Church: Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12

Introduction

A friend asked Mrs. Smith, “What position does your son play on the football team?”

“I’m not sure,” replied Mrs. Smith, “but I think he’s one of the drawbacks.”

In the Body, there is Unity of Membership, vv. 12-14.

A. The Body has One Head, Jesus Christ.

1. Christ is not divided.
2. Members cannot be “up” on Jesus and “down” on one another at the same time. See Galatians 5:15.

B. There is power in unity.

C. A church can accomplish the impossible if its members are one in purpose, giving their all in obedience to the mission of Jesus.

In the Body, there is Diversity of Members, vv. 14-21.

A. There are many members in the body.

B. No one member can supply all the needs of the body.

C. Every member is important. “Everybody is somebody in the Lord’s Body.”

In the Body, there is Independence of Members from One Another, vv. 4-10, 15-17.

A. A Great Truth

1. The ears hear, but the eye does not. The eye sees. Each receives signals from the head to do what it does.
2. Each member receives direction from the Lord Jesus in its ministry.
3. Christ can lead one member to be involved in His service in ways of which other members are not aware.
4. As members go about their daily routine, they individually serve the Lord and His Church.

B. A Great Danger

1. Members stress their own independence to the detriment of the body.
2. They can be determined to have their own way.
3. Divisiveness and stubborn pride develops.
4. The head may send a signal to the right hand to lift itself above the head without the left hand doing a thing. But the head never sends a signal to the right hand to punch the body in the nose. The right hand and every member of the body is interested in the welfare of the nose. They are members of the same body. When one member suffers, all suffer with it.

In the Body, there is Interdependence of Members on One Another, vv. 20-25.

A. Members are responsible to one another in the body. The attitude “what I do is my business and none of yours” is defeating to the body of Christ.

B. Each member needs the other. We are to love one another.

C. Illustration of the mouth declaring war on the stomach. The result? The whole body attends the same funeral.

In the Body, there are Gifts for Edification, vv. 28-31.

A. Jesus provides what the body needs to fulfill its mission by giving spiritual gifts.

B. Gifts are given to the body. They belong to the Church.

C. Gifts are distributed through the individual member. What is being done with gifts by members?

1. Some are withholding gifts sinfully from our Lord and His body.
2. Some are prostituting their gifts by selling them to the world.
3. Some are in the process of discovering their gifts.
4. Some are developing the gifts they are aware they possess.
5. Many are utilizing their gifts to build up the body of Christ and glorify Him.