Many members – but one body vs. 12-16 (5 things) 

• 1^st – The illustration of the body… vs. 12
  • To help explain how the ‘gifts’ and the church are to function Paul gives an example…
    • The human body – is made of many different parts – but all work together as one…
    • Guided and directed by the brain – coordinating each part to fulfill its purpose
    • In the same way the church of God is made up of many different individuals…
    • Each possessing different talents and gifts – but all working together as one church!
    • All under the authority and direction of the head – who is Jesus Christ!
    • Colossians 2:18 – “Christ is the head of the body. For we are joined together in His body by His strong ties, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.”
    • When we are obedient and listening to Jesus – connected to the head of the Body…
    • The church is healthy and will grow in Jesus – both in numbers and maturity!
  • When any part of the body refuses to listen to the head….
    • We have a name for when a part of the body goes rouge – we call it cancer…
    • Cancer is when part of the body doesn’t to listen to the head – makes its own decisions…
    • It can quickly spread to infect other parts of the body – and is potentially deadly…
    • When we refuse to follow our head – Jesus – when we live a lifestyle full of sin…
    • We become a cancer within the body of Christ – threatening the health of the church…
    • In Acts 5 – the Holy Spirit for lying killed Ananias and Sapphira – for lying!
    • A little sin in the church – can quickly grow to be a HUGE problem…
    • The longer the sin goes ‘untreated’ – the more dangerous it becomes…
    • The only solution – cut out the cancer – remove the problem!
• 2^nd – When did we become part of the Body… vs. 13
  • When we accepted Jesus by faith – salvation – the Spirit baptized us into Jesus…
    • This is not speaking of water baptism…
      • The outward confession of what takes place within us when we believe in Jesus…
      • If you have a diploma – the paper does not give you any more knowledge…
      • But the paper represents the time and effort that went into earning that diploma…
      • Water baptism just shows the change that occurred inside when we believed
    • It is speaking of becoming one with Christ…
      • Galatians 3:27 – “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
      • We had a change in identity – a change in character – II Corinthians 5:17…
      • We died to the man we used to be – selfish – sold out / a slave to sin…
      • We became part of Christ – our lives purchased – dedicated to serving Jesus!
  • Baptized into One Body…
    • It makes no difference who we were before we knew Jesus…
    • Jew / Greek / Free / Slave – we all drank from the same Spirit…
    • In other words there is not one Body of Christ for the rich / and one for the poor…
    • There is not one Body for Baptists / one for Catholics / and one for Adventists…
    • There is only One Body – and all who believe in Jesus become a part of it!
    • The church of God is not a building – it is not a particular denomination…
    • There is only one church of God – the Body of Christ…
    • No matter what name – no matter what traditions – we are all part of God’s church!

• 3^rd – Being content where God has placed us in the body… vs. 14-20
  • We are One Body – but with different parts…
    • Imagine what would happen if one of your ‘feet’ rebelled…
    • It decided because it was not the ‘hand’ – it no longer wanted to be part of your body…
    • Just because the foot was rebelling – does that mean it is not longer connected…
    • In the same way if your ‘ear’ was jealous of your ‘eye’…
    • One might think – better to be an ‘eye’ or ‘hand’ / rather than a stinky ‘foot’ or ‘ear’…
    • But if the whole body were ‘eyes’ or ‘hand’ – how would you hear or walk!
    • The point being every part is necessary – we would not be whole without them all!
  • In the same way – the Body of Christ…
    • Everyone has a role/purpose – gift – they have been given by God to be used for God…
    • We may be called to a position of prominence within the church – pastor / evangelist…
    • Or we may be called to a role that no one will ever notice – janitor / help clean dishes…
    • The tendency is to think that one role is desirable – the other regrettable…
    • But in truth it does not matter what role God has called us to fill…
    • We all have our place within the body of Christ – our purpose God has given to us…
    • Each role is vital for the church – the body of Christ – to function properly…
    • Now some of us might think we would rather be an ‘eye’ than a ‘foot’…
    • But try running without a foot – every part is important / every role is necessary…
    • We are many different parts – but we all come together as one body/family in Jesus!
  • We have no reason to boast / or to regret our purpose…
    • It is the Spirit who has distributed to each the gifts…
    • It is God who calls us to the roles that we are gifted to fill…
    • Those who have the ‘best’ gifts – positions in the Body might be tempted to gloat – but…
    • The gift we have is not to our credit – after all we’re only clay pots – II Corinthians 4:7
    • Leaky pots at that – ones that need to constantly be refilled by the Spirit!
      
• 4^th – Accepting the other parts of the body… vs. 21
  • Causing division in the Body…
    • Imagine what would happen if your ‘eye’ said to your ‘hand’ – I don’t need you!
    • If your body began to fight itself – break out in civil war…
    • One part rejecting anther because they have a different purpose in the Body…
    • The result would be the Body could not function – it we be useless!
  • Yet this is exactly what happens in much of the church today – we divide!
    • We look at other believers saying they are not correct – because they are different…
    • Mark 9:38-40 – “‘Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.’  Jesus said, ‘Do not forbid him… he who is not against us is on our side.’”
    • Men love to divide – if you are not in my group – then you are not on my side…
    • Just because someone does not go to the same church – is not in our group…
    • Does not mean they are not saved – a Christian – part of the Body…
    • The Church is HUGE and diverse – but it has one thing in common – Jesus!
  • The beauty of diversity…
    • God has allowed there to be many denominations in the world…
    • Each with a slightly different flavors – different focus – but all with the same Lord…
    • The reason is so that the church can minister to all different kinds of people…
    • I Corinthians 9:22 – “All things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
    • One person might be more comfortable in the traditions of the Catholic church…
    • Another might enjoy the lively worship in a Pentecostal church…
    • Anther might draw closer to God in the solid teaching of an Evangelical church…
    • There are many churches for many different kinds of people – but only One Body!
  • United we stand – divided we fall…
    • Luke 11:17 – “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”
    • Division causes the church to be ineffective for Jesus – keeps us from shining…
    • Rather than seeing the love of Jesus in us – the world sees us fighting each other…
    • Satan loves to cause division in the church – then we will not be able to fight him
    • When we are busy fighting ourselves – we are not fighting for a lost world!
      
• 5^th – Greater honor to the ‘less’ important parts… vs. 22-26
  • The parts of our body we think are least important – are the most necessary…
    • We take special care of those parts that ‘seem’ less important…
    • We don’t take time to put clothes on our ‘hands’ or our ‘eyes’ (sunglasses don’t count)…
    • But we do clothe our ‘feet’ – in fact there are parts of our body we want no one to see…
    • Those ‘less dignified’ parts we take extra care of giving several layers of clothing!
      

Paul will dedicate the next chapter on the glue the binds us all together – Love!

Greater honor…

In the same way in the Body – God has given greater honor to the ‘less important roles’

It might seem that Pastors / Preachers get the most honor in the church…

But they have their reward here an now – the praises of men…

God will give more honors to the roles you never see…

The person who faithfully prays for God’s people – cleans up after them…

You might never know their names here – but God will give them greater honor…

That way there is balance within the church – no one gift is better than another!

Every part is necessary…

How often do you think about your heart / lungs / liver…

But try living even for a moment without any one of those parts…

If one part is not working properly – the whole body suffers…

We are all connected to each other in Christ – part of the same Body…

If any part is missing – or not serving properly – the whole body suffers…

We might never notice we have a ‘big toe’ till we injure it – then that’s all we think of!

6^th – Seek the best gifts… vs. 27-31

Though no one gift is greater than another – there is an order to the gifts…

The Leadership within the Body…

1^st – Apostle – those who are called to go and share the Gospel message…

2^nd – Prophets – those who call God’s people to repentance – back to the Lord…

3^rd – Teachers – those who instruct God’s people in God’s Word

Then those who minister to the Body…

Building up and encouraging the church with miracles / healings…

Helps – practically taking care of the needs of the church (deacons)…

Administrations – organizing the church – making sure there is not chaos…

Last is the gift of tongues – the only gift meant to encourage the individual believer

We do not all have the same gifts – but seek the best…

Not everyone is going to be an Apostle – or a prophet – or teacher…

Not everyone will have the gift of miracles – or healing – or tongues…

It is not that you do not have a choice – we can ask God for the ‘best’ gifts…

There is nothing wrong having the gift of ‘helps’ serving the saints in the church…

But why not rather ask God to give you the gift of an apostle or teacher…

A better way…

Paul closes up by saying there is a better way…

The gifts of the Spirit are amazing – giving each of us our place within the Body…

And we must accept the gift God gives us – accept others within the church…

But how do we blend together such a diverse group into One Body – One church…