.jpg)
This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 9th February 2025 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here. For the worship please click here.
We’re going through 1 Corinthians looking at the church as a body. We are to be united and are interrelated.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 NIV
Let’s pray!
“Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,”
Ephesians 3:8-10 NIV
The church is the instrument chosen by God to display his wisdom and glory! The early church broke down every barrier. Every culture has barriers to unity. But Christians welcomed men and women alike. The Greeks excluded slaves, but Christians included them. The Jews excluded gentiles and women, but Christians brought them together around the Lord's table. If you have put your faith in Jesus and trusted in him for your salvation, you are a part of the church. It’s one thing to be placed in the church and then another thing to know how to be in the church.
We are called to unity. Then there is diversity in this unity. Each of us is unique. We are called to be joined together in our uniqueness and to work together.
We can have an inferiority complex and consider that you’re not a part of the body because you’re not like someone else. Or you can have a superiority complex and say we don’t need someone. But both are incorrect. Every part of the body is important and plays a meaningful and valuable role.
It is God who has placed us in the body. We are to function according to our gifting. No part in a body can function on its own. For you to function in your gifting, you need to be connected to the whole body.
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Ephesians 4:16 NIV
As we play our role, the body is being built up. We are mirroring the trinity - each person of the trinity is equal yet has different roles and live in perfect unity. Even in the body we need to have this.
Q. How do we strengthen our interconnectedness?
We need to build meaningful relationships in the body and across the body. We might not be able to get to know everyone but we can get to know many.
Encourage one another
Bear one another’s burdens - “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 NIV
Work together in ministry - look at how you can build up this body of Christ. Example of an organ transplant. The organ needs to accept the body and the body needs to accept the organ. God has given the gifts needed for the church to grow.
Q. What can we do?
Ask yourself - Am I isolating myself or am I engaged in the life of the church?
Look for opportunities to serve.
Let’s be quick to encourage people.
Let’s look to connect with people here.
As we do these things, the church grows and the manifold wisdom of God is displayed.
