FIRST CORINTHIANS How to Live in a Pagan World. 1 st Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm,

FIRSTFIRST CORINTHIANSCORINTHIANS

How to Live in a How to Live in a Pagan WorldPagan World

11stst Corinthians 14:26 Corinthians 14:26

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

11stst Corinthians 14:40 Corinthians 14:40

Let all things be done decently and in order.

(NKJV)

Two Mega-ThemesTwo Mega-ThemesIn 1In 1stst Corinthians Corinthians

• Living as Christians in a Living as Christians in a pagan world.pagan world.

• Being the Church in a Being the Church in a pagan world.pagan world.

Two Mega-ThemesTwo Mega-ThemesIn 1In 1stst Corinthians Corinthians

• Living as Christians in a pagan world.

• Being the Church in a Being the Church in a pagan world.pagan world.

Being the Church in a Pagan WorldBeing the Church in a Pagan WorldNine Issues:Nine Issues:

1.1. IdentityIdentity 1:1-91:1-92.2. UnityUnity 1:10-171:10-173.3. MaturityMaturity 3:1-233:1-234.4. AuthorityAuthority 4:1-214:1-215.5. PurityPurity 556.6. OrderlyOrderly 11117.7. MinistryMinistry 12-1412-148.8. GenerosityGenerosity 16:1-416:1-49.9. DutyDuty 16:5-2416:5-24

Being the Church in a Pagan WorldBeing the Church in a Pagan WorldNine Issues:Nine Issues:

1.1. IdentityIdentity 1:1-91:1-92.2. UnityUnity 1:10-171:10-173.3. MaturityMaturity 3:1-233:1-234.4. AuthorityAuthority 4:1-214:1-215.5. PurityPurity 556.6. OrderlyOrderly 11117.7. MinistryMinistry 12-1412-148.8. GenerosityGenerosity 16:1-416:1-49.9. DutyDuty 16:5-2416:5-24

Issue 7Issue 7Engaging in Ministry Engaging in Ministry Chapters Chapters 12-1412-14

• Spiritual Gifts Require Spiritual Gifts Require Information, Not IgnoranceInformation, Not Ignorance

• Vs. 1, NRSV “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.”

Issue 7Issue 7Engaging in Ministry Engaging in Ministry Chapters Chapters 12-1412-14

• The Holy Spirit Initiated Our The Holy Spirit Initiated Our Christian ConfessionChristian Confession

• Vs. 2-3, NLT You know that when you were still pagans you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So I want you to know how to discern what is truly from God: No one speaking by the Spirit of God can curse Jesus, and no one is able to say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Issue 7Issue 7

Engaging in MinistryEngaging in MinistryChapters 12-14Chapters 12-14

The Holy Spirit Empowers Our The Holy Spirit Empowers Our Christian ServiceChristian Service Vs. 4-11, NIV Vs. 4-11, NIV

• 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

• 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

• 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

• Vs. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all

• Vs. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The Holy Spirit Empowers Our The Holy Spirit Empowers Our Christian ServiceChristian Service Vs. 4-11, NIV Vs. 4-11, NIV

Spiritual GiftsSpiritual Gifts Chapters 12-14Chapters 12-14

• The word of wisdom • The word of knowledge• Faith • Gifts of healings• The working of miracles• Prophecy• Discerning of spirits• Tongues• Interpretation of tongues

The Church is Like a Body: The Church is Like a Body: Unity & DiversityUnity & Diversity 12:12-31a 12:12-31a

• 12:14-17 12:14-17 Diversity Diversity• 12:18, 27-30 Assigned 12:18, 27-30 Assigned

FunctionsFunctions• 12:19-26 12:19-26

InterdependenceInterdependence

Diversity in the Body Diversity in the Body 12:14-1712:14-17

• 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?

Assigned Functions in the Assigned Functions in the Body Body 12:18, 27-3012:18, 27-30

• 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

• 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?

Interdependence in the Body Interdependence in the Body 12:19-2612:19-26

• 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.

The Baptism of the Holy SpiritThe Baptism of the Holy Spirit

• 12:13 “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.”

• Love is Indispensable vs. 1-3– 1 Though I speak with the tongues of

men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

– 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

– 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love: Superior to Spiritual Love: Superior to Spiritual GiftsGifts 12:31b-13:13 12:31b-13:13

• Love Described Love Described 13:4-813:4-8– 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love

does not envy; love does not parade does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;itself, is not puffed up;

– 5 does not behave rudely, does not 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;no evil;

– 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;rejoices in the truth;

– 7 bears all things, believes all things, 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.hopes all things, endures all things.

– 8 Love never fails. 8 Love never fails.


• Love & the Eternal Order 13:9-Love & the Eternal Order 13:9-1313

• Vs. 13 “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”


Did Spiritual Gifts Did Spiritual Gifts Disappear?Disappear?

with the Coming of the New with the Coming of the New Testament Testament 13:8-1013:8-10

Did Spiritual Gifts (or at least, the Did Spiritual Gifts (or at least, the sign gifts), Disappear with the sign gifts), Disappear with the Coming of the New Testament?Coming of the New Testament? 13:8-1013:8-10• Vs. 8-10 “But whether there

are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

The Verses in QuestionThe Verses in Question

• Vs. 9 “For we know in part and we Vs. 9 “For we know in part and we prophesy in part.”prophesy in part.”

• Vs. 10 “But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

• Vs. 12 “For now we see in a Vs. 12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly mirror, dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

Is the Gift of Tongues a Is the Gift of Tongues a “Prayer Language”?“Prayer Language”?

• 14:2 “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God”

• 14:14 “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays…”

• 14:16, NIV “If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?”

• 14:28 “But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.”

Is the Gift of Tongues a Is the Gift of Tongues a “Prayer Language”?“Prayer Language”?

The Superiority of Prophecy to The Superiority of Prophecy to TonguesTongues 14:1-5 14:1-5

• 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

• 14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.

• 14:3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.

• 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.



• 14:5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

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FIRST CORINTHIANS How to Live in a Pagan World. 1 st Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm,