the Lord's Table. Paul has no commendation for the church, only correction. There were divisions among them that went unresolved even at the Lord's Table. Not only that, but some in the church were going hungry while others had plenty to eat and drank to excess.
Then in vv 23-26 Paul reminds them of the practice of remembering the Lord's Table. The bread (His body) and the cup (His blood) symbolize the work of Christ and should serve as a 'visual sermon' to anyone participating or observing. His body was unselfishly and willfully given as a sacrifice for our benefit. His blood was shed to atone for our sins and give us a new covenant relationship with God. Both of these were reminders of what had happened as well as anticipators of what was to come.
Some were coming to the table while living in willful sin. Not only did this profane the body and blood of Christ (27) but harmed the other members of the church. Each one is to examine himself and discern the body before partaking. Rebellious lifestyles and choices that go unexamined brought about the judgment of God (in this case in the form of sickness and death). God desires to restore us (5:5), but continued rebellion necessitates the discipline of God to bring us to repentance and restoration.
How does this affect my worship?
Some of my most meaningful and personal encounters of worship have come at the Lord's Table. It requires certain reverence and introspection that necessitates opening one's heart to the work of Holy Spirit. While Christ does not 'die again' every time we partake, the memory of His work must remain fresh in our lives. And while the symbols may vary (bread, crackers, juice, wine...) the symbolism is secure; Christ gave His body and shed His blood to cancel the record of debt that I owed for my sin. And while we proclaim His death, we also must rejoice in His coming again. For what He did in the past ensures our future. That grace, and mercy, and hope resides at the core of true heart-worship.
How does this affect my discipleship?
Teaching and practicing the Lord's Table should be a key part of discipleship training. As part of 'all that He commanded', we should instill in new disciples of Christ the importance of remembering the Lord's work through the celebration of the Lord's Table. It does not need to be administered by a member of clergy or any specific person. I have been challenged to think about how I teach my family about the Lord's Table. Many people have different opinions about what it actually means, what it does, and how to do it; but the bottom line is that we are commanded to remember His work. And along with that comes the teaching of His coming again.
May you remember and proclaim the work of Christ today,
Ethan
1 Corinthians 11 deals with two very different issues; head coverings and the Lord's Table. And while these two issues appear on the surface to be unrelated, the underlying theme is the unity and communion in the body of Christ.
The Memory passage is
1 Corinthians 11:1, 3, 23-26 (ESV)
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
The Outline Theme is Correct Communion in Christ.
Verse 1 probably goes with (and is often included in) Chapter 10. Paul's teaching about how to live before all people most likely ends with his appeal to imitate him as he imitates Christ.
Verses 2-16 deal with the topic of head coverings. Paul clearly taught the church correct practices and habits in the church (2). Verse 3 gives a very interesting teaching on authority and submission with three examples; man's head is Christ, a wife's head is her husband, and Christ's Head is God. The last example sheds interesting light on submission. Christ is in no way inferior to God and yet He willfully submitted to Him and His will. He modeled perfect submission to authority as He walked on earth. So should our submission to Christ be, and so should a wife's submission to her husband be.
The covering of one's head was a social sign of respect and submission. Some women were apparently casting off their head coverings, but more importantly, their attitude of respect to others and submission to Christ. Men and women complement each other, and a husband and wife are interdependent. But they still must abide under the Biblical order of authority and submission. Paul teaches in verse 16 that this is the practice in all of the churches and should be adhered to along with other 'traditions'.
Verse 17 through the end of the chapter deal with abuses surrounding the Lord's Table. Paul has no commendation for the church, only correction. There were divisions among them that went unresolved even at the Lord's Table. Not only that, but some in the church were going hungry while others had plenty to eat and drank to excess.
Then in vv 23-26 Paul reminds them of the practice of remembering the Lord's Table. The bread (His body) and the cup (His blood) symbolize the work of Christ and should serve as a 'visual sermon' to anyone participating or observing. His body was unselfishly and willfully given as a sacrifice for our benefit. His blood was shed to atone for our sins and give us a new covenant relationship with God. Both of these were reminders of what had happened as well as anticipators of what was to come.
Some were coming to the table while living in willful sin. Not only did this profane the body and blood of Christ (27) but harmed the other members of the church. Each one is to examine himself and discern the body before partaking. Rebellious lifestyles and choices that go unexamined brought about the judgment of God (in this case in the form of sickness and death). God desires to restore us (5:5), but continued rebellion necessitates the discipline of God to bring us to repentance and restoration.
How does this affect my worship?
Some of my most meaningful and personal encounters of worship have come at the Lord's Table. It requires certain reverence and introspection that necessitates opening one's heart to the work of Holy Spirit. While Christ does not 'die again' every time we partake, the memory of His work must remain fresh in our lives. And while the symbols may vary (bread, crackers, juice, wine...) the symbolism is secure; Christ gave His body and shed His blood to cancel the record of debt that I owed for my sin. And while we proclaim His death, we also must rejoice in His coming again. For what He did in the past ensures our future. That grace, and mercy, and hope resides at the core of true heart-worship.
How does this affect my discipleship?
Teaching and practicing the Lord's Table should be a key part of discipleship training. As part of 'all that He commanded', we should instill in new disciples of Christ the importance of remembering the Lord's work through the celebration of the Lord's Table. It does not need to be administered by a member of clergy or any specific person. I have been challenged to think about how I teach my family about the Lord's Table. Many people have different opinions about what it actually means, what it does, and how to do it; but the bottom line is that we are commanded to remember His work. And along with that comes the teaching of His coming again.
May you remember and proclaim the work of Christ today,
Ethan
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