Finding My Place in the Body
I Corinthians 12:12-31
One of the most instructive pictures ever painted by Paul, thru the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is that the church is a body with Christ as the head of the body (Eph. 1:22-23)
A body without a head is lifeless and without direction (Not possible).
a. A head without a body would be grotesque and useless (not possible).
b. To attempt to separate Christ, the head, from the church, the body, is to be guilty of spiritual homicide by decapitation.
The implications of the church as the body of Christ are many and tremendously significant.
c. It says something about the churches relationship with Christ.
d. It says something about our relationship with each other.
For example:
e. If we are a body, we must have a brain to give us guidance and direction (Heb. 1:2).
f. If we are a body we must have blood flowing thru us to survive (I Jn. 1:7).
But an obvious implication that I want to drive home is this if the followers of Christ form the body of Christ then every member of the body must have a function.
I Cor. 12:12-31
Verses 12-14
A. Background; but this implication is also present.
B. Just as each member of the human body has its own distinct purpose and function so does each member of the body of Christ.
C. Verses 15-21
D. Song by Annie Flint "The Worlds Bible
"Christ has no hands, but our hands to do His work today,
He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way.
He has no tongue but our tongues to tell men how He died.
He has no help, but our help to bring them to His side."
E. But, once again, the point is each part of the body must have a function.
1. Normal body each body part (external and internal) has a function (appendix useless cut out)
2. What is your function? Job? What is your purpose in being in the body?
3. There are basically two groups of people in the church participators and spectators.
a. Why? What excuse is good enough? (Mark Twain)
b. Do you like being an appendix or tonsil (using blood and food) living in the body, having no purpose, no reason for being.
4. Rom. 12:1, 4-5
F. In order for the church here to grow, to carry out the purpose God has given it, every member must be an active part of the body:
1. Illustrate using human body.
2. If every part of this body were involved just think of the possibilities.
3. Often times instead of finding function in the church we rather fuss and complain about others not doing their function. (Overboard Cartoon)
Verse 22-27
G. You have a responsibility as a Christian as a member of the body to find out what your function is.
1. There is no function which is too little as long as it serves the body
2. Illustrate with Pituitary Gland
3. Snowflake Illus.
4. Edward Hale, former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do."
5. Point of text is that it is not the obvious up front functions that are important but the small functions behind the scenes that deserves the honor (Vs. 28-31)
H. Now how can I do this?
1. If you had no restrictions and were free to do what you would truly like to do as a member of this church, what would it be? (Pray and answer honestly)
2. Come talk to the elders and say this is what I want to do, this is my function.
3. Trial and error
What is your function, job, and purpose in the body?
If I were to ask you leaving today what would you say?
Make it your goal before this year ends to find out what your function is in the body.
Jim Pharr
Lenoir, NC