Who Is The Body...

Who is the church?

I am!!

You are!!

We are!!

The church is the body of Christ.

WHO IS THE BODY OF CHRIST?

• Your personal spiritual growth depends on your being in the body of Christ.

o There should be no “Lone Ranger” Christians in God’s family.

o Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is an act of commitment to Jesus, to you, and to others who have also vowed to follow Him forever.

o Why is it important not to be alone?

o Accountability, support, and fellowship.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)

9 Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. 11 And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

• This never changes.

o No matter how long you’ve been a Christian—no matter what your “spiritual age” is; you never outgrow your need for the family of God for your survival in the world and for your continued spiritual growth.

o The idea of being a Christian with out going to church is like being race car driver without a car. You may know all the rules and know how to do it, but if you are not there in the action you are just a watcher, a fan, an observer.

o Some would say “but I don’t like those other people or I don’t need them”.

What if we all wanted to play the same position on a sports team?

It would not be a very effective team would it?

Ladies what if your entire make up collection wanted to be the same?

What if it was all the same color?

Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

•

Paul states one central truth about the family of God (the church):

o Many Members = One Body

o This teaches us about the “oneness” of the church

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NLT)

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.

WHO IS THE BODY OF CHRIST?

• When you became a Christian, the Holy Spirit made you part of the one body of Christ. There is only 1.

o “Church” (ekklesia) means “called out ones”

o In Jesus’ day, the word ekklesia [ekklesia /ek•klay•see•ah/] was used to describe a group of citizens who had been called apart for a special meeting or assembly.

• Before you became a Christian, you generally lived the way you wanted to live and followed your own desires.

o Then Christ called you: “Follow me! Separate yourself from others who live by their personal desires. Be my disciple!”

o You heard, responded in faith and became a Christian—part of the “called-out-ones”, the church.

1 PETER 2:9-10

A. As the “called-out-ones” we are to proclaim the One who has called us out.

1. The Message says it best when it says that we are to, “speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you…”

B. Titles of the “called-out-ones”

1. “chosen people”, “chosen generation”, “elect race” (v.9)

2. “royal priesthood” (v.9)

3. “holy nation” (v.9)

4. “people belonging to God”, “God’s own special people”, “a peculiar people” (v.9)

5. “people of God”, “God’s own” (v.10)

C. No matter which translation you use it is clear that because we are Christians…

1. We are “the people of God”.

We are the Body of Christ.

WHO IS THE BODY OF CHRIST?

2. We are “God’s own people” whom He has “called out of darkness into His wonderful light”.

WHO IS THE BODY OF CHRIST?

Three things will dictate what kind of a team player you will be.

1. You need to be familiar with the Holy Spirit.

You need to know Him intimately so you will recognize His voice when He speaks.

You know Him intimately by spending time with Him.