PRICELESS:

Finding Your Value in God

This Week's Lesson
"Used in God's Service"
1 Corinthians 12:12-18,21-22; 1 Peter 4:9-11

This Sunday’s session continues the study on spiritual gifts from 1 Corinthians that began last week. It focuses on the fact that much like the human body, all spiritual gifts have a vital part to play with respect to the whole Body of Christ.

SETTING

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul emphasized the unity of the body of Christ. Diversity among the members’ spiritual gifts was not an occasion for self-pride, but rather the diversity demonstrated that all members served necessary roles for the proper working of the whole body. In his first letter Peter emphasized that all believers should, through the grace and power that God provides, use their gifts to fulfill His purposes for His glory through Jesus Christ.

INTRODUCTION
We approach our work and daily tasks with different motivations. Some people choose work that interests them; others choose a career based on the money or prestige they will gain. And there are some things we do simply because they have to get done. The work we do as followers of Christ is grounded in a different motivation. The Bible calls us to work and serve out of love for others and a desire to glorify God.

Lasting Lessons in 1 Cor. 12:12-18:

1.  Individual Christians are like the parts of one body.

2.  The church is the body of Christ.

3.  Traditional distinctions between people, such as ethnic and economic differences, are not important to the spiritual life of the church.

4.  All Christians are important to the church; no one should feel his or her spiritual gift is inferior.

Lasting Lessons in 1 Cor.  12:21-22:

1.  All Christians and their spiritual gifts are necessary to the church.

2.  No Christian should consider his/her gift to be superior or inferior to others.

3.  We should share in the rejoicing and grieving of our fellow Christians.

Lasting Lessons in 1 Pet. 4:9-11:

1.  Christians should practice hospitality by welcoming those who need our help.

2.  We should exercise our spiritual gifts to serve others and to glorify God.

3.  We should speak words that are based on biblical truths.

4.  We should acknowledge that God strengthens us to serve others.

CONCLUSION

Peter concluded his encouragement on how believers should use their spiritual gifts with a reminder of our overall goal:  that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. Jesus told His disciples that our good works were to lead others to give God the glory He deserves (Matt. 5:16).  Paul urged the Corinthian believers to focus on giving God the glory in everything they did, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem (1 Cor. 10:31).  Over and over the New Testament writers encouraged their readers to remember that to Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever.  Amen.

THE PAT HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

Just a reminder

FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

FIRST SUNDAY OF THE NEW YEAR

BREAKFAST THIS SUNDAY!!!