1 Cor. 12:12-31 One Body

One Body

Chair Bible p. 959

Survey…Card and online parkwoodonline.org/survey

Read text and pray.

Church growth by events and programming. (# of people)

Growth through equipping the saints and engaging the saints to use their gifts for building up of the body of Christ. (growth of believers results in reaching others)

Illus: Friday and Saturday, GG leader training 150 people in room…People with the gift of teaching, leadership, exhortation, mercy, service, and hospitality(debate whether a gift)

Encouragement to see the body functioning and doing what the Lord has called us and designed us to do…make disciples who make disciples.

Cannot make disciples in isolation…disciple making is the design and purpose of the church.

Main Idea: Though made up of many members, we are the body of Christ serving together for the common good.

The body of Christ is one and has many members.

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

Extended metaphor/illustration to drive home essential truth for the local church.

The human body as an illustration of the body of Chrirst…reread b. 12

One body. All believers are brought into one body with no distinction.

Galatians 3:27–28 ESV

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:13–22 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

joined together, built together…One, yet we are many. We are joined together in Christ.

One body, many members

v. 12 many members (parts of the body)

Illus: use of the word members…something you join like a club or organization. Member in the context of 1 Cor. means a part of an organism such as an organ or limb.

Why is the body of Christ one, yet many members?

One person alone, no matter how gifted, cannot play a Beethoven symphony, act a Shakesperian tragedy, or compete against another team. The same is true in the church. It can never be a solo performance. (Garland 589)

The body of Christ serves together for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

The problem in Corinth were...

Elevation of some gifts over others.

Pride in gifts…seeing yourself or individuals as indispensible.

Pride in gifts…seeing yourself or individuals as indispensible.

The body of Christ , rightly understood, will cause us to see the essential nature of every member and humble us to see the ourselves in light of the whole.

The church does not function as a collection of separate individuals. The church does not even function like a democracy. There is never a 51 percent to 49 percent victory in the church. It does not split up along party lines. It is far more vitally connected than that. The church functions as a body. (Um 222)

We are carefully and uniquely fit together.

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

Without its members, there is no body. (Gardner 543)

Perspective: the entire body is necessary not just one individual or a few. One individual separated from the body both loses their effectiveness and harms the body.

the church will not function properly when one or more members are ignored or regarded as less useful or less valuable. (Gardner 539)

15 If the foot should 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 should 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.

dealing with jealousy and competitiveness.

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

Focus on one part, lose sight of the essential nature of others. “Exclusion of other members and of other gifts is actually self-mutilation.” (Schreiner 266)

Key: “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”

members in the body…addressing the local church

sovereign=he chose

arranged= careful and unique. (not accidental or haphazard)

Why? is it merely function or there a bigger reason?

Hebrews 2:3–4 ESV

3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

the body of Christ, functioning as one, though made up of many, gives display to the gospel of Christ.

Part of that display is the manner believers treat one another.

We need one another.

The beauty of interdependence is grounded in each member’s indispensability. (Um 222)

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 parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

1. We need one another to function. every part of the body is necessary, seen and unseen.

Illus: drain plug/electronic ignition.

2. We need to care for one another. Pain reverberates to every area…help me.

Illus: care for the Marchios going to see child overseas for adoption.

Romans 12:15–16 ESV

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Rejoice with those who rejoice. “if one member is honored, all rejoice together”

Competitive and jealous.

Receptive and rejoicing.

Illus: pastor who served for years at a local church, retired and new pastor came in and the church began to see rapid growth and expansion. In an interview, he was asked how he felt about the church growing. First, he rejoiced. Then, he said I am a one talent pastor, he is a 5 talent pastor…I rejoice in how God is using him to lead the church.

pastor was saying …we are uniquely gifted

We are uniquely gifted.

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 miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and 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 with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Paul understands apostles as first in importance but not first in status. (Garland 599)

1 Corinthians

first, second, third…Could simply be emphasis. Or...Either a explanation of leadership structure or an explanation of how leadership unfolds. apostles=missionary/planter, prophets=those who brought the word to bear, teachers=those who ensure sound doctrine and practice are communicated.

“teachers”= “mature Christians who instruct others in the meaning and moral implications of the Christian faith”

helping= a remarkably practical gift of aiding fellow-believers in all kinds of ways. The gift of helping is probably the same gift as the gift of ‘serving’ in . (Schreiner 270)

administrating=pilot who leads ships in and our of harbor. leading.

v. 29 rhetorical questions…answer is no.

31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

4 possible interpretations.

Heirarchy of gifts…goes against the rest of the epistle.

He is referring to those offices/gifts that he numbers.

Paul is being ironic. (Ch. 14)

Paul is saying embrace all the gifts with love…the more excellent way (Ch. 13)

Don’t get lost in the gift debate...

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV

11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

So What?

Are we embracing the body of Christ and our place in the body?

1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV

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

Illus: this week observing a newer believer joyfully serving others…brought me great joy.

One of the reasons we are seeing growth in the life of the church...

many other reasons…connected to the members of the body realizing their place in the body and functioning accordingly.

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

each part is working properly, makes the body to grow...

Gifts from the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit for the common good=the growth of the body.

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Christ wants to grow you into Christlikeness.

He wants to grow us into Christlikeness.

Prayer...

Offering/Prayer:

Rejoice in offering.

pray for Scott P. (Pastor for global engagement…preaching today in Athens for greek speaking congregation and a Persian speaking congregation.

Provision

Elders: newest Elder, Bill Napier

elders come forward along with BIll for prayer.

Wife

Gather and lay hands on pray.

Laying on of hands communicates...

dependence

assigning responsibility.

end