ONE BODY, MANY PARTS

1 Corinthians 12:1-31a, Key Verse 12:27

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

THE SAME SPIRIT; DIFFERENT GIFTS (1-11)

1. What new topic does Paul introduce here? (1) Who led the Corinthians astray when they were pagans? (2) What was the evidence that now they were led by the Holy Spirit? (3) How is this confession the basis for being a member of Christ’s body and for having spiritual gifts?
2. In the church, what are there different kinds of, and what is the same? (4-6) How would knowing this help the Corinthians solve their problems of division?
3. For what general purpose does the Spirit give gifts? (7) List the different gifts Paul mentions (8-10). From whom do all these gifts come? Who determines the giving of these gifts? (11) How does this help us properly exercise our own gifts and recognize the gifts of others?

THE BODY OF CHRIST (12-31a)

1. What metaphor does Paul use? (12a) How does it help us understand the church? (12b-13) How could such racially, culturally and socially different people be one?
2. In verses 14-17, what different body parts are mentioned? What is the function of each, and why does a body need all of them? How does God's wisdom in arranging the parts enable the body to work? (18) Instead of competing with or envying others, how can we find our unique identity and purpose in the body? (19-20)
3. If the eye and the head became proud, what would happen (21)? Why do different parts of the body need to be treated differently (22-26)? How does this metaphor of the body apply to the church and its different roles (28-30)? How does the principle in verse 27 help us work well together?