Bible Studies for Life: August 23

A Way to Serve • Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12-24 

By Jessica McMillan

Have you ever had a toothache so bad that the only thing you could think about was the pain? Or if you slam your finger in a door, you realize quickly how badly you need it, and suddenly, that is all that matters in that moment. In this passage, Paul continues to address specific concerns that had been identified to him by letter from the believers in Corinth. Apparently, there was an emphasis on specific gifts as a marker of mature spirituality. The focus of chapter 12 is that the body of Christ should be unified and that the various giftings were to work together for the good of the whole group. We are all called to serve with a humble servant’s heart, but the specifics of our work can be quite varied because God has gifted and equipped each of us in unique ways. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 

In verses 7-11, Paul teaches that the Holy Spirit is sovereign and right in the various types of gifts given to believers. In our human nature, we might be tempted to think that one gift is better than another, or that maybe some believers are more “spiritual” than others when the truth is that we all share equal standing in Christ, even though God has given us different gifts and roles. We pick up in verse 12 the development of the metaphor of the entire body. God’s design is for believers to work and serve together as one body in Christ. Verse 13 is a stark reminder of the need for every church to exemplify unity within our diversity.

1 Corinthians 12:14-18 

All body parts serve a purpose, and one is not more important or better than the other. Without one element of the body, malfunction occurs. Paul is teaching the Corinthians that God has given every believer a role and contribution within the body of Christ. Each member is therefore valuable, because the health of the whole body depends on its members functioning together.

1 Corinthians 12:19-24

The allusion of “weaker” body parts (v. 22) likely refers to parts that are less protected, such as fingers or toes. The “less honorable” ones may refer to parts that are typically covered by clothes, and the “unpresentable” parts seem to refer to genitalia. The point is that God has made every believer a necessary part of the body of Christ. 

We shouldn’t function like the audience at an orchestra concert — a group of individuals sitting in a room together because they all enjoy a common form of entertainment. We should be more like an orchestra — individual instruments sounding together to create something spectacularly beautiful all under the direction of a conductor who has carefully crafted, rehearsed, and balanced the team. Each part affects the entire community. 

Imagine if everyone recognized and exercised their gifts in your church. Would worship still sometimes feel like a spectator event? Would there still be arguments over how to extend benevolence in the community? God calls each of us to serve in humility and unity, and he has uniquely gifted each of us through the Holy Spirit so that the overall body can function in a healthy way.