One Body, Many Members

Introduction:

Acts 17:11 (KJV 1900)

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

About Me:

- Called to preach and teach at a young age, and

- I am so thankful to be able to continue fulfilling this called by sharing God's word with you today.

- I also want to encourage the young men of the church who feel the call the preach on their lives. It may be a non-traditional path like mine. Be humble and hungry and God will promote you fill that calling.

Romans 12:1–10 (KJV 1900)

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

I want to begin the exposition of this passage and the topic of Church Unity by emphasizing a key reason why the Holy Spirit directed me to share this message. I am not preaching on Church Unity tonight because I think we are lacking in unity or that I am beginning to see the symptoms of a dis-unified church beginning.

It is quite the opposite. This message is meant to be an offering of thanksgiving for the remarkable level of unity we have and to encourage everyone to continue in unity and strive on toward the mark. Do not grow weary in the battle to remain unified.

If you were present in a recent Sunday School class I taught you will remember that I mentioned you can divide Romans into two major sections: Chapters 1-11 are Doctrinal and chapters 12-16 are Practical Christian Living. Tonight's message covers the very beginning of the practical Christian living section of Romans and the first major topic is unity within the body of Christ.

Before we being our study of verses 1-10. Let's spend a few moments discussing why unity is important.

1. Christ desires that we be unified and prayed earnestly prior to his death that his disciples and the future Church would be unified. In some of his final moments before the cross Christ prayed for his disciples and the future believers.

John 17:11 KJV 1900

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:20–23 (KJV 1900)

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Why did you pray specifically for unity?

The world will know that Jesus is the Messiah through the unity of the church.

Have you ever considered that our unity is a testimony to the world that Jesus is the Messiah?

The world will know that God loves us.

Have you considered that God’s love is displayed through our unity?

2. When we aren't unified opportunity is created for the devil to destroy us. As individuals we expose ourselves more directly to attacks from the devil.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

3. Unity is a key component of Christian maturity and when we are not unified we are not able to grow as a body and individually.

Ephesians 4:15–16 KJV 1900

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Remember, the growth of the body and the growth of the individual is halted (limping) when there is disunity in the body.

I. The Individual in the Church

Romans 12:1–3 KJV 1900

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The preceeding verses lay the foundation for the individual believer to be able to operate within the body of Christ and show the individual what he must do to be able to live out the following passages and be unified with other believers.

Premise: These 3 verses are foundational to live out all the follow verses throughout the rest of Romans 12-16.

- In light of this, let's consider the exhortation in verses 1-3 regarding the creation and maintenance of unity within the Church.

- The individual member must strive to follow the exhortation in verses 1-3 for the great whole of the Church to be in unity.

- Let's review these key principles.

Key Principle 1: Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.

The sacrificial system was a bloody system and priests were a type of butcher who interceded for man before God in anticipation of the great high Priest making the ultimate sacrifice, who is now ever living to intercede for us daily. Today, there are some who may be called to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the Gospel., but for us who live in a relatively lower chance of bodily persecution we are called not to a sacrifice of death but a sacrifice of life. This is our reasonable service.

Key Principle 2: Refuse conformity to the world and be transformed.

- Do you love the things of God more the things of this world?

- Do you behave like the world?

- Do you worship or idolize the world? 1 John 1:15-17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust therof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." & Romans 8:4-8 - turn there.

- Be transformed by the renewing of your mind through the word of God. This transformation is the achieved through the process of sanctification. John 15:3 "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" & John 17:17 "Sanctify them through they truth: thy word is truth"

Key Principle 3: We are warned to not think higher of ourselves.

Why is this? I recall to your memory the state you have been lift from. A child of wrath and disobedience. If not for the grace of God we would all be in that cursed state for eternity. Always hold onto this truth to maintain a state of humility and a poor spirit. Think soberly and not higher than ye ought.

- John 13:4-5,14-17 - Christ gives us the example of what station we are to operate in regards to one another.

This passage also reminds us of our source of faith, God himself.

II. The Church is a Body of Many Members

Read Verse 4-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:12.15-22

The church is not simply a group of people with a common faith that decides to just hang out on Sunday and Wednesdays. The Bible refers to us as body. As a body we need the following things to happen in order to functions

1. We must all be a part of the body - Salvation

2. We must all accept our role in the body and other's roles in the body 1 Cor 12:14-21

3. We must suffer, weep, and be honored together 1 Cor 12:26 - Is someone sick? Did someone die? Does hate their job? Did someone win or get blessed in something? Is someone really good at something?

4. We must never forget who the the head of the body - that is Christ Eph 4:15-16 "But speaking the truth in love, may group up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Warnings:

80/20 Rule = We don't want to be this

Burnout

Division and Cliques

The Gospel Suffers

Read Romans 12:6-8

For this passage of scripture I want to encourage everyone to be using their gifts within the church.

1) Long timers - keep going 2) New members - let's get started

1. Long timers - bring the new folks into the fold to begin sharing the load that you have been faithfully carrying

2. New Members - build relationships with folks that have been around for a while make yourself available.

III. Your Call in operating within the Body

Romans 12:9a & 1 Cor 12: 27-31 - This passage will be part of our transition to closing.

Let your love be without ulterior motive or be genuine. Love because you have chosen them to promote them aside from your desires. You want their well being regardless of the benefit to yourself.

Agape - to have a preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of, to take pleasure in a thing, prize it above other things, be unwilling to abandon it or do without it.

A love that is above instinct and is intentionally given. It is given by choice.

John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love on to another."

John 15:12-13 "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend."

1 Peter 4:8-9 "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover a multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Closing

1 Cor 13:1-3

In closing, remember 1 John 4:20-21 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom hath not seen? And this commandment have from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." My prayer for you and myself is to love one another and prefer others over ourselves. Thanks.