Sermon Tone Analysis

I’d like to begin by giving a brief history of toys

In this room, we have people from different ages, with different backgrounds.

So allow me to try and connect with each of you about toys.

This is difficult because there are so many years between us.

I’ve got a concept I want to get across, and in order to do that, I’m going to have to introduce you to some toys.

1993 Power Rangers was released (Put image on screen).

It featured 5 teenagers who each were given a giant robot, that was shaped like a different animal.

Each robot had it’s own powers and abilities.

But then, they could combine their robots into a Megazord.

When that happened, their animal robots could then form together into one giant sword wielding robot, that could stop the forces of evil.

This also makes for really great merchandizing.

You’ve got 5 teenagers in the show who each need their own action figure.

If you want to make the Megazord you’ve got to buy 5 robots.

If they are all $20 a piece, you’re looking at $200 just to have the action figures and the robots.

Those of you 30 and under you might remember this.

In 1984 there was a Japanese cartoon released called Voltron (Put image on screen).

Voltron is similar to Power Rangers.

Actually Voltron came first, so Power Rangers is like Voltron.

Voltron featured 5 teenagers that each were given a Robot Lion.

Each of them had their own characteristics and personality.

But when the bad guys rose up, these teenagers could take their 5 lion robots and combine them into Voltron.

And like Power Rangers, a great opportunity to spend money on toys.

This was my favorite.

Let me go one step further, somewhere between 1916-1917, Lincoln Logs were invented.

These were little pieces of wood that were different lengths.

But when the forces of evil arose, you could combine your Lincoln Logs and make … A Log Cabin.

They could also be chewed on by toddlers and dogs.

And surprisingly before Lincoln Logs were Erector Sets.

These were invented in 1913.

The original Legos.

They featured lots of machine punched metal sheets, that could be combined to make a working machine, gizmos or structures.

You could build cool machines and buildings with these.

And before any of these toys there was … The Stack of Rocks.

Good idea, but not much for merchandise since you could go into your back yard and find them.

Each of these toys take the concept of there being individual units, that were each gifted in their own way, and then combine them to make a larger, cohesive unit.

Each of these toys are built on a team.

Each of these toys are about individuals becoming a body.

And that was something that Paul was trying to do in Corinth when he wrote I Corinthians.

The Corinthians was not a unified body.

They were no Voltron.

In the previous chapter, Paul says of them, “But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you.

And I believe it in part,” -

He says, “You are no Voltron, you’re a mess.”

He says, “you aren’t the better, but the worse.”

Last week we learned that God has gifted the church.

Now we learn that God is gifting us so that we can be a body.

Let’s look at .

Read I Corinthians 12:12-27.

One Body

Context

Paul is calling for us to be the ultimate Voltron.

God is making one member out of many.

Many times people talk about unity of the church but they forget this one great important truth.

You know what the first key to church unity is?

You must be born again.

You’re not a part of the church or this body just because you came on a Sunday, or were raised in the church.

Something needs to happen to you first.

Verse 13 says, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body ...”

The phrase baptism of the Holy Spirit is one of those phrases that is frequently abused.

Some people use it to mean speaking in tongues.

Sometimes people confuse it with being filled with the Spirit.

Sometimes people talk about being baptized in the Spirit, and they say:

“Last Sunday was great, I was baptized in the Spirit.”

“I’ve been baptized in the Spirit 12 times.”

Sometimes people pray for church and they say, “Lord would you baptize us in your Spirit?”

Baptism in the Spirit isn’t any of these things.

Baptism in the Spirit is quite simple … it’s conversion.

When a person is converted, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to permanently indwell in the believer.

This is a ministry of Christ that John the Baptist mentioned.

In , he said, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me -” that is Jesus, “ - is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Baptism of the Spirit is something that happens once, and never happens again, because the Holy Spirit will permanently be in the Christian.

says, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

When you become a Christian, you are baptized with the Holy Spirit.

He comes upon you once, and remains.

He stays in you as a guarantee until you are found in glory.

When the Spirit comes upon you, you become a brand new person.

A person receives a new heart.

Meaning that the old heart which refused to believe truth, now acknowledges truth and has faith.

The old heart which loved sin, now repents of it, and pursues what is good.

Jesus calls the conversion experience being born again.

It’s as if you are a whole new person.

You are not who you used to be.

It’s not just beliefs, passions and desires that are new, but your identity is new.

How you identify yourself should change?

Look at the second half of verse 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.”

Formerly, we would identify ourselves by our race -

Jews

Or Greeks

Some people would identify themselves by class -

Slave

Or free.

And what does Paul say?

We are now one body.

As humans, we like to divide.

People divide by:

What sport they like.

What team they like.

What music style they like.