The Holy Spirit Builds The Body of Christ

Date: 28 Sep 2025, 9.30 am

Speaker: Ps Daniel Tan Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

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TRANSCRIPT

Introduction

Blessed Sunday to everyone both here in Henderson and those participating online.

10 years ago, our since-retired missionaries, Perry and Aileen organized a medical missions to the hill tribes of Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was over 2 weeks.

The first week Dn Richard was with the team and then for the 2^nd week, I was involved.

There were about 20 of us in this medical missions team but only 4 were medical professionals. 1 dentist, 2 doctor and 1 pharmacist.

For the rest of us, our responsibilities were to set up and dismantle the whole place, registration, blood pressure readings, screening them for free reading spectacles, playing the Christian video for them while they waited for their turn and at the end of the whole process, praying for them.

The clinic was held in the hall of the church in the village and the drivers that brought us up and down the mountain daily, also went about fetching villagers to and from the church.

I had 2 roles. The first was to share the Gospel at the services they would have at the end of some of the days and the 2^nd was during clinical hours to either shine the torch light into the mouth of the patient for the dental work and then to sterilize the dental equipment after each patient.

Quite a cool devise, you take all the bloodied dental tools, wash them and then put it into this pressure cooker-like pot and then you heat it up. When the pressure needle moves to a certain reading, it means it is sterilized.

I’m amazed at the pain tolerance of these tribal people. I witness a lady who had her tooth extracted and a young man who had a wound on his leg stitched, both without any local anaesthesia.

When we went through 1 Cor 9, Ps Luwin encouraged us, should we not see our lives as one big missions trip?

Where our focus is not on our individual wants and needs, but instead we sacrificially give up our rights because of the people whom we are serving.

As I reflect on my one and only medical missions trip 10 years ago, I’m realizing that it has helped me experience 1 Cor 12. What it means to be the body of Christ, ministering to the tribal people of Thailand with the Gospel in word and deed.

The team consist of people from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and also Thailand. Different nationalities and skills yet, united as one body in the Lord ministering.

As we are aware, 1 Cor 11-14 is about Paul address issues that pertain to context of the public gathering in the Corinthian church.

Even as there have been different issues addressed, I submit that the underlying tension is that of divisiveness.

Something that Paul already emphasize:

1 Cor 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind.

So we see Paul mentioning in chapter 11 & 12, these related words:

• ^{1 Cor 11:16} If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

• ^{1 Cor 11:18} For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, ¹⁹ for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

• ^{1 Cor 12:25} that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

In the public worship in the church, let’s not be contentious about the roles of husbands and wives. In partaking of the Lord’s supper, think of others so that there may not be divisions nor fractions.

And in today’s text of 1 Cor 12, then, with regards to spiritual gifts, there should also not be any division. There should instead be unity for we are one body in Christ.

And why is there to be unity, it is because it is the Holy Spirit that builds the body of Christ. And how it is done, will be the 3 main points of the sermon.

The Same Spirit Gives Diverse Gifts (vv.1–11)

From v1-11, I submit, the Holy Spirit builds the body of Christ by giving diverse gifts.

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

1 Cor 12, begins with ‘Now concerning’ and this is a clue again for us to see that Paul is addressing a new issue raised by the Corinthians.

This phase we have already noted in 7:1 (regarding marriage), 8:1 (regarding idolatry), and we will see in 16:1(concerning financial contributions).

As highlighted in the participation of the Lord’s Supper, there seem to be 2 classes in the church.

And here too there seem to be 2 different classes of believers.

Those ‘upper’ class are those deemed more spiritual because they have the prominent gifts and those ‘lower’ class believers are those who do not have the showy gifts.

As Paul speaks of spiritual gifts, I sense he wants the Corinthians to remember what he said at the beginning of his letter -

1 Cor 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift

Corinthians, remember you were enriched. It means you were made rich, you were endowed graciously. It’s not something you earned, it was bestowed upon you.

Thus, you are not lacking in any gift. ‘Gift’ in the original is charisma which means a gracious gift.

Again, it means undeserved favor. It means there is a giver. And you, the Corinthians are just the recipient.

Because the Corinthians were creating different classes of believers in the church, Paul tells them, think again. Let me instruct you on what is true spirituality.

True spirituality is v3. It is to be convinced that Jesus is not accursed but instead to say from your hearts that Jesus is Lord.

Now that’s a big deal in Paul’s days. If you were a Jew, it would get you kicked out of the synagogue. If you were a Gentile, maybe even jailed as the Roman Emperor is Lord.

And you and I can only say Jesus is Lord when the Holy Spirit has regenerated us. That means we already have the Spirit of God in us.

What is the equivalent today of us saying Jesus is Lord?

It might mean for some of us, rejection by our parents with their non-attendance at our Holy Matrimony. It might mean for us to be called bigoted because we follow Christ and are not “progressive” in our understanding on sexuality.  

It might mean stalled career advancement because we value spending time nurturing our family in the faith instead of cultivating the right network of business connections.

What this means in the context of 1 Cor 12 is that everyone has the Holy Spirit, we are all equal.

Paul then goes on in v4-6 to highlight the relationship between our Triune God and the spiritual gifts for believers.

We see two contrasting words – firstly ‘varieties’ – of gifts, service and activities.

Service means ministry or tasks. And for activities, it means an act or a deed.

Secondly, the word ‘same’ – same Spirit, Lord and God.

So Paul is emphasizing the varieties of our spiritual gifts all come from the same source. Our Triune God.

If we look at v4 and v11, we see that they act as bookends. It is the same Spirit that gives and the Holy Spirit is sovereign in whom He allocates the gift to.

Yet, there are diversity of gifts – which includes, service and activities.

I submit this is important as we think of spiritual gifts, we must also see that service and activities are also spiritual.

This is especially significant because in modern Christian circles, we seem to take note only the showy type of spiritual gifts like tongue speaking, healing or prophecy. But here Scripture is saying, even the God-given task and the God-given deed is as important.

Because we all have the spirit of God in us, then Scripture says, it is our Triune God who empowers them all in everyone.

No one has no spiritual gift. Everyone has at least 1 gift, you have been given the ability to do at least 1 task and to do at least 1 deed.

So, firstly we know the Giver, secondly, we know He gives a variety and now v7 says, we know the purpose.

It is not for our edification, not to elevate our status, no it is for the common good. That means it has nothing to do with ourselves it has all to do with others.

V8-10, gives a list of spiritual gifts. It’s not an exhaustive list for we have other lists that is found Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 4:7-13 and 1 Peter 4:8-11.

As we think of Spiritual gifts, and whether some are still relevant today, may I share from the WCF, 2 guiding parameters.

WCF 1.1 Although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God to such an extent that men are without excuse, yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of his will which is necessary for salvation. Therefore it pleases the Lord, at various times and in diverse ways, to reveal himself and to declare his will to his church; and afterward- for better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and of the world-to commit this revelation wholly to writing. Therefore the Holy Scripture is most necessary, God’s former ways of revealing his will to his people have ceased. 

Referencing,  Hebrews 1:1-3, God’s full revelation has been completed in Christ Jesus and given to us in the Holy Scriptures.

WCF 1.6  The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory and man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly stated in Scripture or by good and necessary inference may be deduced from Scripture, unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit or by traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that the inward illumination of the Spirit of God is necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word. We also acknowledge that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and the government of the church-circumstances common to human activities and societies-which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

Here in WCF 1.6, it supports the first point by teaching us about the sufficiency of Scripture. And that to understand Scripture accurately, we would need the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Some implications for us - if we take Spiritual gifts, service and activity interchangeably, then I think we would not be obsessed so much with finding out our “gifting”, but rather, we would be cultivating the attitude of ‘How can I help’.

I submit that as God grants us opportunities to serve, we will discover God’s enablement and how He wants us to contribute to the body of Christ.  

Secondly, when we know that God sovereignty apportions to each one individually as He wills, it will rid us of envy.

We will not ask why I can’t sing like the praise singers, why I’m not as insightful as my CG leader, or why I’m not as welcoming as the stewards.

Instead, we will be contented to know, God has empowered me in a particular way and thus I serve Him faithfully as He has called me and given me the opportunity to.

Church, I submit knowing that we have one source that gives a variety of gifts, service and activities for the common good, the question then before us today is that of stewardship.

How are you and I being faithful to the enabling of the Spirit in our lives?  

May we not be burying our talent but instead using it for His glory.

The Same Spirit Builds One Body (vv.12–26)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and so a metaphor brings illumination like a thousand light bulbs.

To illustrate brightly his point, Paul in v12-26 refers the Corinthians to the example of the human body. I submit Paul is saying, the Holy Spirit is building the church which is the one body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

According to the internet, the human body as 78-80 organs. The difference in number is due to the classification on what is considered an organ.

Now, whether it be 78 or 80, we know for certain the body is able to recognize every single organ. There will not be a case of being confused if this organ is part or is not part of your body.

And Scripture says, the church is the spiritual body of Christ.

When you are baptised, when you publicly affirm through baptism, what has already happened internally by the Holy Spirit, you are identifying with Christ as head and His body the church.

As each organ is identifiable, so too is each member of the local church.

In Hermon we have 380 members out of which 254 are members in good standing that are residing in Singapore.

At the Presbytery level, we are one of 11 churches in BPCIS.

An implication of this body metaphor regarding identifiable parts, means for the church - membership.

At the local church level, it means when we are baptised, when we publicly affirm that Jesus is Lord and Saviour, it means we identify with His local body the church.

Hermon/Horeb, was an observer in the Presbytery for a few years. But now we are members, and so we have the privilege to receive help from the Presbytery and as well as to serve and help other members of the Presbytery.

To counter the Corinthian’s issue of status in church due to different spiritual gifts, Paul says, the body metaphor implies that there is equality.

There is racial equality – Jews and Greeks are the same, part of one body. It’s like saying the Singaporean citizen is the same as the PR, the person on S pass or EP.

There is social equality – slaves and free are the same. It’s saying, whether you are a Hermonite/ Horebian  or you are domestic helper attending Hermon/Horeb, you can use the same toilet, you are entitled to the same share of refreshments and the same anniversary gift.

Now from v14 to 25, I submit that the overarching idea is that of interdependence. That is summarised in the following verses:

• ^{1 Cor 12:20} As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

• ^{1 Cor 12:25} that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another

Of all our 78 or 80 organs, none can exist by itself. All have a unique function but yet their uniqueness is only significant when they function as part of the whole.

During Reservist training 20 years ago, my left thumb was caught between 2 assault boats.

When that happened, the bones broke and my skin split open. I was rushed to Changi General and went for an operation to put metal pieces on both sides of the bone.

My first thought was ‘heng ah’ no need to go outfield. Only left thumb, so actually can enjoy the rest of my Reservist in hospital comfort.  

But I found that I could only dress myself with much difficulty. Couldn’t button my shift or zip my pants. Even eating, could not hold the fork on my left hand. And it was a challenge to bath.

God has created every one of our limbs and organs for a complementary purpose. Everything is useful, everything is interdependent.

Now v15-19, I submit is speaking to those who feel inferior, who feel that they have no contribution to the body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

Maybe you feel like just the foot which gives stability but is not seen like that of the hand. But if not for the foot, the hand will not be able to get to the place where it can serve.

Or maybe you identify with the ears, always on the peripheral, not like the eye that is front and center. But we know the ears are more surround in perspective than the eyes and it is the ears that helps the eyes know where to look.

Do not think you do not belong to the body, no, each of us is needed for the body to function at its best.

Would you accept God’s encouraging word that it is He who has arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he chose.

Hermonite, you are not here by chance, no, God has chosen you to be in Hermon and He has a plan and a purpose for how you are to contribute. Remember everyone has a gift and we are to use it for the common good.

If you are not yet a Hermonite, but have been with us for some time and you have begun to feel part of our community, God has brought you in for a purpose.

He is saying to Hermon, I’ve led this person to you so that his/her contributions will build up the body.

Now, may I say to you, join us, put your spiritual roots down, become our member, sign up for the membership class starting in October.

From v21 to 25, I see Paul addressing those who think they are God’s gift to the church. That they are indispensable. That Hermon is so fortunate to have them. That only their impact is vital.

1 Cor 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

Paul says, there are no prima donna’s in church.

No, our internal organs are just as important as our external organs. No organ is more important than another.

Have you gone for a piles operation before? Well, I have and it is truly painful.

There was a point in the first few days I truly did not want to eat because that would mean moving my bowels.

Throughout the 2 weeks of recovery, standing was painful, so was sitting down and even getting up from the bed was painful.

I never realized that many interconnected muscles and body parts work together for body movement.

As it is true of the body, so it is true of the body of Christ.

God has so composed the body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it, that there many be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

Church, because we are one body, it means when one of us suffer, we all suffer and when one of us is honoured, we all rejoice together.

This implies, we identify closely with each other.

Over this past weekend, we had both a wedding celebration as well as a funeral.

We rejoiced with Kenan and Soon Yii on their wedding celebration on Sat and we mourned with Dn Mike, Benson and their families on Sunday night.

Since the Holy Spirit that is in us, is building the one body of Christ, then the question for us today is are we living out interdependence?

The Same Spirit Appoints Different Responsibilities (v.27–31)

Finally, from v27 to 31, we see that the Holy Spirit builds the body of Christ by appointing different responsibilities in the church.

1 Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Just in case you are not convince about unity and identity in the local church, Paul gives us v27 – all of us are individual members of the body of Christ.

And because God seeks to build up the church, He thus gives people with different responsibilities.

One bible commentator says about this list in v28 – he sees this in chronological priority.

“To establish a local congregation requires a church-planter. Then the regular proclamation of God’s Word must ensue. Next teachers must supplement evangelism with discipleship and the passing on of the cardinal truths of the faith.

Only at this point does a viable Christian fellowship exist to enable all the other gifts to come into play.”

And this bible commentator bases his remarks on the truth of Eph 2:20:

Eph 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

What this means then is that the responsibilities of the apostles and prophets are foundational, they have already been laid and thus these need to be taken into consideration when we look at 1 Cor 12:28.

Even in this list of responsibilities, Paul wants to emphasize that it is God’s prerogative to appoint and as well as the fact that there is diversity.

And so v29 is rhetorical in that the readers response is to be ‘no’. No, not all are to be apostles, prophets, teachers etc.

Not only does God give different Hermonites, different responsibilities for the good of the body, I submit God can also limit our responsibilities for a particular season as well.

And so, would we be sensitive to His leading when our season has ended?

A follow up question would be - would you then be willing to assume other responsibilities that God may be indicating to you?

Since our contributions are needed till the Lord takes us home, shall we always have the attitude of availability - Lord, here I am, tell me how I should contribute, today.

Conclusion

Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 reminds us: our gifts, the church, our responsibilities are not for our glory but for the glory of Christ.

Every believer belongs to Christ’s body, every gift flows by the enabling of the Spirit, every role is appointed under His headship.

In Singapore, we may be tempted to think in competitive terms: “How can I be more known?” “What is my status?” “What in it for me?”

The Gospel shifts us to think: “Am I faithful to Christ’s body?” “Am I loving others?” “Am I serving Him so that the body is built up? Is Christ honoured?”

Christ is the Head of the church. He purchased the body with His blood, rose and  ascended, and has sent the Spirit. It is our Triune God who gives gifts, binds us together, and orders us for His mission. We live not for ourselves but for Him.

As we close, we will be singing,  “Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God”.

Let that be our prayer: that the Spirit would breathe through us, enliven our unity, empower our service, knit us together in love, so that Christ is seen, worshiped, and glorified in our church and where our missions partners are.

May we each be part of Christ’s body—diverse in gifts, united in Spirit, for the praise of His glory.

Reflection Questions

• Your spiritual gift/service/activity is indispensable for the body. Do you know what they are? And how have you been using it to build up Mt Hermon/Mt Horeb?
  

• What would it look like for Mt Hermon/Mt Horeb or your CG, to live out v26? What would it take to get there? List practical ways.