Single lesson
1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1–11; 1 Corinthians 12:12–26; 1 Corinthians 12:27–31
This part of the letter explains spiritual things so the readers will not remain uninformed. It shows how the Holy Spirit points to Jesus and how a wide variety of gifts can come from one divine source. This lesson also brings together The Body of Christ, The Greater Gifts.
Before you teach
The passage begins with a reminder of the readers’ former life with mute idols. It then contrasts that past with the work of the Holy Spirit, who leads to the confession that Jesus is Lord. After that, the letter lists different gifts and states their shared purpose and source.
Describe the central teaching of 1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts, using two details from the reading. To each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the profit of all. This passage teaches that Christ’s body is one, includes many different members, and calls them to mutual honour, care, sorrow and joy. This passage teaches that the body of Christ includes different members and gifts, and these differences should be valued under God’s ordering.
Welcome: 1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts
4 minIntroduce “Spiritual Gifts”, “The Body of Christ”, “The Greater Gifts” and locate 1 Corinthians 12:1–11; 1 Corinthians 12:12–26; 1 Corinthians 12:27–31. To each one, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the profit of all. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
1 Corinthians 12:1, 1 Corinthians 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:11
Read and explain the passage
8 minSpiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1–11): The writer does not want the readers to be ignorant about spiritual things. He reminds them that they were once led away to mute idols. In contrast, speech shaped by God’s Spirit does not call Jesus accursed. By the Holy Spirit, a person says, “Jesus is Lord.”
The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–26): Paul begins with a simple picture: one body has many members, yet it is still one body. He applies that picture to Christ. He also says all were baptised into one body in one Spirit, across different social and ethnic groupings, so their shared life is grounded in that one Spirit.
The Greater Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:27–31): The passage begins with identity: “you are the body of Christ, and members individually”. That means the whole group belongs together, yet each member is still recognised individually. The wording holds unity and distinction together. These verses do not picture a crowd of identical people, but one body made up of distinct members.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Spiritual Gifts”, “The Body of Christ”, “The Greater Gifts”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
1 Corinthians 12:1, 1 Corinthians 12:2, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 1 Corinthians 12:13, 1 Corinthians 12:27
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What contrast does the passage make between mute idols and the Holy Spirit?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage teaches that the body of Christ includes different members and gifts, and these differences should be valued under God’s ordering. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
1 Corinthians 12:2, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 Corinthians 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:16, 1 Corinthians 12:29, 1 Corinthians 12:30
Make and respond: Message and response chart
9 minWork on “1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts: Message and response chart”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Spiritual Gifts”, “The Body of Christ”, “The Greater Gifts” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
1 Corinthians 12:1, 1 Corinthians 12:16, 1 Corinthians 12:31
Closing: return to The Greater Gifts
3 minRevisit 1 Corinthians 12:27–31. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Greater Gifts and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
1 Corinthians 12:27, 1 Corinthians 12:29, 1 Corinthians 12:31
Questions to explore
What contrast does the passage make between mute idols and the Holy Spirit?
Compare the reminder about being led away to mute idols with the statement that by the Holy Spirit a person says, “Jesus is Lord.”
1 Corinthians 12:2, 1 Corinthians 12:3
What problem is Paul correcting when he imagines the foot and ear speaking?
Notice that these examples answer the thought, ‘I’m not part of the body’, and Paul says that conclusion is false.
1 Corinthians 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:16
How do the repeated questions in verses 29 and 30 help explain the list in verse 28?
Think about the answer expected by each question and what that shows about whether everyone has the same role.
1 Corinthians 12:29, 1 Corinthians 12:30
Make, think or respond
1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts: Message and response chart
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Instruction or encouragement”, “Reason given”, “Verse reference”.
- Read 1 Corinthians 12:1–11; 1 Corinthians 12:12–26; 1 Corinthians 12:27–31. Use “Spiritual Gifts”, “The Body of Christ”, “The Greater Gifts” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Choose one instruction or encouragement and write a practical response, explaining its connection with the reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of 1 Corinthians 12: Spiritual Gifts connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use Spiritual Gifts as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between Spiritual Gifts and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 1 Corinthians 12:1–11; 1 Corinthians 12:12–26; 1 Corinthians 12:27–31. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.
2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.
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.
4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.
7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
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,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
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.
11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
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.
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.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
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.
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.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.
19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now they are many members, but one body.
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.”
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
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,
24 while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,
25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
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.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.