1 Corinthians 12: One Body, Many Parts

Paul teaches about spiritual gifts. There are different kinds of gifts, service, and workings, but the same Spirit, Lord, and God gives them all for the good of everyone. Paul compares the church to a human body: it has many parts, yet it is one body, and every part is needed. The parts that seem weaker are necessary, and when one part suffers, all suffer together. The church is the body of Christ, and each believer is a member of it.

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Read 1 Corinthians 12

World English Bible · 31 verses

¹ Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ But now they are many members, but one body.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

1 Corinthians 12 · Preschool

We Need Each Other

Name Date

Color the friends holding hands. Everyone in God's family is needed!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

1 Corinthians 12:27 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Point to your eyes, ears, hands, and feet. Say: Every part of the body is needed. Every person in church is needed too.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

1 Corinthians 12 · Grade 4

Many Members, One Body

Name Date

Read and Think

The Corinthians prized showy spiritual gifts. Paul reminds them that there are various kinds of gifts, service, and workings, but the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God. Each believer is given a gift for the common good, not for showing off.

Paul then uses the picture of a body. The body has many members, yet it is one body, and so is Christ. A foot should not feel left out because it is not a hand, and an eye cannot tell the hand that it is not needed. God arranged each member as He desired.

In fact, the parts that seem weaker are necessary, and the less honored parts are given greater care. God designed the body so there would be no division. The members should care for one another, sharing both suffering and joy. Not everyone is an apostle, prophet, or teacher, but every believer belongs.

Show What You Know

For what purpose is each gift given?
Who arranged each member of the body?
What does Paul say about the parts that seem weaker?
Why did God design the body this way?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

giftsmembergoodvariousmembers

The Corinthians prized showy spiritual .
Paul reminds them that there are kinds of gifts, service, and workings, but the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God.
Each believer is given a gift for the common , not for showing off.
The body has many , yet it is one body, and so is Christ.
God arranged each as He desired.

Think About It

Paul says every member of the body is needed. What gift or ability could you use to help your church or family?
The weaker parts are necessary. How can you show care to someone who might feel unimportant?

Memory Verse

“For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.”

1 Corinthians 12:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving me a place in Your family. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What is something you do well that could bless your church?
How can you care for someone who feels left out?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

1 Corinthians 12 · Grade 5

Varieties of Gifts, One Spirit

Name Date

Read and Think

Paul turns to spiritual gifts, a topic that had become a source of pride in Corinth. He begins with a test: no one speaking by the Spirit curses Jesus, and no one can confess that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. Every believer, then, has the Spirit. He stresses unity in diversity: varieties of gifts, service, and workings come from the same Spirit, Lord, and God. Each manifestation of the Spirit is given for the profit of all.

Paul lists gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, languages, and interpretation, all distributed by the one Spirit as He wills. Believers were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free. The body analogy confronts two errors. Some felt inferior and concluded they did not belong. Others felt superior and imagined they did not need other members.

God composed the body, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that the members would have the same care for one another. Shared suffering and shared joy mark a healthy church. Paul asks a series of questions expecting the answer no: are all apostles, prophets, or teachers? Diversity is God's design. He urges them to desire the greater gifts and then promises to show them a more excellent way, the way of love in chapter 13.

Show What You Know

What does Paul say no one can confess except by the Holy Spirit?
What two errors does the body analogy confront?
Why did God give greater honor to the parts that lacked it?
What more excellent way does Paul promise to show?

Crossword

Across

There are various ____ of service
Do all have ____ of healings
Now there are ____ kinds of gifts

Down

To ____ faith by the same Spirit
But now God has set the ____

Think About It

Paul says some believers feel they do not belong and others feel they do not need anyone. Which of these attitudes are you more tempted toward, and how does the body picture correct it?
God designed diversity in the church. How can differences between believers make a church stronger rather than divided?

Memory Verse

“For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.”

1 Corinthians 12:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving me a place in Your family. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

When have you felt you did not fit in, and what does God say about you?
How can differences make a church stronger?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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1 Corinthians 12: One Body, Many Parts

Read 1 Corinthians 12

Worksheets

We Need Each Other

Prayer

Take It Home

One Body

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Many Parts

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

One Body, Many Parts

Prayer

Take It Home

Every Part Matters

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Body of Christ

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

One Body, Many Parts

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Many Members, One Body

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Varieties of Gifts, One Spirit

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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