Introduction

Good morning, beloved. It's a joy to be in the House of the Lord today, isn't it? As we gather in this place, our hearts knit together in unity, we are reminded of the beautiful tapestry of the body of Christ. Each of us, with our unique gifts, talents, and callings, woven together by the Master Weaver Himself. It's a beautiful thing, isn't it?

In his book, "Knowing God," J.I. Packer wrote, "We need to ask ourselves: What is my capacity for God? How much of Him can I contain? Day by day, we can increase that capacity, first by realizing our position in Christ, and then by hard interaction with life as it comes to us." Today, we will be focusing on realizing our position in Christ as an integral part of His body and how we can interact with life as it comes to us, using the gifts God has bestowed upon us.

Let's turn our Bibles to 1 Corinthians 12:11-31, and 1 Peter 4:10-11.

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Father, we thank You for gathering us here today. We thank You for Your Word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We ask that as we delve into Your Word today, You would open our hearts and minds to receive what You have for us. Help us to understand our roles in the body of Christ and how we can use our gifts for Your glory. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Believers Building the Body

The body of Christ is a beautiful, complex, and diverse entity. It's made up of individuals from all walks of life, each with unique gifts and talents. The Apostle Paul paints a vivid picture of this in his first letter to the Corinthians. He speaks of the body as one, yet made up of many parts. Each part, though different, is crucial to the functioning of the whole.

In the same way, each of us, as believers, plays a vital role in building up the body of Christ. We are not merely spectators, but active participants in God's grand design. Our individual gifts, talents, and abilities are not just for our benefit, but for the edification of the entire body.

This brings us to the first aspect of believers building the body - the recognition and utilization of our individual gifts. In his letter, Peter reminds us that each one of us has received a gift. These gifts are not meant to be hidden or hoarded, but to be used in service to one another. Our gifts, whether they be of speaking, teaching, helping, or administrating, are to be used as good stewards of God's grace.

The second aspect is the understanding that our gifts are given to us by God, and it is He who determines their distribution. The Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. This means that our gifts are not a result of our own doing, but are a divine allocation from God Himself. This understanding fosters a sense of humility and gratitude, knowing that what we have has been given to us by God.

The third aspect is the realization that our gifts are meant for the common good. Paul emphasizes this when he says that the body is not one member but many. Our gifts are not for our own personal gain or glory, but for the benefit of the entire body. When we use our gifts in this manner, we contribute to the health and growth of the body of Christ.

The fourth and final aspect is the pursuit of love in the exercise of our gifts. Paul ends his discourse on spiritual gifts with a call to earnestly desire the best gifts, and yet he shows us a more excellent way - the way of love. Our gifts, no matter how great or small, are to be exercised in love. Without love, our gifts are nothing more than clanging cymbals.

Bestowing Gifts for the Greater Good

As we consider the manifold grace of God, we see that it is not a stagnant pool, but a flowing river ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO