Ministry Fair Sunday

“The Body, Lake, and Ladders”

Pastor Brandon Hovey | 02.09.2014

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.   1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (NIV)

Notes on the Body:

Notes on the Lake & Ladders:

Going Deeper Questions

“The Body, Lake, and Ladders”

Pastor Brandon Hovey | 02.09.2014

These questions are designed to help you go deeper with the sermon during your week – to take a closer look at the scripture and find fresh ways to live out the main points of the sermon. Going Deeper questions also are used for discussion in all of our Grow Groups at Hope.

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 12-13; Romans 12:3-8; Philippians 2:1-11

Getting Started

What areas of ministry or service are you passionate or curious about?

In what ways have you (or are you) currently serving in church? Outside the church?

Who do you know at Hope Covenant Church who models “sacrificial service”?

A Closer Look

Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. What is Paul trying to teach the Corinthians about spiritual gifts? What does this church seemingly have wrong?

How does Paul’s metaphor of the “body” (12:12-31) and “love” (13:1-13) address the Corinthians misunderstanding of spiritual gifts?

What 12:12-14 say our identity? (cf. Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 5:4-14-16)

How does “Spirit baptism” (12:13), which occurs at our conversion, wash away power differentials between different ethnicities and classes? Why does this matter?

Read 12:21-26. Why are the weaker and less presentable parts of the body just as important as those in the limelight?

Digging Deeper

How does Paul’s understanding on “membership” in the body help us better understand the true nature of church membership?

Pastor Brandon said, “Christ’s church perhaps the most important group you ever be a part of.” Reflect on this statement.

How can we all move from being Christian consumers to Christian contributors in the body of Christ?