Sermon Tone Analysis

The Nature of community

11-24-17 email blast

One Body with Many Members

(Cp )

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

14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15 If the foot would 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 would 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 the hearing be?

If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 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 members, 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 members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this.

But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.

29 Are all apostles?

Are all prophets?

Are all teachers?

Do all work miracles?

30 Do all possess gifts of healing?

Do all speak in tongues?

Do all interpret?

31 But strive for the greater gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), .

Commitment, to God’s people

Synopsis

Commitment to God means a commitment to his people.

Believers are meant to be nourished and supported by the church, and to work towards its edification.

(Cp Eph 4:1–16)

Commitment to the church

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

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14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15 If the foot would 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 would 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 the hearing be?

If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 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 members, 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 members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this.

But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.

29 Are all apostles?

Are all prophets?

Are all teachers?

Do all work miracles?

30 Do all possess gifts of healing?

Do all speak in tongues?

Do all interpret?

31 But strive for the greater gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

(NRSV) — 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

(NRSV) — 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,

(NRSV) — 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.

And be thankful.

Paul uses the picture of the body to describe the interdependence of believers:

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), 1 Co 12:12–31.

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(NRSV) — 4 For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

6 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7 ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8 the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

(NRSV) — 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 the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15 If the foot would 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 would 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 the hearing be?

If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 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 members, 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 members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this.

But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Commitment to other Christians is an expression of love made known in Christ

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(NRSV) — 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.

Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(NRSV) — 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(NRSV) — 22 Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.

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(NRSV) — 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

(NRSV) — 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

(NRSV) — 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

(NRSV) — 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.

(NRSV) — 8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

(NRSV) — 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.

(NRSV) — 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

(NRSV) — 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.

(NRSV) — 9 Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another;

(NRSV) — 3 We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing.

(NRSV) — 1 Let mutual love continue.

(NRSV) — 17 Honor everyone.

Love the family of believers.

Fear God.

Honor the emperor.