Embracing Our Role in the Body of Christ
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound question of what it truly means to be part of a church. We often misconstrue church as merely a building or an event, but it is much more than that. The church is a living, breathing body of believers, a physical manifestation of a spiritual reality. This reality is that God is forming a community of faith, a body of Christ, where each member plays a vital role. We delved into 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul uses the analogy of a body to describe the church. Just as a body has many parts, each with its own function, so does the church. Each believer is a part of this body, placed there by God, and each has a unique role to fulfill.
Being part of a church means gathering together, not just as a routine, but as a reflection of our spiritual identity. It means being a participant, not a spectator, actively engaging in the life of the church. It involves using our gifts for the benefit of others and allowing others to use their gifts for us. This mutual exchange is crucial for the health and growth of the body. Moreover, being part of a church means being relationally committed, sharing in each other's joys and burdens, and ensuring there is no division among us.
We also acknowledged that there are seasons in life that may affect our ability to engage with the church, such as health issues, hurt caused by the church, or major life changes. However, these should be temporary, not a permanent way of life. The church is meant to be a place of healing, growth, and community, where we can be honest about our struggles and find support.
As we concluded, we reflected on the importance of communion as a communal act that reminds us of our place in the body of Christ. We are not alone; we are part of a family, adopted into God's kingdom through the sacrifice of Jesus. This is the essence of being the church—living out the spiritual reality in the physical world, together.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Church as a Living Body: The church is not just a building or an event; it is a living body of believers, each with a unique role. Just as a body has many parts, each with its own function, so does the church. Every believer is placed in the body by God and has a purpose to fulfill. This spiritual reality should be reflected in our physical gathering and interactions. [31:20]
2. Active Participation: Being part of a church means being an active participant, not a passive spectator. God has placed each of us in the body with specific gifts and roles. We are called to engage with the church community, using our gifts for the benefit of others and allowing others to use their gifts for us. This mutual exchange is vital for the health and growth of the church. [47:27]
3. Relational Commitment: True church membership involves relational commitment. We are called to share in each other's joys and burdens, ensuring there is no division among us. This commitment reflects the love and unity of the body of Christ and allows us to support and strengthen one another. [54:03]
4. Navigating Life's Seasons: There are seasons in life that may affect our ability to engage with the church, such as health issues, hurt caused by the church, or major life changes. However, these should be temporary, not a permanent way of life. The church is meant to be a place of healing, growth, and community, where we can be honest about our struggles and find support. [40:05]
5. Communion as a Communal Act: Communion is a powerful reminder of our place in the body of Christ. It is a communal act that signifies our unity and shared faith. As we partake in communion, we remember that we are not alone; we are part of a family, adopted into God's kingdom through the sacrifice of Jesus. This act reinforces our spiritual identity and commitment to the church. [01:05:37]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:12] - Introduction to the Series
- [03:45] - Recap of Previous Weeks
- [07:30] - The Church as a Physical Expression
- [10:15] - Love as a Mark of Discipleship
- [14:00] - The Call to Disciple Others
- [18:45] - What It Means to Be Part of a Church
- [22:30] - The Body of Christ Analogy
- [26:00] - Spiritual and Physical Realities
- [31:20] - The Role of the Spirit in the Body
- [35:37] - Unity and Diversity in the Body
- [40:05] - Navigating Life's Seasons
- [47:27] - Gathering as the Church
- [52:00] - Using Gifts for the Body
- [54:03] - Relational Commitment
- [01:02:03] - Reflective Questions
- [01:05:37] - Communion and Prayer
- [01:12:41] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Corinthians 12, how does Paul describe the church, and what analogy does he use to explain its function? [35:37]
2. What does the sermon suggest is the significance of gathering together as a church, beyond just attending an event? [47:27]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of individual believers within the church body? [52:00]
4. What are some of the challenges mentioned in the sermon that might affect a person's ability to engage with the church? [40:05]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the analogy of the body in 1 Corinthians 12 help us understand the importance of diversity and unity within the church? [35:37]
2. How does the sermon interpret the concept of being a participant rather than a spectator in the church? What implications does this have for individual involvement? [52:00]
3. The sermon mentions seasons of life that might impact church engagement. How should believers navigate these seasons while maintaining their connection to the church? [40:05]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relational commitment required in a church community, and how does this reflect the love and unity of the body of Christ? [54:03]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current involvement in the church. Are you more of a participant or a spectator? What steps can you take to become more actively engaged? [52:00]
2. Consider the unique gifts and talents you possess. How can you use these gifts to benefit others in your church community? [52:00]
3. Think about a time when you felt disconnected from the church. What were the circumstances, and how did you address them? How can you ensure that such disconnection is only temporary? [40:05]
4. How can you foster deeper relational commitments within your church community? Identify one person or family you can reach out to this week to build a stronger connection. [54:03]
5. Communion is described as a communal act that reinforces our spiritual identity. How does participating in communion impact your sense of belonging to the church? [01:05:37]
6. Reflect on a recent challenge or burden you faced. How did your church community support you during this time, and how can you offer similar support to others? [54:03]
7. If you were to leave your church, would you be missed? Why or why not? What changes can you make to ensure that your presence is felt and valued within the community? [01:02:03]
Devotional
Day 1: The Church as a Living Body
The church is not merely a building or an event; it is a living, breathing body of believers, each with a unique role. This concept is beautifully illustrated in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul uses the analogy of a body to describe the church. Just as a body has many parts, each with its own function, so does the church. Every believer is placed in the body by God and has a purpose to fulfill. This spiritual reality should be reflected in our physical gathering and interactions. Understanding this helps us see the church as a dynamic community where each member contributes to the whole. [31:20]
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)
Reflection: What unique role do you believe God has placed you in within your church community, and how can you actively fulfill it this week?
Day 2: Active Participation
Being part of a church means being an active participant, not a passive spectator. God has placed each of us in the body with specific gifts and roles. We are called to engage with the church community, using our gifts for the benefit of others and allowing others to use their gifts for us. This mutual exchange is vital for the health and growth of the church. Active participation involves more than just attending services; it means being involved in the life of the church, contributing to its mission, and supporting fellow believers. [47:27]
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one gift or talent you have that you can use to serve others in your church this week. How will you take the first step to do so?
Day 3: Relational Commitment
True church membership involves relational commitment. We are called to share in each other's joys and burdens, ensuring there is no division among us. This commitment reflects the love and unity of the body of Christ and allows us to support and strengthen one another. Being relationally committed means investing in relationships within the church, being there for others in times of need, and celebrating their successes. It is about building a community that mirrors the love and unity of Christ. [54:03]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your church who might be going through a difficult time. How can you reach out to them this week to offer support and encouragement?
Day 4: Navigating Life's Seasons
There are seasons in life that may affect our ability to engage with the church, such as health issues, hurt caused by the church, or major life changes. However, these should be temporary, not a permanent way of life. The church is meant to be a place of healing, growth, and community, where we can be honest about our struggles and find support. It is important to recognize these seasons and seek help and healing within the church community, allowing it to be a source of strength and encouragement. [40:05]
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV)
Reflection: Are you in a season where you feel disconnected from the church? What steps can you take to re-engage and seek support from your church community?
Day 5: Communion as a Communal Act
Communion is a powerful reminder of our place in the body of Christ. It is a communal act that signifies our unity and shared faith. As we partake in communion, we remember that we are not alone; we are part of a family, adopted into God's kingdom through the sacrifice of Jesus. This act reinforces our spiritual identity and commitment to the church. Communion is not just a ritual; it is a profound expression of our connection to Christ and to each other as believers. [01:05:37]
"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16, ESV)
Reflection: As you prepare to take communion next, reflect on your relationship with Christ and your church family. How can you deepen these connections in the coming days?
Quotes
"Then week three, we saw that every believer is commanded to disciple others. You know, sometimes we want to leave the heavy lifting to the professionals. You know, you don't want to hurt yourself. You don't want to make disciples the wrong way. So we're just going to trust the pastors, the leadership team, the elders, the ministry leaders, the people with the professional training. But here's what you don't understand. If you think that way, it's because you don't understand that Jesus is inviting you into a way of living. He is not inviting you to believe some things about him in your head. Yes, there are some true theological things about Jesus that you need to believe. But he's not inviting you to embrace a belief system. He's inviting you to live a certain way. He's inviting you to a way of life. And therefore, discipleship is not teaching people some information about God." [00:28:13] (50 seconds)
"You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Now, who is the you? Well, speaking about this specific passage, it's the people who are hearing what Paul wrote. Now, you have to remember, there's no Bibles being passed around. If you were lucky back in that day, you might have had some parts of the Old Testament, okay? Your church may have had a few of those. So what we basically have is Paul writing a letter by hand. There's no email. He can't print anything or fax anything or whatever. There's no PDFs to print out. This is a handwritten letter. And if you wanted to hear what Paul had to say to the church in Corinth, then what did you do? Well, you had to go to church." [00:31:20] (56 seconds)
"And so when Paul says, you are the body of Christ, he's saying the people that are hearing me, hearing this letter that I wrote, that's who is the body of Christ. So I'm just beginning to say, this is not some like random group of people. This is the people who have come together to hear this message. They were gathered together. So this gathering is the church, is the body, the people who are hearing. And I think it sets the stage for us today because often when we think about church, we think about everybody else. But really, it's about us." [00:32:24] (38 seconds)
"Because if you're here today and you're gathered, to some degree, you are the gathered ones. You're the church. So this is written to you. So now back to the beginning, 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12. Here's how he starts this entire section. He says, just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all of its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. So here's the thing. Paul is saying there is a spiritual reality called the church. And I'm going to give you an analogy to help you understand the spiritual reality of the church, what it looks like. So what does he decide to do? He decides to use the analogy of a body." [00:33:01] (43 seconds)
"But notice this, verse 18, but in fact, God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. You know, sometimes we forget the reality that the parts of the body don't have any value unless they're connected to the body. Your hand does not do you any good if it is not connected to your arm. In fact, if you were to find a hand not connected to an arm and a body, you would think there's been a tragic accident or a crime, like someone has been a victim of some, an act of violence here. And so here's what I'd say is that spiritually speaking, apart from the body, the parts don't have any worth. And I'm not talking about you as a person that you don't have any worth. I'm just saying that spiritually speaking, your value in God's kingdom, your value in the body is not found in you being a great hand or a wonderful foot." [00:37:55] (73 seconds)
"That's what makes you important. And if you are disconnected from the body, then you've lost the value that you would bring. Verse 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, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. Paul's simply saying that bodies have clothes for a reason. If we're all running around naked, it just would not be good. I think we could all agree on that. I love that. You can tell Paul was not using an editor when he wrote the Bible. His editor would have been like, really? Do we have to go here, mark this off, take this out? This is not relevant. Paul is just being real." [00:39:06] (53 seconds)
"So that, so all, he said all this, so that, what's the point? So that there would be no division. So think about this in your relationships. When you have a division with someone, a falling out with a friend, you get into a conflict with your spouse, you have something going on with your parents or your kids or whatever, right? We call that a division. It's a divide. There's a gap between us, right? So Paul's saying you need to understand how the church functions, why this is important. Why? So that there won't be a division in the body because what happens when there's a division in the body? We no longer reflect the reality of the spiritual kingdom into our community around us. We're focused on our divisions and our conflicts and our issues instead of representing Jesus as we were created to do." [00:40:38] (52 seconds)
"so you're saying you actually don't go to church the Bible doesn't actually even use the term universal church I think it's actually I'd rather you call it the body of Christ or the family of God because here's the thing the word church literally means to gather so if you're a part of the universal church the universal church has never gathered ever and is only going to gather one at when time ends and the kingdom of God is fully realized in the world that will be the first gathering of the universal church and that's when you get to say I'm a part of the universal church but until then the universal church has never gathered so there's a family of God in the body of Christ but there's really only a gathering of us so you know with all of us being here this motley crew of us I'm your pastor we are a church we're gathering we're here we're hanging out together and that really is literally what it means to be a church it means that you have come together real people in a real place having real conversations and that's why Paul says in first Corinthians 12 27 you are the body of Christ you should put your name in there you are the body of" [00:47:27] (84 seconds)
"At Grace Church, we don't call it church part, church membership. We call it church partnership. And part of that is that we want you to understand that we're not asking you or wanting you to be a member in an organization. We're wanting you to be a participant on a team. We want you to play a role, to partner, to do something with us, your local church. So what does it mean to be part of a church? You gather. You're a participant, not a spectator. Number three, you use your gifts for others, and others use their gifts for you. Notice verse 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. Now, from my experience, I've never had someone ever say this to me. Pastor, I don't need the church. Never had anybody say that. But remember this. Actions speak louder than words." [00:50:28] (67 seconds)
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