A Letter Of Concern- We Are One Body Series

Series: Action [#92]

A LETTER OF CONCERN- WE ARE ONE BODY

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Introduction:

I was thinking about Kaitlyn’s upcoming wedding and thought of a problem that the women are all going to have- There will not be enough mirrors. The wedding will be on a Farm and there is going to be many women getting ready. I guarantee that as they are getting ready that many of them will point out parts of their bodies that they do not like. As I thought about this, I thought about my own body. When I was a kid, I hated how big my ears were. Over the last 10 years, my amount of hair on my head has not been great. In the last few years, my stomach has begun to stick out.

This morning, we are going to look at the Body of Christ. All Christians are a part of this Body.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

We are One Body and…

1. Have many parts.

Paul uses our physical bodies as the example. Each of us have 1 body; but many body parts. When a person is saved, the Holy Spirit comes upon them and that person becomes a part of the Body of Christ. Your skin color, culture, political status, financial status, etc…; means nothing. It is about being saved.

1 Corinthians 12:15-20

We are One Body and…

2. Each part is important.

This is addressed to those who do not feel as an important part of the Body of Christ. You may say, “Because I am not a noticeable part of the Body, I am not a part of the Body”. Each part of the Body is important and the Body does not function properly without each part. Don’t forget that God is the One who decides which Body part you are. He has a plan for each of us separately as well as together.

1 Corinthians 12:21-26

We are One Body and…

3. Each part needs each other.

This is addressed to those who think that they are the most important part of the Body and don’t need the other parts. 1 part of the Body cannot tell another part of the Body that they don’t need them. There are some parts of the Body that are not seen and are treated with modesty. A good example is muscles. You cannot see the muscles because they are hidden by skin; but muscles are extremely important in the body’s function.

There should be no division in the Body, and the Body should be concerned about the entire Body. If I trip and break a toe, it may not be noticeable; but it will affect my entire body. If 1 part of the Body suffers, then the entire Body suffers. If 1 part of the Body is honored, the whole Body is honored, and we should rejoice.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

We are One Body and…

4. Have different roles.

We are different parts of the Body and we all have different roles. Paul lists many different roles of the Body.

God has placed Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, gifts of miracles, gifts of healings, gifts of helping, gifts of guidance, and gifts of speaking in tongues. As we studied last week, this is not all of the gifts.

More important is the questions concerning if everyone is Prophets or have gift of helping. We do not all have the same roles and gifts. Use your gifts and roles for God’s glory.

Conclusion:

If you are a Christian, you are part of the 1 Body of Christ. You are a part of the Body and you need to use your gifts to help the other parts of the Body.