The Body Of Christ Series

The Body of Christ

Romans 12:15-16

As the body of Christ, we can flashback to the life of Jesus and witness how he rejoiced in the success of his disciples and also wept with those who were hurting.

SLIDE #1

INTRODUCTION

• Today we will continue our “Flashback; Remembering the Work of the Cross” series. We are going to touch on a subject today that is vital as we all start to get to the point of being able to meet together again.

• One thing Covid-19 has done is to divide people.

• If you want to get depressed about the human condition, go to some social media pages and look at how divided people have become.

• I know there have always been divisions, political, racial, Cardinals, Cubs, but it seems to me that this virus has brought out the worst in people.

• I was reading a post on Facebook where this man was chastising everyone for wanting to get things moving again; he basically said if you were not an infectious disease specialist, shut your mouth, and you are stupid. All in cap locks, by the way.

• I thought, ok, let’s see where this leads, so I got my popcorn out to watch the kind rhetoric I knew would transpire.

• Well, I was not disappointed, it was nasty, and it got nasty quickly. Then to my surprise, the hypocrisy exploded on the screen before me.

• It turns out this guy owns (from what I can tell, he may have just worked there) a flooring business in another part of the state, WHICH HAS BEEN OPENED DURING THIS ENTIRE CRISIS.

• So this guy was making bank while other businesses may never open again. I digress.

• The situation we find ourselves in has great potential for Satan to come in and cause problems.

• As I stated last week in somewhat exaggerated terms, half the folks think we are all going to die if we go anywhere, except the grocery store and the hardware and liquor stores.

• In contrast, the other half thinks this is all stupid and politically motivated.

• We see some folks wearing masks, and some not. I saw a person in Frys the other day in a full out gas mask.

• We have some folks who want to shake hands and hug, and others who are not comfortable with doing so.

• Now the question is this, “HOW DO WE WITHIN FCC HANDLE ALL OF THIS? What do we do with those who may not agree with your individual assessment of the situation?

• Should we argue and fight? Should we socially shame each other?

• Should we have a mask or no-mask test of fellowship? Mask deniers?

• Today we are going to spend time in a message entitled, THE BODY OF CHRIST.

• We will examine three principles that should guide how we deal with one another.

• Let’s turn to Romans 12:15.

SLIDE #2

Bible Verse

Romans 12:15 (CSB)

15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

SLIDE #3

1. I. We are to rejoice with one another.

Explanation

• Paul encourages us in our relationships with one another, explaining how to be a community of brothers and sisters in Christ: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

• First, we need to enter into the joy of others, by delighting and being glad when others are experiencing success, blessings, and good situations in life.

• We are called to rejoice with our brothers and sisters in Christ when they are rejoicing over something in their life.

• The word WITH means to join in the company with the rejoicing ones, whether weeping or rejoicing.

• When something good happens to a brother or sister in Christ, we must rejoice with them.

• We need to celebrate with them.

• However, at times we struggle to rejoice with those who are rejoicing.

• One of the most challenging things in life is to rejoice in the success and blessings of others, especially when we are hurting or in difficult situations.

• When the reports of Jesus’s success came to John the Baptist as John’s influence over the Israelites was decreasing, John’s response was found in John 3:27-30.

SLIDE #4

Bible Verse

John 3:27-30 (CSB)

27John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven.

28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’

29He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.

30He must increase, but I must decrease.”