1 Corinthians Part 10 | 1 Corinthians 1 Cor 12

Spiritual Gifts

It would seem that the pride and envy that characterized the divisions in the Corinthian church in the previous chapters also expressed itself in the use and abuse of spiritual gifts. Expressing his concern, Paul first emphasizes that spiritual gifts, though diverse, come from the same Spirit and are to be used for the benefit of all (v. 1-11). Then to demonstrate that every person and spiritual gift is equally important, he compares the church to a body with many different yet essential members (v. 12-27). In a similar way, every member of a church is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Each puzzle piece is different. Different colors. Different sizes. Different shapes. Different edges. Different “fit.” We are a lot like puzzle pieces, as we come from different backgrounds, speak different languages, and are different in gender, age, and ethnicity. Yet we are also the same. We are all pieces of the same puzzle, made in the image of God. By ourselves, we are nothing. But together, when puzzle pieces are joined together, we become something special. If even one piece were to be missing, then the picture would not be complete. All the many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle are equal value to the overall picture of the church. Each and every person is thus vital to the church. There is no room for envy, resentment, pride or competitiveness. Each and every person plays a crucial and important part of God’s church.

1 Corinthians Part 10 | 1 Corinthians 1 Cor 12

Spiritual Gifts

It would seem that the pride and envy that characterized the divisions in the Corinthian church in the previous chapters also expressed itself in the use and abuse of spiritual gifts. Expressing his concern, Paul first emphasizes that spiritual gifts, though diverse, come from the same Spirit and are to be used for the benefit of all (v. 1-11). Then to demonstrate that every person and spiritual gift is equally important, he compares the church to a body with many different yet essential members (v. 12-27). In a similar way, every member of a church is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Each puzzle piece is different. Different colors. Different sizes. Different shapes. Different edges. Different “fit.” We are a lot like puzzle pieces, as we come from different backgrounds, speak different languages, and are different in gender, age, and ethnicity. Yet we are also the same. We are all pieces of the same puzzle, made in the image of God. By ourselves, we are nothing. But together, when puzzle pieces are joined together, we become something special. If even one piece were to be missing, then the picture would not be complete. All the many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle are equal value to the overall picture of the church. Each and every person is thus vital to the church. There is no room for envy, resentment, pride or competitiveness. Each and every person plays a crucial and important part of God’s church.

Oscar Weekend! Richmond, Nights, and Marpole preach on Black Panther and Mundy Park preaches on Green Book.

1 Corinthians Part 6 | 1 Cor 6:12-20

After Paul urges us to not judge others or even ourselves, because God will do that, he harshly judges a member of the Corinthian church who is guilty of sexual immorality - with his step mom. Such immorality was and remains today unthinkable. Paul does not mince words over this sinful behaviour because the stakes are incredibly high. The witness of the Corinthian church is at stake. 
God made us as embodied and sexual beings, not to do with our bodies anything we want - arguably that would not be freedom at all. Rather, we are embodied for God and he is for our bodies. Our bodies matter to God, because they are constituent to his creative desire for us to love and be loved! Paul espouses an incredibly high view of sex; a vision of human flourishing wherein sex builds one life into another and foreshadows the sublime union we will have with God one day.

1 Corinthians Part 5 | 1 Corinthians 3:21-4:7

Paul speaks here about the big, brilliant, and boisterous life of being in Christ and belonging to Christ. It’s summed up in the wondrous statement: “All things are yours” (3:21). Therefore we are called to stop living lives that are divisive, small, and cramped. We are invited to celebrate and claim truth wherever we find it. Paul insists, why would we cut ourselves off from as much truth as possible? This means we celebrate truth from wherever and whoever. We are also called not to be so quick to judge people, including ourselves. God’s judgment in God’s timing is key. And lastly we remember with gratitude that all things come from God, therefore it simply silly to boast about things that God has given.This is a compelling call to proclaim and live out an appealing faith based on what God can do and what the church can do—over what cannot be done.

1 Corinthians Part 4 | 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Paul gives us a picture of two kinds of Christians: immature and mature Christians. The immature Christian is someone who exhibits no change whatsoever as a result of having been saved by Jesus. They're the kind of person who loves to lay claim to Jesus as their saviour but has no interest in claiming Jesus as their Lord. Sanctification, or the process of becoming like Jesus, is a life-long journey for a Christian. But in order to make the journey, there must be movement. There must be growth. Are you growing? How has God been maturing you?

A break from our regular sermon series on 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians: Part 3 | 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

How do we live not by what we see and know, but by what the Spirit reveals to us? Paul encourages that the wisdom of this world is foolish compared to the revelations that can only be brought by the Spirit - in this day and age, how are we inviting his Spirit to reveal the spiritual reality that is above and beyond our physical reality, leading us in not our ways but His?

1 Corinthians: Part 2 | 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

The church in Corinth took pride in who knew more - an elevation of wisdom got people caught up in who was smarter, who was a better speaker, and the like. Paul reminds us all that even the most foolish thoughts of God are more wise than ours, specifically pointing to Christ crucified as something that looked conventionally foolish and even cursed. How are we being challenged in surrendering our understanding so that it can be replaced with the heart of the One who formed the universe?

1 Corinthians: Part 1 | Acts 18

The first in our new sermon series on Corinthians! We look at Paul and the establishment of the church in Corinth from Acts.

*This sermon was preached at both Richmond and Marpole.