October 23, 2022

Gifts? But what about love?

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:28-13:13
Service Type:

Introduction

This evening we are looking at the local Church

Last time – church with the differing gifts of God’s people
A privilege to be a member of Christ’s body
The ‘one anothers’
The rules of church membership can be summed up as love one another

Any gift that causes division – is not from God

All God’s gifts unite His people and build His Church
Our gifts can be honed and improved as we learn form one another
This is often how we learn as Christians

Example of giving, administration, organisation, teaching

Mutual and overlapping gifts

Spiritual gifts are not the same as natural abilities

1 Cor 12 and Romans 12 – gifts given by the Holy Spirit
There is a spiritual aspect
Everyone has at least one gift, many have several

Example of Timothy – evangelist, teacher, pastor

Multiple gifts may overlap
They are for the growth and maturity of the church

Looking at 12:28 – 13:3

Title – We may have gifts? But what about love?

Overview

Understanding the first century church
Application 
Nothing without love

Understanding the first century church

The primitive or early church

It was a unique time – never to be repeated
A special time
The Old Testament had been closed and a New covenant/Testament brought in
Special gifts were given to the Apostles
What was their role?
What does it mean the Church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets? – Eph 2:20

A unique era

Many of the people the apostles were preaching too – had seen the miracles of Jesus
The apostles were eye witnesses of the resurrected Christ (seeing Him both before and after)
The Holy Spirit was poured out in great measure on the Day of Pentecost

A unique time

God’s word began to spread amongst the nations

Initially His ministry was confined to Israel

It spread with great power and speed

A transitional time

In these last days God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ – Heb 1:1
Jesus Christ is the full and final revelation of God
The Gospel writers would document His life
The apostles would add their epistles
The cannon would then be closed

Apostles

The 12 apostles

They were guardians of the truth / they were to teach the Church
God chose an apostle to replace Judas – Acts 1:22b-25
The apostle had to be an eye witness of the resurrection
12 apostles to represent the 12 tribes of Israel
12 thrones

The apostle Paul – born out of due time – 1 Cor 15:8 (he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus)
They had extra-ordinary power – 2 Cor 12:12, Acts 5:12 – the power to perform miracles
They were unique men
There are no more apostles today
They have laid down the Scriptures
The miracles are generally associated with the apostles or those close to them – Acts 8:6-8

The gifts

The offices of apostle, prophet and teachers
Gifts associated with these offices – miracles, healings, helps, administration, tongues
Miracles were given as witness to the truth of the preached word – Acts 14:3

Prophets

Who were the prophets?

Those who had a ministry within the local church
There were no (New Testament) Scriptures available at the time
They may have had limited access to Old Testament – how would they understand these texts speaking of Jesus

The prophets were given to help the people understand

They were given fresh revelation of Jesus Christ

Sometimes they predicted

Groups of prophets – Acts 13
They were given the full revelation of God – Eph 3:5
Foundational to the early Church – Eph 2:20

There are no further prophets as their work was foundational

A Prophet is differ from prophecy

Teachers

Eph 4:12 includes evangelist (the lists are not exhaustive)

A Prophet explained, a teacher explained
Evangelists were preaching to those outside the church
Pastor/teacher is one word in the Greek (Eph 4:12)

Paul did not appoint prophets but elders and deacons

James was not replaced when he died – the role of the apostles had been fulfilled

Application

We are very privileged

We have the whole Bible – the full and final revelation of God
We should study it, meditate upon it, value it

How is your quiet time?

Do you value the preaching of His word?

God is the same God

He can perform miracles today

Example of missionaries where there is no gospel work

He gives the gifts that are necessary within the Church

Example

Be wise in the use of your gift

Do not be complacent

We are to earnestly desire the best gifts

Prophecy was desirous at the time – 1 Cor 14:1

Do not over value certain gifts – Example of tongues

Nothing without love

Everything is worthless without love

Example of from pastor
Matt 7:21-23

It is not all about gifts (v1-3)

Graces are more important
Words might be prefaced by ‘God has told me’
There was a lot of ‘noise’ in the Corinthian Church

There is no concern to build up the church
There is no love for the people

Knowledge and great theology – is nothing without love

We come as babes/children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven

Great faith – is nothing without love
Great sacrifice – is nothing without love

Jesus sacrificed because of love for sinners
Do not go with wrong motives – example
Is it a response to His love?

A searching but a beautiful passage

It shows what a Christian can be

Closing Remarks