The Body: Where do You Fit In?
Last week we looked at the story of Esther and the way that God placed that young woman in the perfect place at the perfect time through a series of seemingly unrelated events in her life. And I talked about some of the things that I believed God expected of me as the pastor of this church for such a time as this. This week I want to switch the focus a little and look at the ministry here as a whole and what it’s going to take for this ministry to be a healthy, effective, and growing ministry. Turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Paul is writing to the church in Corinth because of some arguments that have arisen within the congregation. There are those who were complaining about their role in the church and there were those who were Lording seemingly important positions over those who carried out less significant roles within the ministry. Paul chooses to use the analogy of the church functioning as a Body, with each part being of equal importance to the overall health and function of the individual body.
1CO 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
1CO 12:14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be 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 cease to be 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 arranged 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.
1CO 12:21 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 combined the members of the body and has given 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.
1CO 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Paul is brilliant here as he compares the church to the human body. There is nothing created that is quite so fascinating as the human body, nothing that runs as efficiently, with each part and groups of parts relying on the next to maintain the health and wellness of an individual. When one part of the body ceases to function, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, it can have drastic and far reaching effects on the function of the body as a whole.
Paul is telling the people that in God’s kingdom, it’s the health of the body that is important and that each part must do its job to ensure that the body is effective. The human body does not exist to meet the needs of the hand or the foot, or the stomach. Those parts exist to meet the needs of the body and in doing so, each parts needs are met as well. The Church (Body of Christ) does not exist simply to meet our needs, rather, we exist to carry out the work of the Body and in doing so our own needs are met.
Unfortunately in today’s day and age, you have a lot of unhealthy bodies. Bodies with parts that are missing or that exist to further themselves ahead of the body. It reminds me of a Snoopy cartoon I remember reading years ago.
You may remember a few years ago when Snoopy, the lovable beagle in the Peanuts cartoon, had his left leg broken. Snoopy was philosophizing 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."
A lot of churches function with this mentality of blaming others and turning a blind eye to the ministry work that needs to be done and the greater work of the kingdom is getting done poorly or not getting done at all.
Intro: There are so many things that come to mind when the word volunteer is mentioned. From serving soup in a shelter to changing diapers in the nursery. From feelings of anticipation and fulfillment to feelings of dread and intrusion. The bottom line is that there is much that simply cannot be done without the volunteer force behind it. The local church becomes relevant to the community when it is meeting needs, it meets needs when each part of the body does its work.
My goal this morning, is not to guilt you into helping in the church nor is it to simply fill various ministry needs with a warm body. My goal is to give you a complete picture of the Biblical mandate to service that accompanies the salvation experience in the life of every believer.
1) Definition
I want to look this morning at a few different aspect of service within the body of Christ, of volunteering, but first, I want to look at what that word means.
The dictionary definition of a volunteer is: One who enters into some form of service of His or Her own free will.
A volunteer is someone who is willing to give up their time to help out another person or group of people. You have those that volunteer in hospitals, women’s shelters, prisons, nursing homes, some volunteer to serve our country in the military, all have in common that they have the interests of others in mind.
For many volunteers, the motivation is the thrill they feel over knowing that they have helped someone out, the joy you get from the smiles on the faces of those we serve, but for Christians, it is so much more than that. Christians are by definition to be volunteers. We are called to serve. It is not to be a choice we make but rather a lifestyle we live. No matter what job we hold, what age we are, or what our circumstances are, we are commanded by God to serve. The word Christian literally means “little Christ.” We are to be a model, an imitation of Christ to all that we come into contact with. Christ made His heart and His purpose known when He said in Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
The ultimate act of service.
So, as Christians, the Bible teaches clearly that service is not an option, it is not a choice, it is a response to the call of God upon us to live lives that count, to live lives that are focused on other people and on the building of God’s Kingdom in the time that he gives us on Earth. It is understanding that your purpose in life goes beyond yourself and that God created you to serve and will give you those opportunities that you need.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God created us to serve. He uniquely crafted and formed each one with gifts and talents for the express purpose of service to His Kingdom.
So the definition of volunteer is one who willingly gives of themselves, but for a Christian it is one who (as Luke 9:23 says) denies themselves, takes up their cross daily, and follows Christ.
What happens when a body is healthy? What happens when each part is functioning the way it is meant to and supporting the other parts? What happens when people look outside of themselves and see the bigger picture of building a Kingdom and answering God’s call to service? There are a number of things that take place when we give of ourselves and our time.
1) Things Get Done
As you look around you this morning, most of you probably don’t realize what goes in to preparing for a service like this or any other service. Communion to prepare some weeks, songs to practice, sound equipment to set up and run, video to run, Sunday School lessons to prepare, cleaning up when we’re done, Children to teach and babies to watch, People to Greet others and answer questions, there is a large number of people that is necessary just to do what we do each Sunday and that’s just one aspect of the overall ministry of this church. This couldn’t happen without those who serve and each job is as important as the next, each is vital to the overall success of our ministry, those who serve help to drive this ministry.
Last winter in Ohio we had a terrible ice storm. I have never seen anything like the effort that the church people put forth to help other church people and neighbors. We accomplished as a church in days what would have taken individuals months to clean up. The response was immediate. There were people who had trees down on their own property out helping others who had gotten it a little bit worse. We had a chance to minister to each other and to be a witness to the community about the way the body of Christ is supposed to run. The overall ministry of the church works the same way. If we are willing to come together with one goal and purpose, we can accomplish as a ministry, what would be impossible to accomplish as individuals.
When people volunteer, things get done!
Something is accomplished that would not have been otherwise. The second result is that:
2) Lives are Changed
Both yours and others. You cannot live a life of service and volunteering without it having an impact on your life and the lives of others. What happens when you serve is that the focus of your life is taken off you for a moment and you are able to see the pain and the needs of others. There is a sense of fulfillment that comes from being a part of impacting another life. Bill Hybels says, “When people extend themselves beyond their own concerns, their hearts always change “
Every summer, we would take a group of teens to Delta Lake camp to work for a week with Mentally Handicapped adults, and without fail, they come back changed. Giving of themselves to care for someone so dependant forces them out of the “me “ realm and into the practical application of Christ’s teaching, and their lives are changed forever for the better.
There was a ten year study done by the University of Michigan, on the effects of volunteer work on the lives of the volunteer.
They found that volunteer work “more than any other activity, dramatically increased vitality and life expectancy.” Their conclusion “doing good for others is good for you.”
Imagine that, it took ten years and hundreds of man hours to come to the shocking conclusion that when the Bible says in Philippians 2 that we should look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others and that in humility we are to consider others better than ourselves it was good for us to obey!
I think science and research may finally be catching up to the wisdom of God’s word that was delivered centuries ago.
Why did they come up eith those results? Because God created us to serve Him by serving others and when we are in line with God’s call on our lives our lives will be more complete and fulfilling.
Volunteering changes you, it changes your focus, your attitude, it changes your priorities. Volunteering also changes others. There is nothing that speaks as loudly to the heart of a person than to be loved through service. Many of the handicapped adults that our teens serve come from large group homes that do not provide much one on one care. Over the course of a week, when our teens are serving and giving their attention wholly to their campers, there is a transformation that takes place in many of those campers. They blossom when they see that they are important enough to be served. They thrive when they feel loved and others will to.
When we serve, others can see that they are loved and important. The world needs to see, in the churches today, a volunteer lifestyle that is rooted in humility and love. Service changes people.
3) Relationships are built
There is a sense of community and family that comes from serving side by side with someone. You get to see their strengths and their weaknesses. There’s a trust that develops and a bond that forms. I’ve seen this happen with on the missions trips I’ve been privileged to go on. These trips have resulted in friendships that will last forever, both in our group and with the people we serve. When you work together for a common purpose not looking for any personal gain relational growth will take place.
4) Christ is Glorified
What better way to point people to Christ than to model Him in our lives? People may not respond to our words, to sermons, to testimonies, but they will notice our actions, the way we live. This is the most important aspect of volunteering, we bring glory to God!
Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives among unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
And Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
When we as Christians take up the serving towel, roll up our sleeves and begin to wash the feet of those around us, God is honored and things are going to happen. People will see that we are a church body that backs up what we preach with the way that we live and they will see the true attitude and spirit of Christ in us. God is lifted up when His church is making an impact and a difference. For that to happen, it takes people. People who are willing to do anything for the work of the ministry to ensure that Christ’s kingdom is being built and that Christ’s name is being glorified and lifted up to all we come in contact with through modeling the kind of service that Christ had when He came to Earth for us.
Good things happen when we volunteer to serve. Things get done, lives are changed, relationships are built and strengthened, and the name of Christ is lifted up. So, why is it that all Christians are not involved in the work of Christ? Why is it that every member of this church body is not involved in the kingdom building work of there local church? There is a list a mile long of reasons why people don’t serve.
“I’m too busy”
This is probably the most popular one today and for most of us its true. I have too much other stuff going on. My kids play 12 sports each, my job requires long hours, I can’t possibly serve in the church until things slow down. The truth is that unless we get a hold of our schedules and bring them under control, things are not going to slow down on their own.
Being busy is not an excuse for ignoring one of Christ’s commands to his people. When all is said and done, only what has been done for Christ will count for eternity and so many of us, myself included, miss out on opportunities to impact eternity because we are caught up in the chaos of today.
Rick Warren says “Ministry is more than the opportunity of a lifetime; it’s an opportunity beyond your lifetime.”
Busyness is a sin in many of our lives. It is a tool of Satan to keep us constantly moving, constantly running from one thing that doesn’t matter to the next and missing the opportunities for service and growth in our lives. Parents, if you want children who serve, you must be parents who serve. Teach your children to prioritize. Our priorities are to be different as Christians, we are told to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.
In Titus, Paul instructs us:
This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Those who believe in God, all Christians are to be devoted to doing what is good, to serving others. That is the call on our lives. The excuse of busyness doesn’t change that.
If we as a church gave as much time and energy into the work of the church as do into our kids school and sports schedules, God could make us a much more of a powerful force for change in this area. But we need to put service at the top and work our way down from there
Another popular excuse is: I don’t have the skills or talents to serve.
Let me tell you this morning that Scripture teaches that to each one a gift is given.
1 Corinthians 12:5-7
There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
A gift is given to each one, to help the church, to do those good deeds that God prepared in advance for you to do. You may have fallen for Satan’s lie that you have nothing to contribute but the Truth is that you are here for a purpose and a specific reason. You may not find your gift until you try a couple of different things but when you find where it is, that God wants you to serve, I guarantee that you will find a sense of joy and fulfillment that you have never known.
God calls us to volunteer and if he calls, he will equip you to do the job.
My Call to Ministry
If you think that you don’t have the tools to serve, look at the people that God has used.
You are gifted and because you are gifted, God will equip you to do th work that he has called you to.
So, we have our definition. We know the results of Volunteering, and we’ve dealt with some of the excuses that Satan will whisper in your ear. I want to close this morning by drawing your attention to the greatest example of volunteering that we have and that is Christ. Christ is our model and example of service, of laying down your needs for the needs of others.
What made Christ the ultimate example of a servant was the fact that He never lost sight of the Big Picture, he understood that to put aside his own needs for the needs of others would result in the salvation and redemption of many and to Him that was worth any price. As He wrestled with what lay ahead, he was still willing to bow to the will of the Father because He kept his eye on the big picture. Through His pain and suffering would come something wonderful. Through his act of service, the eternity of an untold number of people would be won. He was able to continue on because he saw things in the light of eternity and understood that God’s Kingdom would grow as a result of His service.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
He knew that He must go offer His life in service so that we could have life, he kept his eye on the big picture, the eternal salvation of souls. It was Christ’s passion and it needs to be ours. The big picture hasn’t changed. The goal is to bring others to God through Christ. The vessel that He has chosen to carry out this work is His church. If we truly have our minds focused on things above and want our lives to count for eternity than we need to be doing all we can to serve the church we’re in to the best of our abilities so that the gospel of Christ can be proclaimed.
We need to keep our eye on the Big Picture, on eternity and God’s Kingdom rather than simply on what we see around us.
Bill Hybels puts it this way:
Every local churchgoer has a choice to make. He can park in his usual spot, make his way to a comfortable seat in his usual row, watch a good service, chat with friends and then go home. That choice makes for a nice safe, Sunday morning experience. Or he can throw himself into the adventure by rolling up his sleeves, joining a team of like minded servants, and helping to build the local church that God has called him to be a part of.
Let’s build here something that God can use that will last for eternity. To do that, it’s going to take a healthy body with each part doing the work that it was uniquely created to do.
