We Need Each Other

1 Corinthians 12:12–17 NKJV

12 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. 13 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. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 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? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

WE NEED EACH OTHER

INTRODUCTION

LAST WEEK, WE BEGAN THIS SERIES WITH A SIMPLE DECLARATION:

WE ARE THE CHURCH.

WE DISCOVERED IN ACTS CHAPTER 2 THAT THE CHURCH IS MORE THAN A BUILDING.

THE CHURCH IS MORE THAN WHAT HAPPENS ON SUNDAY MORNING.

THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE OF GOD, SAVED BY JESUS CHRIST, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND SENT INTO THE WORLD TO CARRY OUT THE MISSION OF GOD.

BUT TODAY, PAUL TAKES US ONE STEP FURTHER.

BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE THE CHURCH AND STILL FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE NEED EACH OTHER.

WE LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE.

WE ADMIRE PEOPLE WHO CAN HANDLE THINGS BY THEMSELVES.

WE SAY THINGS LIKE:

“I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN.”

“I CAN WORSHIP GOD BY MYSELF.”

AND YES, THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO WALK THROUGH PERSONALLY.

NOBODY CAN BELIEVE FOR YOU.

NOBODY CAN PRAY EVERY PRAYER FOR YOU.

NOBODY CAN MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST FOR YOU.

BUT WHEN GOD SAVED YOU, HE NEVER INTENDED FOR YOU TO FOLLOW JESUS ALONE.

GOD PLACED YOU IN A BODY.

AND PAUL SAYS THAT BODY IS THE CHURCH.

A BODY HAS MANY PARTS.

THOSE PARTS DON'T LOOK ALIKE.

THEY DON'T FUNCTION ALIKE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME ASSIGNMENT.

BUT EVERY PART IS CONNECTED.

AND EVERY PART IS NECESSARY.

SO HERE'S THE TRUTH I WANT US TO CARRY TODAY:

WE ARE DIFFERENT BY DESIGN, CONNECTED BY CHRIST, AND STRONGER TOGETHER.

LOOK AT SOMEBODY AND TELL THEM:

“I NEED YOU.”

NOW FIND SOMEBODY ELSE AND TELL THEM:

“AND YOU NEED ME TOO!”

I. OUR DIFFERENCES DON'T DIVIDE US THEY COMPLETE US

PAUL SAYS IN VERSE 12:

1 Corinthians 12:12 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 JUST 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”

PAUL GIVES US A PICTURE EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND.

LOOK AT YOUR BODY.

YOU HAVE HANDS.

FEET.

EYES.

EARS.

A HEART.

LUNGS.

EVERY PART IS DIFFERENT.

BUT THOSE DIFFERENCES DON'T MAKE YOUR BODY DYSFUNCTIONAL.

THOSE DIFFERENCES MAKE YOUR BODY COMPLETE.

IMAGINE IF YOUR ENTIRE BODY WERE ONE GIANT HAND.

YOU COULD GRAB SOMETHING, BUT YOU COULDN'T SEE WHERE YOU WERE GOING.

IMAGINE IF YOUR ENTIRE BODY WERE AN EYE.

YOU COULD SEE THE FOOD ON THE TABLE, BUT YOU COULDN'T PICK IT UP.

EVERY PART NEEDS ANOTHER PART.

AND PAUL SAYS:

THAT'S THE CHURCH.

WE DON'T ALL HAVE THE SAME PERSONALITY.

WE DON'T ALL COME FROM THE SAME BACKGROUND.

WE DON'T ALL HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES.

WE DON'T ALL WORSHIP EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.

WE DON'T ALL HAVE THE SAME SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

AND THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM GOD NEEDS TO FIX.

THAT'S GOD'S DESIGN.

SOMETIMES CHURCHES MAKE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING UNITY MEANS EVERYBODY HAS TO BE ALIKE.

BUT UNITY IS NOT UNIFORMITY.

UNITY MEANS DIFFERENT PEOPLE MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.

A CHOIR DOESN'T SOUND BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE EVERYBODY SINGS THE SAME NOTE.

THE BEAUTY COMES WHEN SOPRANO, ALTO, TENOR, AND BASS SING DIFFERENT NOTES THAT COME TOGETHER IN HARMONY.

THE CHURCH OUGHT TO BE THE SAME WAY.

DIFFERENT GIFTS.

DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.

DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

BUT ONE LORD.

ONE FAITH.

ONE BAPTISM.

ONE MISSION.

ONE BODY.

OUR DIFFERENCES SHOULD NOT BECOME REASONS TO SEPARATE.

THEY SHOULD BECOME REASONS TO CELEBRATE WHAT GOD HAS PLACED AMONG US.

BECAUSE SOMEBODY IN THIS CHURCH HAS A STRENGTH WHERE YOU HAVE A WEAKNESS.

SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW.

SOMEBODY CAN REACH SOMEBODY YOU CANNOT REACH.

SOMEBODY HAS A GIFT YOU DO NOT HAVE.

AND GOD CONNECTED US SO THAT WHAT IS MISSING IN ME CAN BE SUPPLIED THROUGH SOMEBODY ELSE.

TRANSITION

BUT PAUL KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT HUMAN NATURE.

WHENEVER PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT, COMPARISON EVENTUALLY SHOWS UP.

AND COMPARISON CAN MAKE YOU BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE'S GIFT, POSITION, OR VISIBILITY, YOU DON'T MATTER.

SO PAUL MOVES FROM OUR DIFFERENCES TO OUR VALUE.

II. EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY MATTERS

LISTEN TO VERSE 15

1 Corinthians 12:15 NKJV

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

PAUL IMAGINES THE FOOT LOOKING AT THE HAND AND SAYING:

“I WISH I COULD DO WHAT YOU DO.”

THE HAND GETS NOTICED.

THE HAND HOLDS THINGS.

THE HAND SHAKES HANDS.

THE HAND WAVES.

AND THE FOOT STARTS COMPARING ITSELF TO THE HAND.

UNTIL EVENTUALLY THE FOOT CONCLUDES:

“BECAUSE I CAN'T DO WHAT THE HAND DOES, I MUST NOT BE IMPORTANT.”

BUT PAUL SAYS:

YOU'RE STILL PART OF THE BODY.

CHURCH, COMPARISON WILL MAKE YOU UNDERESTIMATE WHAT GOD PUT INSIDE YOU.

EVERYBODY WILL NOT PREACH.

EVERYBODY WILL NOT SING.

EVERYBODY WILL NOT LEAD A MINISTRY.

EVERYBODY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND A MICROPHONE.

BUT VISIBILITY DOES NOT DETERMINE VALUE.

SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR PHYSICAL BODY ARE PARTS NOBODY EVER SEES.

YOU DON'T SEE YOUR HEART.

BUT TRY LIVING WITHOUT IT.

YOU DON'T SEE YOUR LUNGS.

BUT TRY BREATHING WITHOUT THEM.

YOU DON'T SEE YOUR KIDNEYS.

BUT THEY ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH HAPPENS WHERE NOBODY SEES IT.

SOMEBODY IS PRAYING WHEN NOBODY KNOWS.

SOMEBODY IS MAKING A PHONE CALL TO CHECK ON A MEMBER.

SOMEBODY IS PREPARING FOOD.

SOMEBODY IS ENCOURAGING A YOUNG PERSON.

SOMEBODY IS COUNTING MONEY.

SOMEBODY IS CLEANING SOMETHING.

SOMEBODY IS OPENING A DOOR.

SOMEBODY IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND THEY MAY NEVER RECEIVE APPLAUSE.

BUT HEAVEN SEES IT.

AND GOD SAYS:

YOU MATTER.

DON'T MEASURE YOUR IMPORTANCE BY HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW YOUR NAME.

MEASURE YOUR FAITHFULNESS BY WHETHER YOU'RE DOING WHAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO.

THE FOOT DOESN'T NEED TO BECOME A HAND.

IT NEEDS TO BECOME THE BEST FOOT IT CAN BE.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BECOME SOMEBODY ELSE.

YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO BECOME EVERYTHING GOD CREATED YOU TO BE.

CAN I GET AN AMEN

TRANSITION

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER DANGER IN COMPARISON.

SOMETIMES COMPARISON MAKES US FEEL INFERIOR.

BUT OTHER TIMES, COMPARISON MAKES US FEEL SUPERIOR.

SOMETIMES THE FOOT SAYS, “I'M NOT IMPORTANT.”

BUT LATER IN THIS CHAPTER, PAUL SAYS THE EYE CAN DEVELOP THE OPPOSITE PROBLEM AND SAY TO THE HAND:

“I DON'T NEED YOU.”

AND BOTH ATTITUDES DAMAGE THE BODY.

BECAUSE ONE SAYS:

“YOU DON'T NEED ME.”

THE OTHER SAYS:

“I DON'T NEED YOU.”

PAUL SAYS BOTH ARE WRONG.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE HEART OF TODAY'S MESSAGE.

III. WE CANNOT BE THE CHURCH BY OURSELVES

THE MESSAGE OF THIS TEXT IS SIMPLE:

WE NEED EACH OTHER.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS GOD HAS INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED SO YOU CANNOT DO THEM ALONE.

YOU CAN PRAY ALONE.

YOU CAN READ SCRIPTURE ALONE.

YOU CAN SING PRAISES ALONE.

BUT YOU CANNOT PRACTICE ALL OF CHRISTIANITY ALONE.

BECAUSE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO “LOVE ONE ANOTHER” IF THERE IS NO ANOTHER?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO “ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER” IF THERE IS NO ANOTHER?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO “BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS” IF THERE IS NO ANOTHER?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO “FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER” IF THERE IS NO ANOTHER?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO “SERVE ONE ANOTHER” IF THERE IS NO ANOTHER?

CHRISTIANITY IS PERSONAL.

BUT IT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO BE PRIVATE.

GOD CREATED THE CHURCH

BECAUSE HE KNEW THERE WOULD BE SEASONS

WHEN YOUR FAITH WOULD NEED SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAITH.

THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN YOU'RE STRONG ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY.

AND THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN YOU'RE THE ONE WHO NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT.

THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN YOU PRAY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

AND THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN YOU CAN'T FIND THE WORDS TO PRAY

AND SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO PRAY FOR YOU.

THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN YOU HELP CARRY SOMEBODY ELSE'S BURDEN.

AND THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN THE BURDEN GETS

TOO HEAVY FOR YOU AND SOMEBODY

WILL HAVE TO HELP CARRY YOURS.

THAT'S THE CHURCH.

WE DON'T JUST WORSHIP BESIDE ONE ANOTHER.

WE WALK WITH ONE ANOTHER.

ILLUSTRATION

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED CARRYING SOMETHING HEAVY BY YOURSELF?

YOU GRAB ONE SIDE.

YOU SHIFT YOUR HANDS.

YOU LEAN BACK.

YOU STRUGGLE.

AND THEN SOMEBODY WALKS OVER AND SAYS:

“LET ME GET THE OTHER SIDE.”

THE WEIGHT DIDN'T DISAPPEAR.

BUT SUDDENLY IT BECAME EASIER TO CARRY.

WHY?

BECAUSE SOMEBODY HELPED YOU BEAR THE LOAD.

THAT'S WHAT CHURCH OUGHT TO FEEL LIKE.

LIFE MAY STILL BE HEAVY.

GRIEF MAY STILL HURT.

THE DIAGNOSIS MAY STILL BE FRIGHTENING.

THE FAMILY MAY STILL BE STRUGGLING.

THE PROBLEM MAY NOT DISAPPEAR OVERNIGHT.

BUT WHEN THE CHURCH IS FUNCTIONING LIKE THE CHURCH, SOMEBODY GRABS THE OTHER SIDE AND SAYS:

“YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY THIS BY YOURSELF.”

TRANSITION

AND WHEN EVERY MEMBER UNDERSTANDS THAT WE NEED ONE ANOTHER, SOMETHING POWERFUL BEGINS TO HAPPEN.

THE CHURCH STOPS BECOMING A PLACE WHERE A FEW PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING.

THE CHURCH BECOMES A BODY WHERE EVERYBODY CONTRIBUTES SOMETHING.

IV. THE BODY IS STRONGEST WHEN EVERY PART DOES ITS PART

VERSE 17 SAYS:

“IF THE WHOLE BODY WERE AN EYE, WHERE WOULD THE HEARING BE? IF THE WHOLE BODY WERE AN EAR, WHERE WOULD THE SENSE OF SMELL BE?”

PAUL'S POINT IS ALMOST HUMOROUS.

IMAGINE AN ENORMOUS EYE ROLLING DOWN THE STREET.

IT COULD SEE EVERYTHING.

BUT IT COULDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

WHY?

BECAUSE ONE PART CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

AND NEITHER CAN ONE PERSON.

THE PASTOR CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

THE DEACONS CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

THE TRUSTEES CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

THE CHOIR CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

THE USHERS CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

THE YOUNG PEOPLE CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

THE SEASONED SAINTS CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.

EVERYBODY HAS A PART.

THE QUESTION IS NOT:

“WHAT IS THE CHURCH DOING FOR ME?”

THE BETTER QUESTION IS:

“WHAT HAS GOD EQUIPPED ME TO CONTRIBUTE TO HIS CHURCH?”

BECAUSE CHURCH IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT.

IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU FRIENDSHIP

WE HAVE CREATED A CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE SOMETIMES APPROACH CHURCH LIKE THEY APPROACH A RESTAURANT.

THEY COME IN.

SIT DOWN.

EXPECT TO BE SERVED.

EVALUATE THE EXPERIENCE.

AND LEAVE.

BUT JESUS DIDN'T SAVE US TO BECOME SPIRITUAL CUSTOMERS.

HE SAVED US TO BECOME SERVANTS.

THERE IS SOMETHING GOD PLACED IN YOU THAT THIS BODY NEEDS.

MAYBE IT'S YOUR WISDOM.

MAYBE IT'S YOUR COMPASSION.

MAYBE IT'S YOUR ABILITY TO TEACH.

MAYBE IT'S YOUR GENEROSITY.

MAYBE IT'S YOUR ABILITY TO ORGANIZE.

MAYBE IT'S YOUR GIFT WITH CHILDREN.

MAYBE IT'S YOUR GIFT WITH SENIORS.

MAYBE IT'S TECHNOLOGY.

MAYBE IT'S MUSIC.

MAYBE IT'S PRAYER.

MAYBE IT'S SIMPLY THE ABILITY TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME.

WHATEVER GOD GAVE YOU, HE GAVE IT FOR A REASON.

AND WHEN YOU WITHHOLD YOUR GIFT, THE BODY MISSES SOMETHING GOD INTENDED IT TO HAVE.

IMAGINE IF YOUR RIGHT HAND WOKE UP TOMORROW AND SAID:

“I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS. I'M TAKING A BREAK.”

YOUR WHOLE BODY WOULD FEEL THE IMPACT.

WHEN ONE PART REFUSES TO FUNCTION, THE ENTIRE BODY COMPENSATES.

BUT WHEN EVERY PART DOES ITS PART...

THE BODY BECOMES STRONGER.

THE MISSION MOVES FORWARD.

PEOPLE ARE SERVED.

LIVES ARE TOUCHED.

CHRIST IS GLORIFIED.

AND THE CHURCH BECOMES EVERYTHING GOD DESIGNED IT TO BE.

CONCLUSION

CHURCH, WE NEED EACH OTHER.

THE YOUNG NEED THE WISDOM OF THE SEASONED.

THE SEASONED NEED THE ENERGY AND CREATIVITY OF THE YOUNG.

NEW MEMBERS NEED LONGTIME MEMBERS.

LONGTIME MEMBERS NEED NEW MEMBERS.

THOSE WHO ARE STRONG TODAY NEED THOSE WHO WERE STRONG YESTERDAY.

AND TOMORROW, THE ROLES MAY REVERSE.

THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE BODY.

WE ARE DIFFERENT.

BUT WE'RE CONNECTED.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS.

BUT THE SAME SPIRIT.

DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS.

BUT THE SAME MISSION.

DIFFERENT STORIES.

BUT THE SAME SAVIOR.

SO DON'T EVER SAY:

“THEY DON'T NEED ME.”

AND DON'T EVER SAY:

“I DON'T NEED THEM.”

BECAUSE GOD DIDN'T ACCIDENTALLY PLACE US TOGETHER.

WE NEED EACH OTHER.

CELEBRATION

AND CHURCH, I'M GLAD THAT WHEN JESUS DECIDED TO BUILD HIS CHURCH...

HE DIDN'T BUILD IT AROUND PERFECT PEOPLE.

HE TOOK ORDINARY PEOPLE...

BROKEN PEOPLE...

DIFFERENT PEOPLE...

PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS...

DIFFERENT STORIES...

DIFFERENT STRUGGLES...

AND BY HIS GRACE...

HE MADE US ONE!

WE MAY NOT LOOK ALIKE...

BUT WE'RE ONE BODY!

WE MAY NOT THINK ALIKE ABOUT EVERYTHING...

BUT WE'RE ONE BODY!

WE MAY COME FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS...

BUT WE'RE ONE BODY!

WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS...

BUT WE'RE ONE BODY!

WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT TESTIMONIES...

BUT WE'RE ONE BODY!

AND I'VE GOT ONE LORD!

ONE FAITH!

ONE BAPTISM!

ONE SAVIOR!

AND HIS NAME IS JESUS!

AND HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS:

THE BODY EXISTS BECAUSE JESUS GAVE HIS BODY FOR US.

ONE FRIDAY...

THEY MARCHED HIM UP A HILL CALLED CALVARY.

THEY STRETCHED HIS HANDS.

THEY NAILED HIS FEET.

THEY PIERCED HIM IN HIS SIDE.

HE HUNG THERE FROM THE SIXTH TO THE NINTH HOUR.

AND HE DIED!

BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THE STORY ENDS!

BECAUSE EARLY...

SUNDAY MORNING...

HE GOT UP!

WITH ALL POWER...

IN HIS HANDS!

POWER TO SAVE!

POWER TO HEAL!

POWER TO RESTORE!

POWER TO BRING US TOGETHER!

AND BECAUSE JESUS GOT UP...

HIS CHURCH CAN STAND!

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH...

LOOK AROUND YOU.

THESE AREN'T JUST PEOPLE SITTING BESIDE YOU.

THIS IS YOUR FAMILY.

THIS IS YOUR BODY.

T

HESE ARE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

AND WHEN ONE HURTS...

WE HURT.

WHEN ONE REJOICES...

WE REJOICE.

WHEN ONE FALLS...

WE HELP THEM UP.

WHEN ONE GETS WEAK...

WE MAKE THEM STRONG.

BECAUSE...

WE NEED EACH OTHER!

IF YOU'RE GLAD YOU'RE PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, GIVE GOD YOUR BEST PRAISE!

ALTAR CALL

MAYBE YOU'RE HERE TODAY AND YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO LIFE BY YOURSELF.

YOU'VE CARRIED BURDENS ALONE.

YOU'VE FOUGHT BATTLES ALONE.

YOU'VE CONVINCED YOURSELF:

“I DON'T NEED ANYBODY.”

BUT TODAY GOD IS REMINDING YOU THAT YOU WERE NEVER CREATED TO WALK ALONE.

FIRST, YOU NEED JESUS.

BECAUSE BEFORE YOU CAN BECOME PART OF THE BODY, YOU MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE HEAD.

JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS AND ROSE AGAIN SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE NEW LIFE.

IF YOU'VE NEVER ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR, TODAY IS YOUR DAY.

(PAUSE)

MAYBE YOU'RE ALREADY SAVED, BUT YOU'VE BEEN DISCONNECTED.

YOU'VE BEEN ATTENDING WITHOUT BELONGING.

WATCHING WITHOUT PARTICIPATING.

RECEIVING WITHOUT SERVING.

TODAY GOD MAY BE CALLING YOU TO RECONNECT.

MAYBE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CHURCH FAMILY.

A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GROW.

SERVE.

LOVE.

AND BE LOVED.

THE DOORS OF THE CHURCH ARE OPEN.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY...

THE ARMS OF JESUS ARE OPEN.

COME.

TRANSITION TO PASTORAL PRAYER

CHURCH FAMILY, WE HAVE EXTENDED THE INVITATION, AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO PRAY.

IF YOU'VE COME TO THE ALTAR, REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE.

IF YOU'RE STANDING AT YOUR SEAT, JOIN YOUR HEART WITH OURS.

AND EVEN IF YOU'RE SEATED, I WANT EVERY ONE OF US TO PRAY FOR SOMEBODY BESIDES OURSELVES.

BECAUSE IF TODAY'S MESSAGE HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT IS THIS:

WE NEED EACH OTHER.

LET US PRAY.

PASTORAL PRAYER

GRACIOUS AND ETERNAL GOD,

THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US THAT YOU NEVER INTENDED FOR US TO WALK THIS JOURNEY ALONE.

THANK YOU FOR PLACING US IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.

THANK YOU FOR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO PRAY FOR US, ENCOURAGE US, STRENGTHEN US, CORRECT US, LOVE US, AND WALK BESIDE US.

LORD, FORGIVE US FOR THE TIMES WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR DIFFERENCES TO DIVIDE US.

FORGIVE US WHEN COMPARISON HAS MADE US FEEL INFERIOR.

AND FORGIVE US WHEN PRIDE HAS MADE US BELIEVE WE DIDN'T NEED ANYBODY ELSE.

TEACH US TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE YOU HAVE PLACED IN EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR CHURCH.

HELP US HONOR EVERY GIFT.

EVERY GENERATION.

EVERY SERVANT.

EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY.

SHOW US WHERE WE BELONG AND HOW WE CAN SERVE.

AND LORD, MAKE FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH A PLACE WHERE NOBODY HAS TO CARRY LIFE'S BURDENS ALONE.

WHEN ONE HURTS, TEACH US TO SURROUND THEM.

WHEN ONE GRIEVES, TEACH US TO COMFORT THEM.

WHEN ONE FALLS, TEACH US TO RESTORE THEM.

WHEN ONE REJOICES, TEACH US TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM.

WHEN ONE GROWS WEAK, TEACH US TO GRAB THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BURDEN AND HELP THEM CARRY IT.

MAKE US ONE BODY.

UNITED IN LOVE.

UNITED IN PURPOSE.

UNITED IN MISSION.

AND UNITED IN JESUS CHRIST.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS BODY FOR US AT CALVARY AND ROSE WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS.

NOW USE OUR HANDS.

USE OUR FEET.

USE OUR VOICES.

USE OUR GIFTS.

USE OUR LIVES.

UNTIL THIS CHURCH BECOMES EVERYTHING YOU HAVE CALLED US TO BE.

IN THE MIGHTY, MARVELOUS, MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WE PRAY.

AND ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAID,

AMEN.