The Body
I. Introduction
A. Romans 12:3-8
B. 1 Corinthians 12:12-28
C. Ephesians 4:11-16
D. 1 Peter 4:10-11
E. These passages speak about the inner workings of the church as
the body of Christ
1. Indication that we are indeed part of something greater than
ourselves
2. Demonstration that we need to work with one another
F. Let us consider what these passages have to say in greater depth
so that we may be a body pleasing to Christ
II. Romans 12: The Variegated Body
A. When we consider Romans 12, we gain many important principles
about this body
B. It is one
1. Romans 12:5: even though we are many, the body is one
2. Ephesians 4:4
3. Consistent with image: Christ as head, church as body =
one person
4. One in Christ-- Christ as source of the unity
5. cf. 1 John 1:7
C. "Individually members one of another"
1. Romans 12:5
2. We are not just unified in Christ-- there is unity with each
other also!
3. We all should be parts of each other's lives!
D. Roles
1. Romans 12:3, 6-8
2. Major difficulties come in when we think of ourselves too
highly in the body
3. In Christ there is no room for such-- we all should be humble
(Matthew 18:1-4)!
4. Nevertheless, we all have our different roles
5. Just as a body has different parts with different functions,
so we all have different functions in the body of Christ!
6. Consider: Christ not entirely manifested in any individual,
but is manifest in the body, the church
7. There is not one of us who entirely reflects Christ in every
way, but taken together, we get much closer!
III. 1 Corinthians 12: The Functioning Body
A. 1 Corinthians 12 shows how the body should function
B. Establishment of unity of diverse parts in the body (vv. 12-14)
C. Value of all parts of the body (vv. 15-25)
1. Paul speaks of the same issues as in Romans 12, yet is more
specific
2. Recognition that even in our own bodies, the fact that part
A does not function like part B makes it no less part of the
body (vv. 15-16)
3. Not an accident, but valuable-- God's plan (vv. 17-18)!
4. All parts need the other parts (v. 21)
5. Weaker parts as indispensible, less honorable parts honored,
etc. (vv. 22-24)
6. Done so that there is no division in body, but that members
should care for each other (v. 25)!
D. The joys and sufferings of each part are reflected by the whole
(v. 26)!
1. When one part of our body is in pain, the rest rally around it
2. Likewise, when anyone in the church grieves or rejoices, the
entire body should grieve or rejoice with them!
E. Many different parts working together for a common cause: the
essence of our physical bodies and the body of Christ!
IV. Ephesians 4: The Purpose of the Body
A. Why is it that the body is there, and with different people doing
different things?
B. Ephesians 4:11-14
1. Different roles in the church to lead to the equipping of
saints for service and edification of the body (vv. 11-12)
2. Goal: all will attain unity of the faith, knowledge of Jesus,
maturity in the faith, no longer troubled by winds of doctrine
(vv. 13-14)
C. Ephesians 4:15-16
1. Speaking the truth in love, need for the body to grow up into
the head, Christ
2. When every part looks to Christ and is guided by Christ, then
the body will operate as intended: building itself up in love
D. The body is there for its own growth, numerically and spiritually,
through the building up of each component part!
V. 1 Peter 4: Service in the Body
A. We have already seen means of service in the body in Romans 12,
and Peter returns to the theme
B. 1 Peter 4:10: Gifts received to be used to serve each other
1. Means of good stewardship of God's grace
2. All can be built up when each uses his talents to serve
others!
VI. The Body at Work
A. We have seen God's presentation of how the body of Christ works
B. We see that each member must know his or her place and use every
skill at their disposal for the building up of the other members
C. We see that there must be mutual love, care, and concern for the
different parts
D. Respect and honor must be given to every part, no matter how
public or private, obvious or subtle, or large or small the
services provided
E. This is only possible when the members are open with each other
1. Burdens cannot be borne if no one knows about them
(Galatians 6:2)
2. Service cannot be rendered where there is no knowledge of
need of service!
3. We must be open with each other!
F. Openness is only possible when a warm and loving climate exists
for it
1. Are we cold or judgmental toward our brethren?
2. Are we comfortable among the brethren, in and out of the
assembly, and do we do all that we can to make others
comfortable with us?
G. Comfort can only be obtained by authenticity and honesty
1. Do we put up a façade of having everything together and the
presentation of complete holiness, or are we willing to be
real?
2. Do we consider the church like a holy country club or a
hospital for recovering sinners (Matthew 9:11-13)?
3. Are we willing to confess our sins to one another
(James 5:16), or will our pride get in our way?
VII. Conclusion
A. The body of Christ must work, and work together!
B. We have seen how the body must have great care and concern for
itself, building itself up in love, trying to be a tight-knit
community, to be seen as one body
C. This is to be a declaration of reality-- but also a challenge
for us
D. How can we make the body here better like the body God
desires?
E. Let us build each other up in love and thus be the body of
Christ!
F. Invitation/songbook