1 Corinthians: Body of Christ

I CORINTHIANS 12:14

Scripture verse: “For in fact the body is not one member, but many.”

 

Objectives:

  1. Students should be able to recite the verse and understand the analogy of the Church to the human body.
  2. Students should begin to see their own gifts and function in the body.

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.
  2. Scripture lesson: I Corinthians 12: 12-21. Read it aloud with each student taking a turn. Read also Romans 12:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30. After discussion, recite the verse several times. You could cut the words apart and tape them to the backs of the students; can they line themselves up in order?

 

  1. Review the background of the book. What were those silly Corinthians doing now that has Paul all riled up? Each one is busy thinking that his ministry is the best and most important, boasting and putting others down!

 

  1. Discuss human anatomy (at an appropriate level): What is the function of the various parts of the body? Draw a body on a large piece of paper or chalkboard as you talk, adding each part and discussing its function. Are the parts alone worth much? Are they even pretty to look at? Can a nose by itself do anything at all? You might play 20 questions here: “What body part am I?”

 

  1. In what way can the Church be called the body of Christ? How does Jesus work in the world today? (through us) Do we all have the same talents? Have each student make a list of his special talents and interests and share them; are they all the same? (e.g. serious, funny, talkative, shy, good at math or music, enjoy reading, sports, crafts, art, etc.) Take the list and tie it with a ribbon, scroll-like, and place them in a basket in the center of the table. How do our special talents and interests become gifts? (when we give them away!) Are we all the same? Would a shy person be the best choice for an evangelist? What talents would make a good choir director? A good child watcher? A good Sunday School teacher? A good treasurer? Are they the same? Can you think of a particular way your own special talents could serve the Lord?  Are some ways of serving the Lord more obvious than others? (e.g. the priest, choir director, etc.) Are they more important than the person who counts the money, or rings the bell, or visits the sick, or folds bulletins? Are you a foot or a nose?

 

  1. Play “What’s My Ministry?”: 1 student is handed a card with the name of a ministry in the Church on it.  The others ask questions about that student’s interests and gifts; when a student thinks he knows the ministry of the student, he can guess.  If he gets it right, he gets to be the next “contestant”.

Evangelist                   Priest                                       Deacon

Treasurer                     Sunday School Teacher          Visit the sick

Secretary                     Coffee Hour Cook                  Janitor

  1. Close with prayer. Hold up the basket and pray for each student, that he will minister to the Lord with his special talents.