Being The Church

Romans 12:4-8

Introduction: Negative Body Imaging

Body Dysmorphia

An overwhelming preoccupation with a perceived flaw in one's physical appearance.

Pimple on the forehead we think it’s all anyone sees, when in reality, most people are thinking too much about their own flaws to notice yours

Leads to depression, and sometimes going to extreme measures to alter appearance.

Church Dysmorphia

“The Great Dechurching” by Jim Davis and Michael Graham - “More people have left the church in the last 25 years than all the people who became Christians from the First and Second Great Awakenings and Billy Graham crusades combined.

Pew Research estimates that, while Christians represent 65% of the US population, that will drop to 1/3rd by 2070.

Only seeing the blemishes - We see the divisions, the lack of organization, the slow nature of growth, and we wonder if the church is worth all the effort.

Churches go to extreme measures to try to be “relevant” and acceptable by the world around them.

Worship-tainment; radical shifts in teaching, departure from Biblical truths, leading to the Church having an identity crisis.

“O be not too quick to bury the church before she is dead! Stay till Christ has tried his skill before you give it up for lost.” John Flavel

Sermon Series on Being the Church: The nature, necessity and blessing of Discipleship, Fellowship and Mission

Today: Building a positive image of the church, strengthening our understanding, love and commitment to being the Church.

The Church is the Body of Christ

Various Ways to See the Church

Temple of the Holy Spirit and the dwelling place of God.

1 Cor 3:16 You are God’s temple & God’s Spirit dwells in you

Eph 2:20-21 The holy temple, Christ himself the cornerstone

Family of the Redeemed

Eph 2:19 You are members of the household of God

Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers (Heb 2:11), and we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), to receive with him of all the covenant promises

Gal 3:26 in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith

The Bride of Christ - Eph 5:25-28 and Rev 19:7

The Church is the Body of Christ - Romans 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 1

Paul focuses on the church as the body of Christ: Living, breathing, moving, many members working together, with one common purpose.

Christ is the Head

Our union is with Christ

We are chosen in Christ, crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, raised with Christ, gifted by Christ, and we live by the power of Christ.

Our lives are hidden in him

As he lived in righteous obedience to God - being hidden in him, so do we

As he died, taking the wrath of God for our sins, being hidden in him, we died with him

As he was raised to live in glory, being hidden in him, we are raised to live for God’s praise

He is the source of life in the Church

He leads - He is Lord, He determines where we go. We are called to obedience, to hear and obey.

We are individually members of the body.

We do life together, united to Christ, united to one another

John Calvin - The only true bond of Church unity is Christ the Lord, who has reconciled us to God the Father, and will gather us out of our present dispersion into the fellowship of His body, that so, through His one Word and Spirit, we may grow together into one heart and one soul.

No lone wolf Christians, neglecting the body is strong indication of sin, something deficient in your spiritual life

What does it mean that we are united to one another?

Richard Hooker - We are not by ourselves sufficient to furnish ourselves with competent store of things needful for such a life as our nature does desire, a life fit for the dignity of man; therefore to supply those defects and imperfections which are in us living single and solely by ourselves, we are naturally induced to seek communion and fellowship with others.

Every Member Has A Role

The Gifts of Grace

The Gifts Paul Mentions in Romans 12:

Prophecy - speaking the truth - preaching the word of God

Serving - ministering to the needs of the people, providing, food, clothing, shelter, etc…

Teaching - helping others to understand the word of God.

Exhortation - teaching that moves the listener to act on the word. Doctrine applied to life provides an incentive to live righteously, and becomes a positive exhortation or encouragement to the people of God.

Giving - those who are generous with their time and talent, with their finances, they enjoy giving and do not begrudge it

Leading - administration with zeal and diligence

Mercy - compassion, kindness - with cheerfulness

About the gifts

Not meant to be exhaustive - not a Christian skill’s list - pigeon holing and stifling - I’m not gifted like everyone else, so I really don’t have a place to serve.

Every member is gifted differently. God knows our needs, and provides by giving gifts to his members. The Church has every resource it needs to thrive in ministry - if only we used our gifts to serve Him.

3 implications of God’s gifts to the Church

Humility: Your gift is from God, it is not your own talent and ability; don’t think too highly of yourself (Rom 12:3). In this body, no one person is more important than any other, because everyone belongs by grace alone through faith alone.

Necessity: Every member is gifted and needed: Don’t discount God’s gift and bury it.

The Gifts were Given Service: The body must work together

Learning to Love the Body (How?)

See the Church through God’s Eyes

The church is made up of those redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19)

Understand the grace & sacrifice that established the Church

The Church is the Bride of Christ - If we love Him, we love His bride, and strive to protect and serve her needs, to keep the bride pure and undefiled

Appreciate the blessing of a community of faith

The Church is God’s plan, not man’s -

More than a country club - more than a cable subscription to entertain you - when you realize how precious a good friend is, someone closer than a brother, and find that in the church, it is priceless.

Bonhoeffer - It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.

Seeing the necessity of the Church

If church is only a club, someplace to go to get recharged, a building you sit in for an hour each week, you are missing the blessing God has for you.

Applying your gift to the church

Prioritize your relationships - seek out those who are in the church - we need one another.

Older members - adopt younger ones - you need to be investing the wisdom, experience, and witness into the next generation.

Younger members - get to know the saints of the church -

Be intentional about connecting with other members of your congregation - don’t be the first out the door and deprive yourself and others of the opportunity of ministry in the Lord: Praying for one another, inviting each other into your homes, visit those who are sick and isolated.

Participation in the Church

If you don’t know y0ur gift, get in the classes that are offered, be part of a bible study; to help you see how God is calling you to be a member of his church, and to serve the body.

When you know your giftedness employ your gift for Christ’s church.

God has called us to life in Christ, life bound to one another in fellowship and service, living for His glory as we follow Christ our Lord. As we realize the tremendous grace given to us, making us the body of Christ, may we love Christ’s Church and use the gifts Christ has given to serve and bless one another.