Why the Local Church Matters - Part 2

RECAP

Last week, we started by showing the three analogies of the church given in I Timothy 3:15

1 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900

15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The church as a household

The question: Am I part of the household? Are you saved?

The church as an Assembly

The question: Am I part of the assembly?

The church as a pillar

The question: Am I part of the strength and support for truth in my church?

So, we concluded that the church is a saved body of believers that assemble together to keep and stand for truth.

Once we understand that, we can start to understand what God wants from the local church and highlight why that is important...

Today I want to take you to I Corinthians 12, where we see another picture that God gives us of the church and it’s members...

The Church as a Body

There are three things that I see in this passage about the body...

1. The Body Should Be Connected

Context:

1 Corinthians 12:1 KJV 1900

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1 Corinthians 12:4–31 KJV 1900

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

a.) Connected to God

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 KJV 1900

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

b.) Connected to each other

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 KJV 1900

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit (connection to God) are we all baptized into one body (connection to each other), whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:20–26 KJV 1900

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Think of the analogy of a physical body:

Nutrients and bloodflow should never be cut off to any member of the body...

What if a body part is:

Dead? It not only hinders the rest of the body, but it has possibility of infecting the rest of the body...

Sleeps? It was the church at Sardis in Revelation 3, that God speaks to this… God said they, “...thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”

Inflamed? Irritated?

Absent altogether?

That’s why when one hurts, we all hurt. When one leaves, we all suffer. When one gets inflamed, it hurts the rest of the body...

I’ve never heard of a bluetooth or wireless limb...

Arthritis?

Proverbs 6:16–19 KJV 1900

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

Dislocation?

Ephesians 4:16 KJV 1900

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.

2. All Parts of the Body are Needed

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 KJV 1900

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

1 Corinthians 12:21–30 KJV 1900

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

The foot doesn’t function without the knee or hip...

The head can be so pretty, but does nothing rolling on the ground...

For the new testament local church to function and operate in a way that is pleasing to Christ, every person must play their part and keep themselves spiritually healthy for the benefit of the rest of the body...

All parts of the body are needed...

That includes the:

pastors,

teachers

nursery workers

bus workers

teen workers

church cleaners

ushers

offering counters

financial secretary

sound men

hospitality team members

discipleship team

Music ministry

All parts of the body are needed...

That includes all parts of you as well:

Your effort

Your mind

Your spiritual gifting

How is God able to use you in this local assembly with the gifting He has given you?

3. The Body Should be Accountable

1 Corinthians 12:14–20 KJV 1900

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

A body that is unwilling to obey the electrical impulses from the brain is a body that doesn’t function appropriately...

If we do not obey every impulse of the Holy Spirit in our lives, than we are a body that is not functioning appropriately...

We are accountable to God, but we are also accountable to each other...