Sermon: Diversity in Gifts (Part 2)

After a challenging text last week, Paul continues to press forward in his efforts to "reform" the Corinthians Church. Diversity was a theme last week, and it continues this Sunday as well.

1 Corinthians 12:15-31
1Cor. 12:15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
1Cor. 12:16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
1Cor. 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
1Cor. 12:18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
1Cor. 12:19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
1Cor. 12:20 But now there are many members, but one body.
1Cor. 12:21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
1Cor. 12:22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
1Cor. 12:23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable,
1Cor. 12:24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
1Cor. 12:25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
1Cor. 12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1Cor. 12:27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
1Cor. 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
1Cor. 12:29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?
1Cor. 12:30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
1Cor. 12:31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
And I show you a still more excellent way.