Unity In Diversity

Thank You’s:

Occassion: ACBS Church - Majayjay’s Anniversary

Their Theme: Unity In Diversity

Thank: Pastor Joel, Pastora Judith, Ma Linda, Pa Ver, Pst. Jonathan

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION:

Central North Regional Pastor for Foursquare Churches

Pastor the church my grandparents started in Mahomet, IL

Married 6 years to Andrea

Kids: Kayla is 5 and Luke is 3

SERMON INTRO:

STORY TO INTRO BIG IDEA:

WHAT IS THE PICTURE/ILLUSTRATION?

Ask a few warm-up questions that highlight differences, elaborating on hobbies, demographics, careers, childhood experiences, musical tastes, and so forth.

Ask them if there is anything in the world they would be willing to die for

Ask them to describe the most important relationship in their lives (Christ).

Only those adopted into the Triune God’s family can boast such radical unity in diversity!

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?… WHAT PROBLEM DOES THIS SOLVE?

What happens when the body does not function?

Too often we fall to the schemes of the enemy that brings chaos and conflict, which causes the body not to function.

As a church that is _____ years old, you must continue to recognize your place in the Body of Christ!

BIG IDEA:

The local church is to function in the world as a body.

‌Let’s PRAY..….

Opening Scripture:

1 Corinthians 12:12–27 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 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.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Functioning as a local church:

1. Remember whose body it is.

1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

Christ has been revealed in the world and is now incarnate in the world through His Body.

2. Remember that it is one body, not many bodies.

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 “For in one Spirit we were ALL baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and ALL were made to drink of one Spirit.”

Is “Baptized” Interpreted as Initiation or Subsequent?

1 Corinthians 12:13 “13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

Jesus as the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit:

Matthew 3:11 “11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Mark 1:8 “8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.””

John 1:33 “33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”

Luke 3:16 “16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Acts 1:5 “5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.””

“As believers are made to drink one Spirit provided by Jesus Christ, so in the same way believers are baptized [in/with] the Holy Spirit into the one body by Jesus Christ” (Adams, p. 20).

Baptized in/with The Holy Spirit BY Jesus (see Adams).

Baptized is a verb for a reason…missionaries!

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

John 20:22 “22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

3. Remember that a body has many limbs and organs.

1 Corinthians 12:14 ESV

For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

1 Corinthians 12:14 “For the body does not consist of one member but of many.”

Chaos comes if we do not function in our assigned roles.

Indian’s caste system that is the belief that various castes came from BRAHMA’s body. They place various values on the castes.

When we may FEEL we “do not belong” (vv. 15-17) the truth is that our own doubts does not change the fact that we do belong.

1 Corinthians 12:18 “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”

1 Corinthians 12:22 “On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,”

“Weaker” is unpresentable…1 Corinthians 12:23 “and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,”

“Weaker” as opposed to “on display”: Those who have a worldly competitive spirit and seek status to be displayed to others. Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

We have a tendency to showcase what is “more successful”, the person with more “charisma”, and ignore the value of the poor.

“Weaker” as “disabled”: Even the “disabled” could be seen as a gift of the Spirit through their offering of weakness (Moltmann)

1 Corinthians 12:24 “which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,”

How do you perceive your weaknesses?

Status is not to be concerned with the part/limb/organ but with BELONGING to the whole: one Body.

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

If a tree falls in the forest and there is nobody there to hear it, does it make a sound?”

“If a man speaks in a forest and no woman is around to hear him, is he still wrong?”

***“If a believer exercises a spiritual gift in a vacuum and there is no one there to be edified, is the ‘gift’ either spiritual or exercised?”

(Source: Teach The Text Commentary)

Illustration: Doing the limbo by yourself vs. someone holding the bar for you.

Talk It Over

What are some examples that highlight the dangers of chaos when the body of Christ does not function properly?

What personal experiences can you share about feeling like you belong or do not belong in a community?

How can you ensure your unique God given gifts contribute to the health of your church community?

Conclusion/Reflection:

You need others, and others need you!

Live according to God’s values, rather than shifting cultural values.

We have no right to dismiss the value of others in the Body of Christ.