From Loneliness to Community

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

From the very beginning God created humanity to be in relationship, with Himself and others.

After He finished creating the world he said it was very good, but when He put Adam in the garden He said.... It is NOT GOOD for him to be alone.

In “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

God created us to be in relationship with Himself but also with us.

When He looked at Adam, He knew it was not good for him to be alone.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

It is in our DNA to participate in the community of God

But then sin entered the world which brought about separation and isolation not only in our relationship with God but also with each other.

Broken relationship with God

Broken relationship with each other.

But Gods plan has always been to redeem His creation to bring it back into the wholeness he created… He gave us our Savior Jesus…

Through our baptism we are brought into the body of Christ…

Each one of us through the Holy Spirit in us is brought into one body.

The point is that every Christian has been made a part of one body and immersed in (or by) the Spirit.

The Message Chapter 12

By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink

The body of Christ is The Church

The Message Chapter 12

By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything

The Message Chapter 12

Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink.

The Message Chapter 12

Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink.

Message - By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

The Message Chapter 12

By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink

Through our baptism we are united with each other… When you are a Christ follower being part of the body is not an option

Why would we give up ourselves… Not only were we created to be together in relationships - community but we need each other to be complete.

We need each other to be able to learn grow in our faith, to support each other in times of crisis or need, to celebrate our victories

The world - culture wants us to value our individualism

You know that pull your self up… the you can do it by yourself attitude.

some of us may even have the “I can do this by myself I don’t need anybody”

Story Independent Successful But realized still missing the connection with the body that we were created for.

Had a God sized hole in my life that could only be filled by being connected to the Body of Christ.

I may have had a successful life in terms of the world but I was far from being whole.

We give and we receive

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

There are many parts of the body. Hands feet head heart

each cell each part of the body has a role to play in the how the body functions

That is the same as the gifts God has given each of us within His body

We are not all the same we don’t think alike we don’t have the same role or gifts

-22 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

The Message Chapter 12

The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

-22 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

22 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

Each part of the body has a significant value to the whole

In the same way every person in the community of Christ is significant.

Their gifting bring the community of Christ together as one

The New International Version Chapter 12

But in fact God has placeda the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.b 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.c

Just as each part of the body is dependent on the other

But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

So are we in the body of Christ, the community of church.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Pray with

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

Laugh with

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

Discern

Sometimes physical needs

Celebrate victories

mourn and grieve

Message The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance

Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

If one part of the body is suffering the whole body is suffering, if one part of the body is flourishing than the whole body is flourishing.

But in fact God has placeda the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.b 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.c

a ver 28

b ver 11

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

c ver 12, 14; See

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

says Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.d And be thankful

u ver 10

v

w ; , ;

x

y

z

a See

b See

c See

d See

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

From Loneliness to Community

Reading Scripture 1Cor 12:12-25