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The Body of Christ has Many Members. “ For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ”.
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The Body of Christ has Many Members “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 Romans 12:4,5
Not ALL Members have the same function “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?” “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” Romans 12:5-8 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 James 3:1 1 Peter 4:10,11
Not ALL Members have the same function • Failure to Appreciate this point can be detrimental ... • Detrimental to individual members • It can also be Detrimental to the function of the body itself • When people are expected to do the same thing, other important functions go undone.
Every Function Is Crucial To The Operation Of The Body “If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body.” “And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;” • No one can say that they or their roles are not important ... • 1 Corinthians 12:15-20 • No one can say that what others do is not important ... • 1 Corinthians 12:21-22
Every Function Is Crucial To The Operation Of The Body • This places challenges before us .... • To be aware of the different ways that members can serve in the body • To encourage members to develop those functions that best suit their abilities and opportunities to serve. • To provide direction and opportunity for those willing and prepared to serve in their different functions.
