The Big Picture

The Big Picture

1 Corinthians 12:12–31

Key Verse: 27 “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

1. What is happening in the Corinthian church in terms of her spiritual gifts (1:7,31; 3:1–4; 12:15a,16a)? What has Paul taught them (12:7–11)? What should be prior to recognizing and using our spiritual gifts (Eph.5:18b; Rom.8:5)?
2. How does the metaphor of the body of Christ help us see ourselves and our church from God’s perspective (12–13)? How do parts of a body help us understand our unique differences and roles (14–20)? Our interdependence (21)? What should our goal be (22–26)?
3. What truth should we hold on to (27), and why is it so important? What should the church do on earth as the body of Christ (Luke 4:18–19)?
4. How does Paul describe the various spiritual gifts in Christ’s body (28–30)? Which ones does he tell us to “earnestly desire” (31a), and why?
5. How does understanding of our spiritual gifts in God’s big picture help us have the healthy life, growth and mission of the church (Eph.4:11–13)?