Diversity Leads to Ministry

I want us each week to study the scripture together with an eye for applying it to our lives individually, but also collectively.

Last week we talked about how our unity is fold despite our differences. We talked about how Christ must be more important than those differences.

I talked about

Dysphoria - a state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction with life.

Body integrity dysphoria

Is an extremely rare phenomenon, in which patients prefer to cut off their healthy limb (especially one’s arm or leg) because they feel a mismatch between their mental and physical image.

I told you that there is no body integrity dysphoria in Christ.

Every believer belongs to the body of Christ.

I also talked a little bit about our new vision statement

For the Gospel, For the City

This week I want to talk about how our diversity is the tool which Christ uses to accomplish His mission.

Diversity Leads to Ministry

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones. Doin’ the skeleton dance.

The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone. The leg bone’s connected to the knee bone. The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone. Doin’ the skeleton dance.

The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone. The hip bone’s connected to the backbone. The backbone’s connected to the neck bone. Doin’ the skeleton dance.

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dancing bones. Doin’ the skeleton dance.

Diversity in bones allows the skeleton to work, diversity within the body of Christ allows us to work.

Ephesians 4:7–13 ESV

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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,

We have all been given gifts (vs.8)

Romans 12:6–8 ESV

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 ESV

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:12–20 ESV

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

It is actually our diversity that makes us the Body of Christ

Have you ever watched a foal try to stand for the first time?

I have, several times. It is almost comical to watch them try and figure out how to keep their legs underneath of themselves. If the body parts do not work together, that foal will never stand. So it is with the body of First Baptist Church.

If the eye won’t see, if the ear won’t hear, the body will not function. or at least not well.

We must each be willing to play our part, to use our gifts.

One of the first listed gifts are the leaders of the church.

Ephesians 4:11 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Explain each

Ephesians 4:12 ESV

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Crossfit is to gain and exercise my muscle, here though, my job is to help you exercise and build your muscle. As a member of the body, I build muscle too.

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,

Stature - natural height (as of a person) in an upright position, or quality or status gained by growth, development, or achievement

As a church, we need to learn how to stand upright, working together for

For the Gospel, For the City

Our unity is fashioned because of our diversity.

because

The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone. The leg bone’s connected to the knee bone. The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone. Doin’ the skeleton dance.

The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone. The hip bone’s connected to the backbone. The backbone’s connected to the neck bone.