1 Corinthians 12.1-31

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HOW DO I FIT?

INTRODUCTION

1. Everyone wants to be accepted. Everyone needs to know they belong and fit. (family, school, church)

2. In church, how does everyone fit and not fight when differences are so extraordinary? gender, age, marital status, education, abilities, finances, spiritual backgrounds, past failures, etc.

3. The Corinthians had similar challenges and God gave them the answer. Three specific basic starting points:

· Don’t ignore what God says. 1

· All were unsaved, lost, ignorant. 2

· You now belong to Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all. 3 [GOSPEL]

4. God builds on these foundational facts and we learn how people can be so different yet fit together so well.

I. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT, 4-11

We know we are different. That is self-evident. Here are two realities that are issues of faith:

1. Our differences come from God.

· diversities of gifts...same Spirit, differences of administrations...same Lord, diversities of operations... same God which worketh all in all. 4-6

· by the Spirit ... by the same Spirit ... by the same Spirit ... by the same Spirit ... But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 8-11

· Others are different because God made them that way. You can’t change the way God made them.

2. Our differences make us stronger.

· But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 7

· Meaning: Not every person profits himself. But every person profits the group.

· Every individual in church has value. The group is better when every individuals’ uniqueness is utilized.

II. WE ARE ALL ONE, 12-26

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 18

1. We have different backgrounds in the same one body. 12-14

· Backgrounds then: Jews/Gentiles, bond/free

· Backgrounds now: 2 parent/no parent families, etc.

2. We have different functions in the same one body. 15-17

· God has a specific function for you to fulfil.

· God made you as you are to fulfil your function.

3. We have different needs in the same one body. 19-26

· We need to help each other.

· We need to be helped by each other.

III. WE ARE ALL GOD’S, 27-31

1. God made the church. Now ye are the body of Christ ... the church

2. God developed the church. God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then...

· All that God does is orderly, not random.

· God has put this church together as it is to glorify Himself, so let’s go for broke and do it.

CONCLUSION

1. You are a good fit in your church.

2. Take the place where God put you and fulfil God’s purpose.

3. If not committed to HBC in membership, delay no longer. Honor Jesus Christ and make your commitment.