Title: Apostles
Text: I Corinthians 12:28
The Twelve
- Matthew 10
- Called by Jesus
- Sent with a job
- Consider Mark 6:30-36
The office….
- Acts 1:15-26; I Corinthians 9:9-10; Acts 26:12-23
- The message remains the same – Acts 2:14ff
Different uses of the term….
- Taken as a whole, the term seems to indicate “missionary” – a term that otherwise does not appear in scripture
- Acts 14:4, 14
- I Corinthians 15:3-11
- Galatians 1:19
- Philippians 2:25
- I Thessalonians 1:1; 2:7
- Purpose – to start the church – qualitative and quantitative.
I Corinthians 12:28 – When Paul says “…first, apostles,” this is not an indication of importance but rather of order in how churches get started and how they grow. The tension is in how important each part of the body is as stated in 12:12-27 and Paul’s “greater gifts” assertion in v. 31
Title: Prophets
I Corinthians 12:28
Functions
- Distractions – telling the future – Deuteronomy 18:21-22; Acts 21:10-11;
- They are sent by God – Amos 7:15
- It is spoken proclamation (preaching) of the word of God – Jeremiah 1:9; 19:2, 14; Acts 4:29; Amos 7:16
- Explains what God wants done – Acts 13:1
- They edify the church – I Corinthians 14:3
Considerations
- Prophesies are God’s words – Matthew 10:20; Acts 4:29
- We test the sent and the source – Deuteronomy 13:2-6; I Thessalonians 5:19-22;
- The church has the responsibility to “weigh carefully” what is said – I Corinthians 14:29
Title: Teachers
Text: I Corinthians 12:28
Jesus as Teacher….
- Spread the gospel first…. Matthew 4:12ff, 4:23-5:2
- Gains a following like teachers did – John 1:38; 6:25; 3:2; compare with Acts 22:3
- Yet is unique
- No training – John 7:27, Matthew 13:54
- Speaks with greater authority – Matthew 5:17-20; Mark 1:27; John 10:34-37
Teachers in the church
- The function of explaining – Acts 18:26, Matthew 28:18-20, I Timothy 4:1-11
- Requires study – I Timothy 1:7, II Timothy 2:15
- It is a spiritual gift – I Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:7-13
- Teachers must practice what they teach – John 10:34-37; I Timothy 4:11-16
Title: Teachers II
Text: I Corinthians 12:28
Considerations….
- Need to be careful!
- For ourselves – Romans 2:21; James 3:1
- For those who listen – II Timothy 2:14-17
- Teachers need to stick to the word – II Timothy 3:16
- It’s not about what I want – II Timothy 4:2ff
- As a teacher – v. 2,5; Romans 15:4 (ch. 14 as context)
- As a student/listener – v. 3,4; Judges 17, 18
- Still, something worth doing! – Hebrews 5:12
Title: Guidance/Administrators/Helmsmen
Text: I Corinthians 12:28
Life is not static….
- Life is struggle – Job 5:6-7
- Every age has its trouble – Ecclesiastes 7:10
- If we don’t watch it, we can veer off course – James 1:5-7
Jesus as example (walking on water)
- Matthew 14:22-36, John 6:16-24
- Several dangers – forced kingship, disciple revolt, bad weather
- Peter gets distracted – how about us?
I Corinthians 12:28
- The word translated “gifts of guidance” or “administrators” is “helmsman.”
- The church needs people with clear minds and strong faith to steer course.
Title: Helping Others
Text: I Corinthians 12:28
Why listed here?
- Emphasizes everyone has a role.
- The gifts are fluid – we can find ourselves in any number of these roles, this one most often.
- Order is important here considering the Corinthian problem and their emphasis on tongues.
Sometimes helping is situational….
- God puts into our paths opportunities to help – I Corinthians 16:3ff; Acts 11:27ff
- I Peter 2:12 and subsequent history
How to help….
- Look for opportunities – Galatians 6:10; Philippians 4:10; Colossians 4:5
- Physically and financially – II Corinthians 8:19; Acts 9:36
- Spiritually – Acts 16:9; Ephesians 4:29
Title: Workers of Miracles
Text: I Corinthians 12:28
Concentrated at certain times
- The Exodus – Exodus 3:19-21; 7:5; 11:9
- Elijah and Elisha – I Kings 17 – II Kings 13 (I Kings 18; II Kings 5; 6:24-7:7)
- Judges 6:13
- Jesus and early church
- The book of Mark and miracles – 1:20-28; 4:41; 8:27-30
- Mark 16:15-18; Acts 3; 16:16ff; John 20:29;
- Contrast: I Corinthians 13:8-10; Philippians 2:25-27
Always for God’s glory
- To create community – Acts 2 (22-24; 42-47)
- To show where God’s favor rests – John 10:38; 14:11
Title: A Case Study in Healing
Text: John 9
Why is he blind?
- Disciples and religious leaders assume sin….
- Deuteronomy 7:12-15; 28:58-59; Job 11:5 versus 23:1-7
- Jesus is interested in the work of God….
What did Jesus do?
- Healed the blind man
- Brought the man to faith
- Exposed faulty thinking
What are we to do?
- Pray – James 5:13-16; Psalm 41
- Remember all healing is from God (where is our faulty thinking?) …. Jeremiah 30:12-17
- Let God be glorified in all circumstances…. Philippians 4:11-12; Job 2:10
- Remember our greatest need is always spiritual! Matthew 16:24-26
Title: Speaking in Tongues
Text: I Corinthians 12:28
What are they?
- Another world language like Spanish or Chinese
- Apostles, by the Spirit, were able to speak these without learning Acts 2:1-12
- Purpose – To spread the Gospel quickly
What are they?
- Groanings too deep for words – Romans 8:26-27
- Purpose – to express to God what we cannot say but which validly reveals the content of ourselves to God
What are they?
- A language from Heaven – I Corinthians 13:1
- Often unintelligible – I Corinthians 14:27-28
- Might be hyperbole
- Purpose – Self-edification – 14:4 – sometimes we need it!
Lessons
- We often major in minors… the Corinthian Christians did.
- We should seek to build up the body – I Corinthians 14:12
- We should always remember what is most important – I Corinthians 15:3-5