Classic Sermon #6051: A Balanced Church
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of understanding the context of the Corinthian Church in order to fully grasp the meaning behind Chapters 12, 13, and 14 of First Corinthians. The Church was divided and there was an overemphasis on certain gifts, such as tongues, at the expense of others. The speaker emphasizes the need for balance and proper use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are given for the benefit of the whole Church. The gifts listed in this chapter are not an exhaustive list, and there are many other gifts that God has given to his people. The ultimate purpose of these gifts is to build and strengthen the Church of Jesus Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul discusses the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. He emphasizes that these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as He desires and that they are all important for the unity and diversity of the church. Paul also clarifies that not every believer has the same measure of each gift, and that the purpose of these gifts is to enrich the church and glorify God. He uses the metaphor of the body to illustrate this unity and diversity in the church.
The church is like a body, where all members are important and necessary. The Holy Spirit has come to the whole church, and every Christian has the Holy Spirit. We should not underestimate the importance of any gift, whether it is preaching or serving. God has given each individual something, and we should receive and develop it. We should adopt an attitude of caring for one another, and be concerned for each other's welfare. The church should function as a community in which we all shepherd, minister, watch, and care for one another. Love should be the context within which we exercise all gifts, and the fruit of the Spirit is just as important as the gifts of the Spirit. We should have a balanced admiration for both the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit. The Lord calls us to a church that cares for one another and puts love above all things.
Paul wrote to a divided congregation, but we are not divided because we love each other and search for unity. Conflict and friction are part of reality, but we are part of a single body and must support each other. Let's commit to surviving as a united church in the name of the Lord and worship God in love and concern for each other.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul discusses the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. He emphasizes that these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as He desires and that they are all important for the unity and diversity of the church. Paul also clarifies that not every believer has the same measure of each gift, and that the purpose of these gifts is to enrich the church and glorify God. He uses the metaphor of the body to illustrate this unity and diversity in the church.
The church is like a body, where all members are important and necessary. The Holy Spirit has come to the whole church, and every Christian has the Holy Spirit. We should not underestimate the importance of any gift, whether it is preaching or serving. God has given each individual something, and we should receive and develop it. We should adopt an attitude of caring for one another, and be concerned for each other's welfare. The church should function as a community in which we all shepherd, minister, watch, and care for one another. Love should be the context within which we exercise all gifts, and the fruit of the Spirit is just as important as the gifts of the Spirit. We should have a balanced admiration for both the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit. The Lord calls us to a church that cares for one another and puts love above all things.
Paul wrote to a divided congregation, but we are not divided because we love each other and search for unity. Conflict and friction are part of reality, but we are part of a single body and must support each other. Let's commit to surviving as a united church in the name of the Lord and worship God in love and concern for each other.
I want to go back to chapter twelve: we took two weeks to talk about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and to put a few touches on that concept, which we believe if not explicitly contained in that chapter twelve, is certainly understood. We cannot understand these passages from First Corinthians if we do not understand them in the context of a Church that moved fully in the gifts. Although unfortunately not in other areas that the Apostle Paul wanted to balance.
"But these chapters cannot be understood unless it is in that context of a fully charismatic Church and that is why all this reference to the gifts and how they are used in their correct context and now what we want is to reanalyze the text on that understanding of what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is, we are going to dive right into some of the ideas that the Apostle Paul traces through this Chapter 12.
"But these chapters cannot be understood unless it is in that context of a fully charismatic Church and that is why all this reference to the gifts and how they are used in their correct context and now what we want is to reanalyze the text on that understanding of what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is, we are going to dive right into some of the ideas that the Apostle Paul traces through this Chapter 12.
