Reader

Romans 12:3-8 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Questions

1. Jewish Christians and gentile Christians were very different [from the foods they ate, to the values that governed their lives, to the religious traditions they had known in the past]. Jewish Christians were powerfully influenced by the Law prior to becoming Christians. Gentile Christians were powerfully influenced by idol worship prior to becoming Christians. In the context of Romans, Paul sought to challenge both groups to respectfully tolerate each other. From what did Paul say he spoke to them? (verse 3)

2. What was the first directive Paul gave individuals in both groups? (verse 3)

3. To what did Paul compare these Christians in Rome? (verse 4)

4. What did Paul say was true of the many members of a body? (verse 4)

5. In what way is that which is true of a body also true of a congregation? (verse 5)

6. What should every Christian--regardless of how different we are from each other--realize? (verse 5)

7. What causes us to have different gifts? (verse 6)

8. What responsibility should we, as Christians, accept? (verse 6)

9. What gifts does Paul list in verses 6-8?

10. What if a Christian had an exceptional ability to show mercy (verse 8) but no ability for prophecy (verse 6)?

11. If a Christian had the ability, how was he or she to use it?

    1. Prophecy (verse 6)

    2. Serve (verse 7)

    3. Teach (verse 7)

    4. Exhort [encourage] (verse 8)

    5. Giving (verse 8)

    6. Leads (verse 8)

    7. Mercifulness (verse 8)

Practical Application Statements and Questions

1. Note that Paul used an organic illustration rather than an institutional illustration. How can the institutional concept of a congregation discourage participation?

2. Discuss the fact that the majority [if not all] of the parts of your body function to the health of your body.

3. Discuss this statement: "Whatever I can do in daily life, the congregation should benefit from my ability."

Reader

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

Questions

1. What is true of those in Christ? (verse 12)

2. Why is this true of those in Christ? (verse 13)

3. What is true of the body? (verse 14)

4. How did Paul show the ridiculousness of a foot, hand, ear, or eye seeking to withdraw from participation in the body? (verses 15-17)

5. Why do we have our ability as Christians? (verse 18)

6. If every Christian were exactly alike in ability, what would happen? (verses 19, 20)

7. In the physical body, why does one part not complain against another part functioning as it should? (verses 21-26)

8. What must each Christian realize? (verse 27)

9. Who appointed tasks (according to abilities) within the early church? (verses 28-30)

Practical Application Statements/Questions

1. Discuss the statement: "In a congregation, Christians are not in competition with each other."

2. How important should the health of the congregation be to each Christian in it?

3. How can an individual Christian contribute to the health of a congregation?

4. Do Christians involve themselves in the life of a congregation to serve themselves or to serve the objectives and purposes of God? Explain your answer.

5. Contrast a "consumer institution" with a "serving, healthy body."

Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 2

Copyright © 2006
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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