1 Corinthians 12:1-31

How does a christian community look like? 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 describe a christian community as a group of people having different rule and task to help and support each other.

Verse 4-6 state that are various gifts, ministries, miracles but in one spirit and one God. Most importantly, as it's stated in verse 7 that all of them are for our own good. We can't rely individually but everyone has to help each other to achieve one goal (v.7-11). What's the goal??...that's a christian community.

Paul describe this relation in a christian community with an analogy of a human body. A human body can do different thing but each part has their own function and one part of it can't replace the task of others' part. It's sometime hard to understand why other members of the church react and think differently in a christian community. It's simply because other members aren't like ourselves. Even in verse 22-23 state that we need to take care of the weakest members of the church.

God doesn't want dissension in His church. He requires us to help and support each other (v.25). If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it (v.26).

What we learn from v.1-26 should be an example of a christian community. In order to create such community, we need to be humble toward each other and get the greatest give of all...that's love (v.31).

The passage in 1 Corinthians 12 describe the important of cooperation in humbleness and love to build a healthy christian community.