Reader (not the teacher)

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)

   Paul spoke from the grace God gave him.

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

   He cautioned against thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to -- do not be arrogant.

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

   Paul compared them to a body. This is an organic illustration, not an institutional illustration.

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

   A body has many members, but its many members do not have identical functions.

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

   A congregation also has many members with many different functions.

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

   Though we are different in our functions, we still belong to each other.

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

   God's grace causes us to have different gifts.

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

   We have the responsibility to use our gifts for the health of the body--the congregation.

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

   Prophecy [primarily an instruction function that drew lessons from the past, the present, and the future], service [caring for the needs of others], teaching [remember the only scriptures they had were Old Testament writings; they focused on the significance of Christ in all of life], exhortation [which included encouragement], generosity [a way of life, not just gifts to the church], leadership [extending help to others], and mercy [do not do this in a "have to" attitude].

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

    Do what you are able to do, and do it well.

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

    1. Prophecy (verse 6) Use it to encourage and develop dependence on God as an exercise in faith.

    2. Serve (verse 7) Focus on the needs of others.

    3. Teach (verse 7) Help others understand.

    4. Exhort [encourage] (verse 8) Strengthen the weak.

    5. Giving (verse 8) Be generous.

    6. Leads (verse 8) Make a difference in the lives of those who seek to follow Christ.

    7. Mercifulness (verse 8) Be happy to show mercy.

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?

   In the institutional concept, there are relatively few things to do publicly. If one cannot serve in one of the visible ways, he or she can feel there is little to do. He or she can become "a consumer" rather than "a participant."

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

   If a part does not function as it should, the whole body becomes sick. The health of the body depends on every part functioning to the benefit of the whole.

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

   Participation should not be confined to teaching, preaching, singing, elders, deacons, etc. When I do what I can do in any role on any day to benefit God's body, I contribute to the health and well being of the congregation.

Reader (not the teacher)

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)

   They compose one body--they are one.

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

   God's Spirit and our individual baptisms [based on faith in Christ's death and resurrection] made us one. Conversion was about becoming one with fellow believers.

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

   It is composed of many members.

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)

   They cannot function and live apart from the rest of the body. A part is not the whole and does not exist to selfishly or arrogantly only consider itself.

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

   God gave us our abilities as He desired.

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

   The body would disappear into one part. That is not God's intent.

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

   They all need each other. Even the parts that are hidden are needful. If one part suffers, the entire body is in pain.

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

   We all are parts of Christ's body. Since each of us are parts of Christ's body, we belong to each other--our spiritual health depends on this interdependence.

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

   God made such appointments, and He did not appoint them all to the same task.

Practical Application Statements/Questions

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

   We belong to something that is bigger and more important than self. We simply need to function well within our abilities, and the body will be healthy.

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

   To the degree the body is sick, I am sick. God's purposes cannot be achieved by a faltering body.

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

   Participate in the life of the body, and do what he or she can do--and do it responsibly, dependably, and well.

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.

   He or she does so to serve the objectives and purposes of God. God's purposes (a) are bigger than the person and (b) are eternal.

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

   A "consumer institution" encourages the person to think primarily about "this being good for me or good for my family." A "serving, healthy body" encourages us to think about the good of others and that which is eternal. It is the attitude of "what is in it for me" versus the attitude of "what is in it for God and His purposes."

Link to Student Guide Lesson 2

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

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