Sermon Tone Analysis

Introductory Thoughts:

A divided church - the church in Corinth was a divided church.

They had divided over various parties (Apollos, Paul, Cephas).

Paul’s Two-fold response: (1) To the report from the household of Chloe (2) to the letter that was written with questions from the church

This context is primarily dealing with public worship.

First, there is a created order by God for times of public worship.

Second, the members of the body should be considerate of each other - especially those of means for those without means.

To participate in the Lord’s Supper having been inconsiderate of each other is to partake unworthily.

When someone participates in the assembly, what they say about Jesus is the fundamental test of whether they have the Holy Spirit or not.

Only by the Holy Spirit can they truly attest to the fact that Jesus is Lord.

An individual is not Spirit-indwelt just because they have a particular ministry.

The question that seems to be facing the congregation now needs to be considered in this light:

(i) In public worship gatherings

(ii) Are some people gifted and others not gifted?

by gifted, we mean those who have received special enablement by the Holy Spirit to perform tasks within the body of Christ.

(iii) Are some gifts evidence of greater spirituality?

there seemed to be a belief in Corinth that if someone had a particular gift, they may have been more spiritual than others.

(iv) What makes a gift of greatest importance?

some were apparently elevating the speaking of tongues to such a degree that it became the gift that was desired…it became the gift of priority.

1.

The gifting differences in the church body are good (v. 4 - 6)

Having established that the Holy Spirit indwelt person declares Jesus as Lord, Paul points out some important truths about those who are gifted within the body of Christ.

1.

The gifting differences in the church body are good (v. 4 - 6)

Does everyone who serves in the body have to look the same, act the same, or serve the same?

The answer is No. Variety within the body is good.

(a) They are good because they reflect the sacred Trinity

Notice the sequence of these three verses.

The word for diversities means variety.

The Trinity is mentioned with specific intention.

The Trinity is a reminder that there is a Godhead that is equal in Being, but they are subordinate in function.

God the Father wills things to happen.

Christ, the Son, is the One by Whom things happen.

God the Holy Spirit is the One Who seals and empowers the work accomplished by Christ.

The implicit message for the Corinthian believers then is that there are some who serve in various functions within the body of Christ but that does not make them less in person.

Variety is good.

(b) They are good because they come from the same Source (charisma - grace)

Now Paul transitions to the word charisma.

This is the word for grace or the outworking of grace.

It is the way that the scripture gives the credit to the Source of the gift rather than the channel through whom the gift is given.

As one man said, “Spiritual gifts are not a ‘badge of spirituality,’ but a mark of grace.” - Garland

App:

You gifting is important because of the Source more than it is because of you.

Some people think that their gifting is not that important.

They esteem some people as spiritual because of the certain gift that they have.

Believer: Take hope.

If you are part of this body, you have reason to be encouraged.

(1) You are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God.

(2) The Holy Spirit of God gifts you to be able to contribute to the body in a way that is important though it is different from what you may see in others.

Illustration:

Received gift for Christmas.

They were shoes for the same foot.

Without diversity there was not way to compliment and fill the need.

2. The good & different gifts are given to every man and for the good of every man.

(v.

7)

(a) The word manifestation has to do with disclosure.

(b) The Spirit is given to every man.

The term used here is not just signaling those of the male gender.

(c) The phrase to profit withal means that it is for the benefit of the body.

The Corinthian believers would have understood that even those that society would have deemed low on the caste would have been gifted and were to be treated as equally important as those who were socially and economically wealthy.

Imagine a slave come to the place of worship.

Imagine a wealthy business owner coming to the place of worship.

Thirdly, imagine an influential city council member coming to the place of worship.

God, according to his sovereign purpose, has gifted the slave with teaching.

If the wealthy business owner allows his outside success to taint how he views people, he will not give a hearing to the slave.

If the influential council member allows his outside success to taint how he views the slave, he will not give a hearing to the slave.

App:

First, some people think that they don't have gifts, but every man has received.

It is important to realize that there is not one person who is part of the body who has not been gifted in some way for the benefit of the body.

Because every man has received, every man should sense their own accountability.

Because every man has received, every man should sense that they are a part.

Second, you cannot allow a secular caste system to cloud your judgment of those who are spiritual and those who are not spiritual.

A successful business owner is not of greater importance to the body than someone who busses tables at Applebee’s.

We make offhanded comments like, “You don’t want to be flipping burgers at McDonald’s the rest of your life do you?”

What we are saying to people is that if you want to be a success, then you better get a good education or you will end up doing something that makes you less valuable.

This way of thinking bleeds over into the church.

When it does, it makes the church a place of choosing based on secular success rather than the truth of spirituality.

Example: .

If you are an unbeliever, this should give you a tremendous challenge to consider.

You don’t have to meet the definition of success to be a part of the body of Christ.

You simply have to become part of the family.

You do so by…and you receive all of the credentials necessary to be an equal part of the body where variety is good.

3. The good of every man happens when gifts are used in specific ways (v. 8 - 10)

(a) The point of this listing is not to be exhaustive.

Later in the same chapter, Paul adds to the list (v.28).

In addition, the listing in other passages is not identical.

(b) Paul’s point is to show that there are specific differences but the same Source

- begins with two that deal with speech and ends with two in like manner.

(i) Word of wisdom - Wisdom is the “God-given insight into the mysterious purposes and workings of God in and through Jesus Christ” - , [Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 13346-13347).

Baker Publishing Group.

Kindle Edition.]

Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 13346-13347).

Baker Publishing Group.

Kindle Edition.