*Main Point: In love, desire, use, and develop spiritual gifts that spiritually edify the church community.

I. Paul explains why prophecy is better than tongues, though tongues do have value (vv. 1-5).

II. Paul describes the problem with tongues by themselves: they are unintelligible and therefore of no benefit to the church (vv. 6-12).

III. Paul gives a solution to that problem, which is to seek interpretation (vv. 13-19).

IV. In a rebuke, Paul further explains why prophecy is better than tongues, including the benefit to unbelievers who may be present (vv. 20-25).

Let us embrace God’s design of the church and his allocation of gifts within it.

1. Reality behind baptism (6:1-4)

2. Released from the Old Self (5-7)

3. Raised up with Christ (8-11)

4. Resisting and Refusing to sin (12-14)

*Main Point: As members of Christ’s body, we are by God’s good design diverse, interdependent, and interconnected.

I. Though we are one, we are different, and that’s good (vv. 12-14, 17-20, 27).

II. We need each other (vv. 15-16, 21-24).

III. We are interconnected and should act that way (vv. 25-26).

*Main Point: The Holy Spirit sovereignly empowers and distributes a variety of grace-gifts to his church for its common good.

I. The proper starting point is the Holy Spirit and his goal of glorifying Jesus (vv. 1-3).

II. Spiritual gifts are characterized by diversity in distribution and expression (vv. 4-11).

III. Spiritual gifts are characterized by unity in source and purpose (vv. 4-11).

*Main Point: Unity in the church and honor for Christ must dictate how we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

I. A Criticism: Their disunity delegitimizes their celebration (vv. 17-22).

II. A Reminder: It’s the Lord’s Supper, which should honor him (vv. 23-26).

III. A Warning: Of the consequences of taking the Supper wrongly, and An Admonition: To examine oneself to help take it rightly (vv. 27-32).

IV. A Correction to Their Practice: Pursue loving unity in celebrating the Supper (vv. 33-34).