It Takes a Body

Ephesians 4:11–16 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The Church is called the “Body of Christ”

Ephesians 4:12 NKJV

for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

1 Corinthians 12:12–27 NKJV

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

There are many members, but ONE BODY.

At salvation, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ with a specific place, spiritual gifting, and function.

We are all individual members of the whole.

Every member is needed and important.

The Body of Christ is a COMMUNITY

We are individual members of the WHOLE BODY

We are not to be DEPENDENT or INDEPENDENT but INTERDEPENDENT. God made us this way.

The Body of Christ requires mutual CONNECTION

We are to be JOINED TOGETHER

We are to be ASSEMBLED TOGETHER like stones in a temple

Hebrews 10:24–25 NKJV

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The Body of Christ requires mutual COMMITMENT

We are to be KNIT TOGETHER

Like the ligaments and tie things together so that they can work together to accomplish what they cannot accomplish alone.

The Body of Christ is supplied through mutual CONTRIBUTION

By what EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES

The greatest in the kingdom will be the servant of all

The Body of Christ works through mutual COOPERATION

Every part does its SHARE

The Body of Christ becomes effective through mutual COORDINATION

According to the EFFECTIVE WORKING

There must be coordination through leadership or else it will result in chaos.

The Body of Christ grows through mutual EDIFICATION

Causes GROWTH of the body

For the EDIFYING of itself IN LOVE

Response to the Word

Are you a DEPENDENT Christian who expects everyone to serve you and meet your needs?

Are you an INDEPENDENT Christian who is disconnected and uncommitted to the local Body of Christ?

Are you an INTERDEPENDENT Christian who understands and works together with others to become and build the Body of Christ?