Be The Body
Notes
Transcript
For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
Indeed, the body is not one part but many.
If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted.
And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable.
And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect,
which our respectable parts do not need. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable,
so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.
So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?
Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.
When the whole body is not working together the whole body suffers.
Sometimes part of the body is not healthy.
Sometimes a part is missing and we get used to the change.
Sometimes a part is missing and we must work to compensate.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,
in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.
According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith;
if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching;
if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
How has God gifted you?
How is God calling you to serve the body?
Will you be obedient?