Members of One Another We are not Christians in isolation. Romans 12:4-5

The Bible is Clear Paul describes the church as a body More than 30 times in the NT  The church is compared to a body  Each member of the church is a part of the body of Christ  We differ in function  We differ in what we can do  But we must function in harmony with each other

The Bible is Clear Paul does not say – try to be a part, seek to be a member, work to discover your gift God demands that we be members of one another How can we be members of one another? Here are three ways to look at this:

No Individual can Function Effectively by Himself All members are built together Romans 12:5 Romans 12:5 – so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another

No Individual can Function Effectively by Himself All members are built together We must love one another Romans 12:10 Romans 12:10 – Be kindly affectionate to one another in brotherly love

No Individual can Function Effectively by Himself All members are built together We must love one another Together we can do great things Romans 12:11-12 Romans 12:11-12 – not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

No Individual can Function Effectively by Himself All members are built together We must love one another Together we can do great things Romans 12:13-14 Romans 12:13-14 – distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

No Individual can Function Effectively by Himself All members are built together We must love one another Together we can do great things This is how we are described Ephesians 2:21 Ephesians 2:21 – in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord

No Member Should Feel he is More Important than Another This is God’s Way This is God’s Way  1 Corinthians 12:14  1 Corinthians 12:14 – For in fact the body is not one member but many  1 Corinthians 12:27  1 Corinthians 12:27 – Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually

No Member Should Feel he is More Important than Another Body Members are United Body Members are United  1 Corinthians 12:15-16 –  1 Corinthians 12:15-16 – If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not any eye, I am not of the body,” is therefore not of the body?

No Member Should Feel he is More Important than Another Each has a gift as God sees best Each has a gift as God sees best  1 Corinthians 12:18-20 –  1 Corinthians 12:18-20 – But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

No Member Should Feel he is More Important than Another All are EQUALLY important All are EQUALLY important  1 Corinthians 12:22-23  1 Corinthians 12:22-23 – No, must rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty.

All Members Must Work Hard at Creating Unity in the Body Endeavor to keep unity Endeavor to keep unity Ephesians 4:1-3 – Ephesians 4:1-3 – I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to wak worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

All Members Must Work Hard at Creating Unity in the Body Every Member has been given Grace Every Member has been given Grace Ephesians 4:7 – Ephesians 4:7 – But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

All Members Must Work Hard at Creating Unity in the Body We are Joined Together We are Joined Together Ephesians 4:15 – Ephesians 4:15 – but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ –

All Members Must Work Hard at Creating Unity in the Body We are Joined Together We are Joined Together Ephesians 4:16 – Ephesians 4:16 – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Self-Examination Take a short test, do a self- examination Take a short test, do a self- examination What are your STRENGTHS? Accentuate them! What are your STRENGTHS? Accentuate them! What are your WEAKNESSES? Eliminate them! What are your WEAKNESSES? Eliminate them!

Conclusion Most references to the church use the figure of a body and its many parts I am a vital part of the body I cannot expect heaven unless I function in the body This church does not function in automatic overdrive We need each other