Just A Little Different

1 Corinthians 12:18–25 NKJV

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And 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 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

Romans 12:3–6 NKJV

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

The Tony Evans Study Bible Chapter 12

No single person in the church is more valuable than any other. In the same way that God designed the human body with each part functioning exactly as he intended, so also God has arranged each part of the body of Christ just as he wanted (12:18). The one who created you gave you the spiritual gift that he wanted you to have. To insist that you want to serve the church in a different capacity than what God intended is like an ear insisting on being an eye. Not only is such a stance futile, but it is also a prideful rejection of your King’s wise and perfect plan for you.

12:21–22 Often we place too much emphasis on members and ministries that are visible. But this wrongly equates visibility with value. Not every member has the same gift, the same role, or the same level of responsibility. But every member matters. Those whose ministries go on behind the scenes are vital to the health of the church.

12:23–24 Though private parts are not displayed for the world to see, they perform indispensable functions. So it is in the body of Christ.

12:26 A little toe may seem fairly insignificant. But if you stub yours, it will shut you down! The pain affects the whole body. Indeed, if one member of the body suffers, all the members suffer with it. Therefore, don’t be concerned only for your own needs within Christ’s body. As Paul says elsewhere, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15). This is simply an application of the second greatest commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39).

Romans 12:15 NKJV

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Matthew 22:39 NKJV

39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

All Nations

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Greek word: ethne (eth-NOS) Nation It also encompasses persons with a commonality

“Make Disciples of these Nations

Take Zacchaeus:

Luke 19:5–8 NKJV

5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

We are Called to multiply the Kingdom’s mode of operation throughout your arena of influence.

Stewards

1 Corinthians 4:1 NKJV

1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Psalm 24:1 NKJV

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

1 Peter 4:10 NKJV

10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The Tony Evans Study Bible Chapter 4

We are to serve others based on the spiritual gift we have received. Full-service gas stations are hard to find today. Most are self-service. Unfortunately, many attend church like a self-service station. They fill up on preaching and go home until they need more fuel. But God intends his church to be full service with each member providing for the well-being of others. Since you are a receptor of grace, you ought to be a conduit for grace. So whatever your spiritual gift, it’s all about God—not you

Happy and blessed is the person who knows

their gifts and operates in them.

Miserable and stressed is the person

who tries to operate in someone else’s gifts.