August 8 2021; I Belong: The Body of Christ; 1 Corinthians 12:14-31

The Body of Christ… many parts, but one body.

I am reminded of the movie with Will Ferrell entitled Anchorman. You may remember the movie from years ago. In fact, it was probably known more for its one liners than its plot. In one situation, the head of the news agency in San Deigo calls a meeting. He is convinced that the newsteam needs more diversity. While they argue about what diversity really means, Ron believes he has the answer. He believes that Diversity has to be an old colonial wooden ship! Quickly, the tv station head says that diversity is not a ship. Rather, it means that Ron will have to share his anchor responsibilities with a new co-anchor who is a woman. Diversity in that case was two people reading the news who were different genders and came from different walks of life.

Today as we discuss 1 Corinthians 12, it is important to note that there is both unity and diversity in the body of Christ.  On the one hand, the Spirit gives you and me the same saving faith in Jesus Christ, the same new birth, and a desire to follow Jesus.  On the other hand, the Spirit gives each believer different roles to play in the body of Christ. The fact that we have different spiritual gifts and come from different life circumstances is diversity in action… and it helps to make the whole stronger and better.

You may remember a few years ago when Snoopy, the lovable beagle in the Peanuts cartoon, had his left leg broken. Hundreds wrote letters to Snoopy or sent sympathy cards. Snoopy himself philosophized about his plight one day while perched on top of his doghouse and looking at the huge white cast on his leg. “My body blames my foot for not being able to go places. My foot says it was my head’s fault, and my head blamed my eyes.... My eyes say my feet are clumsy, and my right foot says not to blame him for what my left foot did....” Snoopy looks out at his audience and confesses, “I don’t say anything because I don’t want to get involved.”

By God’s design, the human body is meant to be a coherent whole made up of different parts.  Similarly, God designed the community of believers to be a unified group of people with a variety of functions.

With that in mind, would you please stand for the reading and hearing of God’s word from 1 Corinthians 12:14-31:

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. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[a]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And may glory be to God for the reading and hearing of His word this morning, THANKS BE TO GOD!

Today’s Scripture passage can be summed up in one short phrase: Unity in the Midst of Diversity

All the parts of the body need the others in order to function properly.

In 12:22–24 Paul points out that parts of the human body considered weaker are indispensable, and parts considered less honorable are protected and cared for by the other parts of the body. His point is that this is way it should be in Christ.

In 12:25 God wants all the parts of the body to function properly and be grateful for each other so that there is no division in the body. This comment goes directly against what the Corinthians are doing. Divisions had formed (1:10–11; 11:18), and they were valuing some gifts at the expense of others.

In 12:26 Paul specifies what he means when he says that all the members should care for each other. Whether in sorrow or in joy, all the members should share in one another’s experiences (Rom 12:15).

And then in 12:27, he challenges individual Corinthians to view themselves as a member of Christ’s body.

The body of Christ is a lot like Interlocking Pieces of a JigSaw Puzzle

Have you ever put together a puzzle? Perhaps, like one of Erin’s aunts, you did so and loved it. Others of you, like myself, find a puzzle to be frustrating because there are so many little pieces and not enough time. Either way, a jigsaw puzzle is a set of numerous interlocking pieces that are assembled together to produce a complete picture, often of nature, landscapes, or a recognizable piece of art. Each piece is unique. When fit together, each piece contributes to the entire puzzle.

A jigsaw puzzle is an apt depiction of the Body of Christ. Each of us represents a unique piece of a puzzle. When our strengths are combined, we make a whole.

Most jigsaw puzzles are “fully interlocking,” meaning adjacent pieces interconnect with one another. The fit is both structural and visual. When combined correctly, the pieces produce the puzzle’s visual image. But fully interlocking puzzles also stay joined structurally. Connections in between pieces of a completed interlocking jigsaw puzzle are tight enough to allow it to maintain its shape when it is moved.

God creates the Body of Christ to be like interlocking puzzle pieces. Each of us is endowed with unique strengths. When members of the Body find their strengths, use their strengths, and value strengths in one another, we interconnect with each other to form a whole. Together we are stronger and can withstand changeable movements that are part of growth. We’re designed to fit together to reflect the character of Jesus … and for our connections to remain strong.

As you think about the pieces of a puzzle,

They are all shaped differently. Sure, they are all similar, yet not exactly. They are all different. That is kind of like people, wouldn’t you say? We are all similar in it that we have 2 eyes, ears, arms, legs, etc.. But we are all very different in our personalities. We all have different finger prints, different DNA. There are men, women, African Americans, Hispanics, whites, tall people, short people etc… We are so much alike, yet so different. Each individual piece helps to complete the picture, Like each individual person helps to complete the Church! And you are truly an amazing piece of this church!

You are a member of Christ’s body. You belong. In fact, everyone who claims Jesus as Savior belongs.

On of my favorite stories is about Camp Meetings in the early days of America. People would come from all over to hear the pastors preach their messages. As stated in a children’s sermon a few weeks ago, they were Methodists, Presbyterians, and others denominations there. There were African American preachers, many of whom were said to be better preachers than their white counterparts! Only later when race became upset about race were other ethnicities removed from American pulpits. I believe that God is calling White Bluff to embrace diversity. We should embrace a theology that says that the “color line was washed away in the blood of Jesus” because we find our unity in the Holy Spirit. Males and females, whites and blacks, rich and poor-all are all conduits for the same Spirit. Equality is discovered not by disregarding differences but by finding the source of unity within our diversity.

I am thrilled that there are different ethnicities in our church, people with special needs, disabilities, lawyers, doctors, teachers, medical professionals, insurance salesmen, and the list goes on. You all bring something different and unique to the body, and we need to thank God that we are not all the same. When Erin was snake bit, we didn’t know a whole lot about snakes, but we kept calling people until we found someone who did. Now we know a whole lot more than we knew because of them. When I have a legal question, I call a lawyer, usually within the church… names like Bill Davenport and historically Ed Ennis, Lamar Sizemore, Byrd Garland, Forrest Sweat, Dean Strickland, and many others come to mind. I told Bill Davenport just the other day that lawyers often are my best friends.... I don’t know why, it just happens! When I need help with a flat tire, thank goodness for those friends as well as they get me going again. Diversity can be a great asset!

Do we look at our siblings in Christ with all their different gifts, abilities, and disabilities as assets to our life together? Do we even bother to care for anyone whom we deem less worthy to be a part of the body of Christ?

We are the body of Christ, together. If we aren’t all together at the table, we miss out on relationship and experiencing how God moves and acts in all people. Paul’s words reiterate that Christ is the head of the body and we form important parts of the body that make up the whole, together.

Today Christ is challenging you to move from a place where you can confidently say “I Belong”, not just that, God wants us to help others to find their place in the body of Christ so that they can say “I Belong” as well! But remember, if you decide that you do not belong and stay away, you do not just hurt yourself… you hurt the entire body because we need your piece of the puzzle to make it complete. You are valuable and you are needed. Without you, the body cannot be whole. That’s why God created you… to be a part of the body.

Remember, you are the body of Christ and all the pieces of the puzzle come together to form God’s masterpiece.

You are God’s masterpiece, both individually and as a whole! Let’s be the body together this week!