One Body, Many Parts

THE CHURCH:
MANY MEMBERS, ONE BODY

Intro.
1. Two extreme attitudes in the church: “I can do everything” & “I can’t do anything.” Both attitudes are wrong: One is borne of pride & selfishness; the other of not knowing the value of every saint.

2. Have you ever seen posters in doctor’s office of human body (names, systems, etc.).
1 Cor. 12:12-31One Body with Many Parts
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

3. – Holy Spirit gives us a “poster” of the body of Christ the (church), displaying its unity as individual parts join together to function harmoniously & effectively as a church of Christ.

I. WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST - 12:27.
A. The Church is One Body with Many Members –
1. Baptized into one body –
-We all share a common faith, conversion, fellowship & goal.

2. Body can grow & function effectively –Ephesians 4:15-16:
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. ;

B. The Body Illustrates Our Unity in Christ –
Ephesian 4:3-6:
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.),
1. The local church is to be united –
2. The church is not to be a “battle zone”!
(Example of a team)

II. THE BODY (CHURCH): MANY MEMBERS.
A. God has designed the Church (body) to achieve His Purposes – (Applied to miraculous gifts – 12:1-12)
1. Different gifts – Same Spirit – 12:4. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all (we all have been blessed)

2. Different ministries – Same Lord – 12:5There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. (We render diff. services)

3. Different activities (works) – Same God – 12:6God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.. (thru diff. ways)

-Illus. with human body-
B. Each Member of the Body of Christ:

1. Is vital – [You are valuable in the church! What you do is valuable to the church!]
a. Young person who sets a godly example.
b. Elderly saint whose endurance inspires others.
c. The mother who teaches her children the ways of God.
d. The father who leads his house in righteousness.
e. The class teacher, preacher, song leader, prayer, etc.
2. Is needed –
a. - No one is to be a “church boss” – a dominating Diotrephes – 3 Jno. 9. (cf. intimidation, manipulation, etc.)
b. – Weaker members are necessary, too. (Humility toward all is crucial for our success! – Rom. 12:3 tells us don’t think we are better than we really are.

3. Is honorable –
a. Opinionated “ranking” of importance among brethren is wrong!
b. Just as we adorn our body so that all parts are honorably presented (modest), God has arranged the body of Christ (church) in such a way that the honor of every member is displayed – cf. how we treat one another & others – Jas. 2:1-4. 1 My dear brothers and sisters,[a] how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting[b] dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?


4. has mutual care for one another –
a. – Where there is division this is impossible! (cf. helping one another remain faithful –
Gal. 6:1-2; 1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 1 Ths. 5:14.
b. – In Christ, there is an intertwining of our care for one another, dependence upon each other, our devotion to each other in joy & sorrow, in pleasure & pain, in life & death – of our lives together in Christ! - Rom. 12:5 (we are members of one another!),

III. APPLYING THE PRINCIPLE.
A. We Must Respect Our Head (Christ) in All Things – Col. 3:17.

1. In what we believe, teach and practice.
2. Insist on Bible authority – by it our Head directs us!

B. We Must Do Our Part So the Body Properly Functions – Eph. 4:16. “16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
1. Individuals function which works for the good of the whole.
2. When you or I do not do our part the body suffers!
a. Are you teaching or will you be teaching a Bible class?
b. Are you praying for your brethren?
c. Are you encouraging others in word & actions?
d. Are you burying your blessings instead of using them to help the church & glorify our Lord?
e. Are you using or abusing the gift of time the Lord gives us?

C. We Must Endeavor to Keep Unity Among Us –
1. So that no formal division in or separation from a church or religious body occurs – .
2. A fractured body is unable to function adequately, it takes a long time to heal, and without proper care leads to a lifetime of pain!

Conclusion
1. None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something!
2. May everything we do honor Christ & His body, the church.