The sermon below is about becoming a part of the body of Christ.
Title: The Body of Christ
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Introduction:
Corinth was a capital of the Roman province of Achaia. In fact the metropolis(major city) of Greece. A place where a mass of gold, silver and bronze were melted. So as you can think it is a very rich country. Corinth was also a commercial port. It is a mixed of different people from the neighboring countries. Some were Jews, Greeks, Slaves, Free & Gentiles. Their church setting was different from ours, instead there is only one man conducting. WITHOUT ORDER/UNORGANIZED. All were free to do their part, though there may be a chairman or a leader but one may rise and lead the company into meditation, or prayer or song, read bibles and others… In the previous verses, Paul tells us that the people in Corinth have different extraordinary gifts. Because some acquire many gifts and some did not this was one that caused a divisions among them.
Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body.
1. One Body Many Parts- (v. 12-13)
12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Each Christian is a part of the body, that we are all members or parts of the body of Christ. The church is composed of many types of people from different backgrounds with a multitude of gifts and abilities. These differences can divide people so easily as to what happened to Corinth. But despite the differences, all believers have one thing in common-Faith in Christ-Our Faith unites and binds us. All believers are baptized by one Holy Spirit into one body of believers, the church (v. 13). Here we can see that we have one common denominator which is Christ…Christ that gives us salvation…
And what we aim is to glorify our God…
2. Each part is important – (v. 14-20)
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
Can you think of a part of your body that is not important? Only if there is something wrong with a part of your body surely the doctor would suggest cutting it off or taking it so it will not spoil the other parts. Christians must avoid two common errors: (1) being too proud of our abilities, (2) thinking we have nothing to give to the body of believers. Instead of comparing ourselves to one another; we should use our different gifts, together, to spread the Good
That we are all members or parts of the body of Christ. We may have nothing that brings us into prominence, and yet we are component parts of the body. Without us it would be incomplete. That we all have a part in the work of the body. No part of a living body is without a function which it alone can perform. So in the body of Christ our office may be a humble one, but it is one to which we are Divinely appointed.
3. Each part needs each other – (v. 21-26)
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!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
If a seemingly less important part will be taken away the whole body will suffer. When we think that our gifts are more important than others is an expression of Spiritual Pride. Rom. 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Our Spirits are alert that they may defend and otherwise help the bodily members.
Our Spirits are alert that they may defend and otherwise help the bodily members. If any part is cut or bruised, to that at ones goes the mind in painful consciousness. So Christ bears all our sorrows. If a missile comes near, it is the soul that, looking through the eyes, sees it and warns the nerve to spring the muscle that moves the proper part of the body to avoid it. Such is Christ’s watchfulness for His people.
(Coña (woodruff key)
4. We have a common head-Christ – (v. 27-31)
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
All feeling and all springs of power and action lie in the head. When any spot in the body is injured, a nerve communicates the fact to the brain, and there is the suffering. And then, from the brain, a nerve communicates back to the injured place what is to be done under the circumstances. And so whatever touches any living member of the Church, either for bad or good, it goes up at once to Christ; and from Him again there flows down to you the never-failing cords of His sympathy, guidance, and power.
These members of Christ’s body are the instruments for the execution of his will. The body is the servant of the soul. Such was Christ’s body on earth. We are not independent to follow our own purposes, but the will of Christ. While the hands and feet are involuntary instruments moved by the soul, the organs of Christ’s body act freely, although God works in them to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Though not losing identity or individuality, they are so assimilated to each other and to Christ that they freely act together with the harmony of the most nicely adjusted machine. Again, Christ now is not limited to any spot at once, but is everywhere, in every Christian heart. Were He to get complete possession of all the members of His body and of all the agencies which they command, what rapid and sweeping successes would He achieve! When the Church is sanctified, when no member is paralysed or dormant or reluctant, but the whole are “clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners,” how soon will the world be redeemed!
Conclusion:
Rom 12:4-8
4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
“A member of Christ.” Now, what “member” will you be? If you are “a member of Christ,” you must do the member’s part. If you say, “I will be like the hand,” what will you do? You must work usefully with your hand, you must work for God, you must give to God. Or, with your feet, you must run with messages. Be very useful. Think, “Perhaps I shall be a missionary, with my feet beautiful on the mountains, to the heathen. I will do it for Christ’s sake.” Or, “I will always listen to good things.” Be the ear. Or, with the eye, look at the beautiful things from heaven. Or, like the tongue, speak of God, of goodness, and of happiness. Then you are a useful “member of Christ.” Remember, if you have got Christ in your heart, then you are “a member” indeed.
by: Eric Ong, one of the preachers of Ormoc Lighthouse Christian Ministry
This is sermon was made by Eric Ong.
