Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:12–26 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.

What does it mean to be a part of the body of Christ? It can mean the physical structure of a human, the thing that takes up space. Body can be used to describe the collective spiritual members of a congregation. But, body can also reference each individual parts; organs, bones, muscles, etc that make up the whole.

The verses we read points to the collective spiritual members and their specific roles within the church, both locally and globally. I view it in this manner, the collective body is like a huge puzzle, and each body, within the church is like a puzzle piece. Some, like the corners and edges of a puzzle, find their place in the big picture easily. Some other pieces have distinct markings that, when looking at the big picture, are easy to see where they will fit. Other pieces, though, are less clear where they will fit, what part of the puzzle they will go in, or even how they fit within the other pieces as a whole, yet without them the puzzle will be incomplete, there will be a hole.

I look at this similarly to the body of Christ within a church, each of us are a piece of the puzzle. Some may find their place creating the boundaries that God sets for the church, others will find their place within the church easily, embracing their spiritual gifts and becoming integrated in ministries, others though, may struggle to find exactly where they fit, but without them the church cannot be complete, a hole within the body of Christ within the church. It is up to us to place ourselves in the puzzle and create a complete puzzle so that the reflection (the picture) Jesus wants to shine can be seen.

Many Members, One Purpose

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 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.

The main purpose of these two verses are as impactful as any in the Bible - a church should be united. If we, as the church - both in the local and corporate sense, are to be like the Body of Christ then we must be whole - each and every member a contributing part because we (the church) are a picture of Christ.

Each of us are like that puzzle piece, and if you look at the individual puzzle piece you have been given this morning, can you tell me what the complete picture will look like simply by looking at your piece? How about looking at the pieces your neighbors are holding? Do you have a good idea now of the full picture? Interestingly, we can look at a piece of the puzzle, we may even get a glimpse at one section of the puzzle, but we certainly cannot see the full picture without placing all the pieces together.

Just as we have individual systems; the nerves, the respiratory, or the circulatory system, each are vital individually, but without one another the body as a whole would not function properly. Despite all the many parts, the body is still one, it is whole, it is complete. All the parts of the body are still in the body, forming the body, and enables the body to function as intended.

We, too, as the body of Christ within our churches must remember we are in the body, we form the body, and each of us enable to body to function as Christ intends. The problem is, when part of the puzzle pieces are missing...the picture is never complete. When part of the body is missing...the body cannot function.

No Piece Unimportant

1 Corinthians 12:14–20 ESV

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.

Some puzzle pieces are much more difficult to find where they fit than others. Especially in more complicated puzzles and with more intricate designs. There are some in the church, who may feel as though they are not as important as others within the body of Christ. Some members here in the church of Corinth were experiencing “believers doubt”, thinking they are less gifted, less able, less worthy, unimportant, inadequate, ungifted, overlooked, even useless. But we find here that we are told it is totally untrue.

Just because an ear cannot taste, or a tongue cannot hear doesn’t mean it does not have its own unique characteristics and uses. The body, as a whole, is not one significant/major member, but many members. Every person who truly belongs to the body of Christ (the church) is significant and important to God and has a gift and function in the body. Note four significant facts about the church, the body of Christ.

The brain without the heart is useless. The heart without the digestive system is useless. The pulmonary system without the endocrine system, you get the point. Each part of the body is necessary and as needed. But now, look down at one of your feet and study your big toe. What about it is attractive? What makes it something that should be put on a pedestal? For most, the big toe is just plain ugly. And we’ve got two of them! But it does not mean they are not important. Sharp physiotherapy states “Unlike the other toes, the big toe plays a critical role in weight-bearing and forward propulsion during walking. Its joint, known as the metatarsophalangeal joint (MTP), is pivotal for push-off when we take a step.

Beyond its mechanical function, the big toe houses an intricate network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The flexor hallucis brevis and longus, along with the extensor hallucis longus and brevis, work in tandem to provide the necessary strength and flexibility for movements such as toe-off during walking and maintaining balance while standing.”

For us to stand, balanced, and properly take a step forward, that big toe is pretty significant. It just goes to point that each member within the church is necessary. We may not be the most noticed, we may not be the most sightly, we may not even be thought of as important, but we (as a church) cannot function without every part of the body. No other body part can function as the other, just as no other church member can fill the void left by another. The body of Christ, the church, can operate only if enough members function as they are gifted to do. The body, the church, becomes handicapped if some members do not function and do the work they are gifted to do. The ability of the body to operate is determined by the number and efficiency of its members. The more the members of the body (church) function and function efficiently, the more the body (church) can do. Beside you, there are additional puzzle pieces in the pews. Those are intended for the members who are not here today, for those who may have left and not found themselves in another puzzle, for family, friends who are not in church today. Take that puzzle piece and remember that, without them, the picture can never be complete, the puzzle unfinished.

No One Greater Than The Other

1 Corinthians 12:21–26 ESV

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.

If you had to choose today, which one would you rather do, breathe or think? Have your heart pump blood, or your stomach digest food? Not one function is more important than the other, just like no individual is more important to the Body of Christ. So why is it that there are some who will try to force their individual wants and desires upon the church? Every member is important and significant, and must be considered when it comes to making decisions for the body as a whole. There is a strong admonition against these actions. Not any one persons gifts or contributions are more important that any others. Even the lowest and least gifted member (who is using their gift) is as important to the function of the church as the minister or the most gifted person. Notice this - when they are using their gift.

The point is well made: no believer or group of believers are to look down upon, snub, or bypass the less gifted in the church. All are important; in fact, the less gifted who are using their gifts for Christ are actually more necessary. They are “where the rubber hits the road”; therefore, they should be treated with greater honor.

We should be so tight, as the body of Christ, the church, that when one person rejoices we all rejoice with them; and when one person hurts we all hurt with them. We, as the body, should act as one body. Each having their own purpose, we should be as one.

Closing

This morning, we have one within the body that will be undergoing some procedures on Wednesday and the family has requested a time for the church, the whole body, to gather together for a time of laying on of hands and prayer for her safety, for answers, and for God’s continued blessings.

We will close with this time of prayer as we ask for the family, then the deacons and their wives, and then the church to gather at the altar for a time of prayer.