The Explanation: The Realities of the Body (3)

Feb 1, 2026    Roger Skepple

The Practice of Spiritual Gifts

in the Local Church (8)


I. The Test of Authenticity: The Reality of Counterfeit Spiritual Gifts (12:1-3)

II. The Overview: The Source, Purpose, and Nature of Spiritual Gifts (12:4-11)

III. The Explanation: The Realities of the Body (12:12-30)

A. The Construction of the Body (12:12-19)

1. Its Formation (12:12-14)

2. Its Diversity (12:15-19)

B. The Interdependency of the Body’s Members (12:20-26)

1. Its Illustration (12:20-24a)

a. Its Personification (12:20-21)

b. Its Actuality (12:22-24a)

1) Parts that Differ in Strength (12:22)


● weaker helpless; sick or ill; feeble; morally weak; incapable

● seem an appraisal, a subjective judgment

2) Parts that Differ in Honor (12:23a-b)


● deem an appraisal, a subjective judgment

● bestow put or place around

● honor price paid,

value attached

3) Parts that Differ in Seemliness (12:23c-24a)

● unseemly unpresentable, shameful, indecent


2. Its Design (12:24b-26)

a. The Architect of the Design (12:24b-d)

● composed mixed, blended, commingled, united


● lacked in need

b. The Dual Purpose of the Design (12:25)

1) For the Production of Unity (12:25a)


●division to separate by tearing


2) For the Production of Sympathy (12:25b)


● care anxious; unduly concerned


c. The Impact of the Design (12:26)