And just to say that after our gathering this morning, there is tea and coffee and it's a great opportunity to catch up with people, to meet people who perhaps you don't know, to talk to people who we've met this morning, talk to the students.
And I wonder if there's any here, if you put up your hand, were you here yesterday afternoon, evening? So there's a few here and they had a great time.
And I popped in for a short while as they learned how we can trust the Bible, God's word.
So if you want to know what that was all about, ask one of the younger people who are here and they'll tell you over tea and coffee.
I'd like you to turn in your Bible, please, to 1 Corinthians chapter 12.
Well, we're in a short series of healthy membership or meaningful membership.
Ralph kicked us off last week as we looked at members of the kingdom.
And today we're looking at members of the body.
And just to remind you that from today's talk, we're going to be meeting on Wednesday.
So if there's anything that you want to follow up on or questions that you may have, certainly ask them today.
But come along Wednesday night as we think about it a bit more together.
You're all very, very welcome.
So let's read 1 Corinthians chapter 12, starting at verse 12 to 27.
Let's hear God's word.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
For we were all baptized by one spirit so as to form one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free.
And we were all given the one spirit to drink.
And so the body is made up of one part, not made up of one part, but of many.
Now if the foot should say, because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
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 stop being part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?
And if the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
If they were all one 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.
And the head cannot say to the feet, I don't need you.
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.
And the parts that we think are less honourable, we treat with special honour.
And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,
while our presentable parts need no special treatment.
But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it,
so that there should be no division in the body,
but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.
If one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ.
And each one of you is a part of it.
Well, let's pray.
Father, thank you that you have not left us alone in the dark,
but you have given to us your word,
and you have given to us your spirit that we may have understanding.
And we pray for each one of us as we gather this morning,
that as a result of what we hear and think about,
we would live, we would leave with a greater and bigger picture
of what it means to be part of the body of Christ.
Help us now, we pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, we're all used to memberships.
Maybe you're a member of a sports club,
or members of the Men's Shed,
or the Credit Union, or a political party.
Membership of all kinds of different things.
I'm a member of the local gym,
and I'm sure you can tell by just looking at me.
I pay my fees,
and I have access to all the facilities.
Being a member means I can work out every single day,
and I can talk to all the other members.
But I can also decide not to go at all,
and I can choose not to talk to anybody else.
But you know what?
I'm still a member.
I've paid my fees.
I have my rights.
I decide on the level of commitment I give
to that membership.
Now, membership of the church
is not like that.
When the Bible talks about church membership,
it uses deep and rich imagery.
We are citizens of a kingdom.
We are blocks in a temple.
We are children in a family.
Each image,
the individuals make up the whole.
So the citizens make up a kingdom.
The stones or the blocks
together make up the temple.
The children together make up a family.
Each part is related to the other.
There's a union.
There's an interdependence.
There's a relationship
between the parts.
And we are,
as we're going to look at together,
members of the body.
Look at the key verse.
It was the last verse we read together,
verse 27.
This is our memory verse for today.
Verse 27.
Now you are the body of Christ,
and each one of you
is a part of it.
Did you get that?
You are the body of Christ,
and each one of you
is a part of it.
So let's together unpack this image
of the church.
What does it mean
to be members of the body?
Well, first,
Christ is the head.
If there's a body,
that it implies
there is a head of the body.
Now it doesn't talk about it explicitly
in the text that we just read
in Corinthians,
but in other parts of the New Testament
it makes it very clear.
So in Colossians 1, verse 18,
the Apostle Paul says this,
speaking of Christ,
Christ,
and he,
that is Christ,
is the head
of the body,
that is,
the church.
Now,
if you're the head,
Sam referred to this earlier,
if the head,
well, it can mean
something like rule
or authority,
like your headmaster
in school.
They're the head.
But head can also mean
source
or beginning.
So we talk about
the head
of a river.
In other words,
in that context,
Christ is the source
of life.
Christ has the authority
to give people
new
and eternal life
through his death
and the cross
and his resurrection
from the grave.
One writer put it like this,
the church
receives all its life
from Christ
and has no life
apart from him.
I'll read that again.
It's important.
The church
receives all its life
from Christ
and has no life
apart from him.
So from the head
flows
life
to the body.
And the idea
of Christ
being the source
of life
is picked up again
in Colossians 2.
Here it's talking
about those
who might turn
from Christ
or want to
separate themselves
from Christ.
Look at the language
used.
Colossians 2
verse 19.
It's on the screen.
It says
they've lost
connection
with the head
from whom
the whole body
supported
and held together
by its ligaments
and sinews
grows
as God
causes it
to grow.
So to live
without Christ
is like to
sever the head
from the body.
It's cutting yourself
off
from the source
of all life.
So
Christ
is
the head.
And second
if Christ
is the head
then the church
is the body.
That's what we read
in 1 Corinthians
12
verse 27.
Now you
are the body
of Christ.
Now question
for us here.
I want us to think
about that verse.
Look at it with me.
Who is the you
in this
verse?
You
are the body
of Christ.
Who's it referring
to?
Each one of
you
is a part
of it.
So who's the you?
Does it mean
everybody?
Does everyone
right now
in this building
does it refer
to each person
here that
they are
the body
of Christ?
Well the
Bible makes
it very
clear
that the
you
are those
who confess
that Jesus
Christ
is Lord.
You might
remember
from last
week
Ralph talked
about the
church
being built
on the
right
confession
and the
right
confessor.
Well the
same idea
is picked
up here.
Have a look
with me
at chapter
12
verse 3.
Chapter
12
verse 3.
As we
think about
who it
is
who does
belong
to the
body.
Chapter
12
verse 3.
Therefore
I want
you to
know
that
no one
who is
speaking
by the
spirit
of God
says
Jesus
be
cursed
and no
one can
say
Jesus
is
Lord
except
by the
Holy
Spirit.
Only
those
who have
the
spirit
of God
only
those
who've
been
changed
or
saved
by
Jesus
can
truly
say
from
their
heart
Jesus
is
Lord.
Only
those
who
submit
to
the
Lordship
of
Jesus
only
those
who
are
living
according
to
the
confession
are
part
of
the
body
of
Christ.
Now
when
this was
written
this would
have been
very
clear
to
everybody
because
in
that
time
under
the
Romans
Caesar
was
Lord.
So
to
claim
that
anybody
else
was
Lord
to
say
that
Jesus
is
Lord
well
that
was
a
direct
threat
against
the
authority
of
Caesar.
It
could
cost
you
your
life.
So
the
confession
to
say
yes
I
believe
Jesus
is
Lord
could
only
come
from
the
very
fact
that
you
had
been
changed
and
you
were
trusting
!
Jesus
an
evidence
of
the
work
of
the
Holy
Spirit.
So
if
you
have
turned
to
Jesus
today
if
you
are
here
and
you
have
submitted
your
life
to
Jesus
then
let's
be
clear
you
are
part
of
the
body
of
Christ
you
have
received
life
but
if
you
haven't
yet
turned
to
Jesus
as
Lord
if
you
haven't
submitted
to
his
rulership
to
his
authority
then
you
are
not
yet
part
of
the
body
you
don't
have
that
new
and
eternal
life
but
here's
the
good
news
you
can
by
turning
to
Jesus
right
now
where
you
are
by
confessing
and
saying
yes
I
truly
believe
Jesus
is
Lord
I
submit
to
his
authority
I
want
to
live
under
his
rule
he
is
my
king
my
savior
you
can
do
that
right
now
where
you
are
and
know
the
life
that
comes
from
God
life
in
all
its
fullness
so
Christ
is
the
head
the
church
is
the
body
now
just
as
our
physical
heads
are
joined
to
our
physical
bodies
so
Christ
and
his
church
are
joined
and
can't
be
separated
the
body
is
united
to
the
head
so
wherever
the
head
goes
the
body
naturally
follows
and
that
is
true
spiritually
in
our
relationship
with
Christ
so
just
as
Christ
died
if
I'm
trusting
in
him
we
can
say
that
I
died
with
Christ
and
just
as
Christ
was
raised
we
can
truly
say
that
we
were
raised
with
him
his
life
is
our
life
we
are
joined
to
the
very
source
of
life
have
a
look
at
our
verse
chapter
12
verse
27
now
you
are
the
body
of
Christ
and
each
one
of
you
is
a
part
of
it
you
see
membership
of the
church
is not
like being
a member
of your
favorite
club
membership
of the
church
starts
with being
in
the
body
of
Christ
a
body
uniquely
joined
to
Christ
who
is
our
head
the
source
of
all
life
in
all
its
fullness
today
and
life
for
all
eternity
in
his
glorious
kingdom
to
come
now
we've
looked at
the
head
we've
looked
at
the
body
we've
looked
at
how
the
head
and
the
body
may
relate
to
each
other
now
we
want
to
look
together
at
the
body
parts
look
at
verse
12
Christ
is
the
head
the
church
is
the
body
now
we're
going
to
look
at
the
body
parts
so
look
at
verse
12
chapter
12
verse
12
here
we're
given
a
picture
of
the
physical
body
that
we
all
have
that's
why
we're
here
and
in
case
you
don't
think
you're
here
pinch
yourself
and
you'll
know
you're
here
your
physical
body
is
to
illustrate
the
body
of
Christ
or
the
church
so
I
have
an
arm
I
have
a
leg
I
have
an
ear
I
have
a
nose
but
an
arm
by
itself
or
a
nose
by
itself
is
not
a
body
right
but
you
put
all
the
different
parts
of
my
body
together
and
you've
got
a
most
glorious
body
a
body
like
mine
and
you've
got
your
own
body
of
course
verse
12
just
as a
body
though
one
has
many
parts
but
all
its
many
parts
form
one
body
so
it
is
with
Christ
or
so
it
is
with
the
body
of
Christ
the
church
let's
read
on
verse
13
for
we
were
all
baptized
by
one
spirit
that's
referring
to
your
conversion
as the
spirit
of
God
worked
in
your
life
for
we
were
all
baptized
by
one
spirit
so
as
to
form
one
body
whether
Jew
or
Gentile
whatever
race
or
religion
it
may
be
slave
or
free
whatever
your
status
in
life
is
and
we
were
all
given
the
one
spirit
to
drink
God
gives
his
one
spirit
the
holy
spirit
to
all
who
believe
and
by
that
same
spirit
supernaturally
joins us
to Christ
who is
the head
but also
joins us
to one
another
the
spirit
unites
us
to
Christ
and
he
unites
us
to
one
another
verse
14
and
so
the
body
is
not
made
up
of
one
part
but
of
many
in
other
words
if
you
say
you're
in
relationship
with
Christ
then
that
means
you're
also
in
relationship
with
his
church
God's
people
one
writer
put it
like
this
I'll
put it
up on
the
screen
and you
can
read
along
with
me
he's
referring
to
Christ
he says
joining
Christ
means
also
being
joined
to
others
who
are
joined
to
Christ
we
don't
get
Jesus
without
also
getting
his
people
being
in
Christ
means
being
part
of
others
who
are
also
in
him
we
don't
get
him
without
them
we
don't
get
Jesus
without
getting
his
people
now
some
of you
might
be
thinking
well
yes
I
agree
with
that
doesn't
that
mean
that
we're
all
part
of
the
universal
church
yes
that's
wonderfully
true
we
are
part
of
the
body
of
Christ
that
is
Christians
from
all
time
and
all
ages
from
all
the
nations
of
the
world
those
who've
gone
before
us
and
those
who
may
come
after
we
are
part
of
the
universal
church
the
body
of
Christ
and
that
is
rich
and
wonderful
but
being
part
of
the
universal
church
is
always
lived
out
and
practiced
in
the
local
church
that's
the
point
look at
the
key
verse
27
chapter
12
verse
27
hopefully
you know
it by
now
you're
the
body
of
Christ
and
each
one
of
you
is
a
part
of
it
we're
connected
to
Christ
and
we're
also
connected
to
each
other
in
fact
being
part
of
the
body
means
that
we
need
each
other
we'll
never
become
the
kind
of
people
God
has
called
us
to
be
if
we
live
in
isolation
or
if
I
think
of
being
a
Christian
all
on
my
own
the
new
testament
never
ever
thinks
of
Christians
like
that
it
always
assumes
!
we're
part
of
the
body
of
Christ
the
local
church
so
how
do
we
function
as
members
of
the
body
what's
it
going
to
look
like
well
two
things
first
we
are
indispensable
every
individual
part
of the
body
every
member
of the
church
is
of
vital
importance
let's
read
together
from
verse
15
chapter
12
verse
15
now
if the
foot
should
say
because
I
am
not
a
hand
I
do
not
belong
to
the
body
it
would
not
for
that
reason
stop
being
part
of
the
body
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
stop
being
part
of
the
body
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
now
switch
on
your
little
imagination
switch
because
this is
really
quite
comical
isn't
it
imagine
your
whole
body
consisted
of
an
eyeball
no
arms
no
legs
just
one
enormous
eye
bouncing
along
you
would
be
great
at
seeing
things
wouldn't
you
360
all
the
it
would
be
amazing
but
the
terrible
thing
is
you
wouldn't
hear
a
thing
and
you
wouldn't
get
very
far
because
you
couldn't
walk
and
you
couldn't
do
anything
you
just
be
this
enormous
eye
or
imagine
if
your
whole
body
was
an
enormous
ear
sitting
beside
you
you're
an
eye
and
there's
this
big
huge
ear
massive
where
you
could
hear
everything
you
could
hear
from
miles
away
but
you
would
be
useless
at
telling
the
person
the
eye
next
to
you
well
they
couldn't
hear
you
anyway
because
they
haven't
got
an
ear
they're
just
an
eye
it's
really
quite
comical
but
verse
18
in
fact
God
has
placed
the
parts
in
the
body
every
one
of
them
just
as
he
wanted
them
to
be
if
they
were
all
one
part
where
would
the
body
be
as
it
is
there
are
many
parts
but
one
body
you
see
just
as
every
part
of
our
physical
body
is
indispensable
so
every
member
of
the
church
is
indispensable
no
one
who
is
a
member
can
say
to
the
church
I
don't
belong
no
you
are
a
necessary
and
essential
part
the
church
doesn't
function
properly
without
you
God
designed
you
and
made
you
uniquely
and
gave
you
the
gifts
and
abilities
that
you
had
he
designed
and
planned
and
brought
you
into
the
fellowship
of
the
body
of
the
church
because
you
are
indispensable
you
belong
but
not only
are we
indispensable
we
are
also
interdependent
each
part
of the
body
each
member
of the
church
is
dependent
on the
others
let's
pick it
up in
verse 21
the eye
cannot say
to the
hand
I don't
need
you
and the
heads
cannot say
to the
feet
I don't
need
you
on the
contrary
those
parts
of the
body
that
seem
to be
weaker
are
indispensable
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
now there's
parts of
our own
physical
bodies
that we
think
are
weaker
trying to
think about
this
what are the
weaker
parts of
your body
well I was
thinking maybe
the big
toe
we don't
really look
at it very
much
it's covered
up most
of the
time
but cut
your big
toe
off and
you'll
notice
the
difference
you won't
be able
to balance
very well
you may
think of
it being
weaker
but it's
vitally
important
or what
about the
less
honorable
parts of
your body
that you
don't really
like to
think about
like the
large intestine
well you
don't think
that's very
honorable but
try and live
without it
it's most
needed because
it gets rid
of all the
waste
or what
about the
unpresentable
parts the
male and
female parts
well they're
needed too
you see we
need every
part of
the body
and so it
is with the
family of the
church
no member
can turn
around and
say to the
other member
I don't
really need
you
no the
people that
we think
or I might
think of
nothing to
offer we
are actually
dependent on
they are not
weaker they
are needed
they are to
be treated
with special
honor and
special treatment
look at
verse the
middle of
verse 24
but God
has put the
body together
giving greater
honor to the
parts that
lacked it
so that there
should be no
division in
the body
but that its
part should
have equal
concern for
each other
if one person
suffers
every person
suffers
if one part
is honored
every part
rejoices
with it
you see just
as I need
every part
of my
physical body
so the
members of
the church
need each
other
I need
you and
you need
me
as members
of the
church
there is
no
inferiority
and no
superiority
nobody can
say I
don't belong
and no one
can say I
don't need
you
members are
indispensable
and
interdependent
in fact if
we take the
view of
operating as
a lone
Christian
is to go
against God's
design
look again at
verse 18
here's what the
creator of the
universe tells us
the one who
builds and
makes the
church
verse 18
but in fact
God has
placed the
parts in
the body
every one
of them
just as
he
wanted them
to be
no mistakes
his
perfect
design
for his
local
church
you see
God didn't
save us
to live as
isolated
individuals
but to be
brought into
the body
of the
church
as
members
we are
to be
committed
to one
another
you might
know the
song
head
shoulders
knees
and toes
knees
and toes
well if
Paul was
to sing it
if you want
to remember
it's
head
body
many
parts
many
parts
so let's
think about
body
parts
means
body
commitment
three
things I
want us
to look
together
are three
pairings
for us
to think
through
as we
try to
apply it
together
you see
being a
member
being part
of the
body
means
we are
servants
not
spectators
God
has gifted
each
person
with a
gift
to be
used
for the
good
of
others
God
has
placed
you
into
the
church
for the
good
and the
blessing
of other
people
look at
this
verse
on the
screen
each
of you
should
use
whatever
gift
you have
received
to serve
others
as
faithful
stewards
of God's
grace
in all
its
various
forms
isn't
that
wonderful
God
wants
to bring
grace
into
your
life
and the
means
by which
he brings
grace
into your
life
is through
another
person
you are
conduits
of God's
grace
you are
the means
by which
God
blesses
another
person
we might
think about
people in
the church
who need
practical
help
think about
all the
different
people who
are involved
bringing
grace
to that
person
it might
be looking
after their
children
it might
be making
a meal
it might
be praying
for them
it might
be going
to visit
God's
grace
in its
various
form
delivered
to a
person
through
the members
of the
church
now the
difference
between a
spectator
and a
servant
is a
spectator
just watches
and goes
I wonder
who's going
to help
a servant
doesn't
ask
they just
get on
with it
or second
contributors
not
consumers
God has
placed us
together
according to
his good
and perfect
design
for our
good and
growth
and we
all have a
part to
play in
growing one
another in
our faith
and in
our
relationship
with God
have a
look at
this verse
from him
from Christ
the whole
body
joined and
held together
by every
supporting
ligament
grows and
builds itself
up in
love
as each
part
does its
work
isn't it
wonderful
God's
good design
think about
our gathering
here this
morning
as we
come on
Sunday
morning
think of
all the
people who
are here
to make
it possible
all the
planning
all the
organizing
the setting
up
the setting
down
the teas
and coffees
the music
the speaking
the teaching
the leading
the conversations
that's all
just on the
Sunday morning
and all the
different ways
by getting
alongside people
and encouraging
each other
as we gather
afterwards
now the
difference
between a
consumer
and a
contributor
is a
consumer
will go
tick box
done my
duty
thank goodness
I don't
have to do
that again
for another
six weeks
I hate
doing the
chairs
a
contributor
gets on
with it
joyfully
and gladly
and helps
everybody
else
or a
third one
participants
not
passiveness
if we
are to
truly
experience
the life
of the
body
and maybe
you're
here
thinking
gosh
well I've
never been
part of
that
to
benefit
and receive
to enjoy
the love
and care
and support
well it
happens
as you
get involved
Colossians
3
15 to
16
let the
peace of
Christ
rule in
your
hearts
since as
members of
one body
you are
called to
peace
and be
thankful
thankful for
one another
let the
message of
Christ
dwell in
you richly
as you
teach
and admonish
one another
as you
bring the
encouragement
from God's
word into
each other's
lives
because you
may be going
through a
hard time
or a
suffering
time
or a
difficult
time
and somebody
who brings
that word
of God
into your
life
to build
you up
and encourage
you
you see
membership
of the
body
is a
beautiful
thing
it's
God's
good
design
for
our
lives
but
here's
the
question
how
do you
know
or how
do I
know
who I'm
committed
to
who is
it
that I'm
serving
well
let me
close
with this
illustration
imagine
you're
playing a
soccer
match
or
hurley
or whatever
your
sport
is
and
everybody
on the
pitch
is all
wearing
different
coloured
tops and
shorts and
socks
it's all
different
an array
of
multicoloured
tops and
shorts
who would
you pass
to
who do
you give
the ball
to
which
way
are you
playing
which
goal
are we
scoring
into
you see
it's vital
that you
identify
who your
team is
so that you
can work
together to
win the
match
each
well if
we're to
serve each
other
and to
give to
each other
and to
encourage one
another
we need
to know
who's
part
of the
body
what team
are you
on
it's
vital to
identify
who are
the body
parts
and the
way to
do that
we believe
is by
becoming a
member
of the
local
church
it's like
pulling on
your team
jersey
and going
out to
play the
match
you know
who's on
your side
and who
to pass
to
I'm with
you
I'm for
you
I'm committed
to you
membership
is the
means for
identifying
with the
local
church
so if
you're a
member
thank you
for serving
thank you
for contributing
thank you
for being
involved
in the
life of
the church
maybe you're
not yet a
member of
the church
but you
still do
things
you're still
helping out
I want to
say thank
you as
well
but can
you consider
and think
about
pulling on
that team
jersey
and saying
yes
I'm
committed
to you
I'm
for you
maybe
you're
here and
you are
realizing
that you're
not part
of the
body of
Christ
at all
well my
encouragement
to you
is to
look to
Christ
the one
who came
to serve
you
and give
his life
for you
so that
you could
receive life
in all
its fullness
and become
part of
the body
of Christ
to receive
encouragement
and support
and grace
and blessing
from God's
people
let's
finish
by looking
at verse
27
together
now you
are the
body of
Christ
and each
one of
you
is a
part of
it
let's
pray
our
father
god
we
thank
you
for
your
beautiful
perfect
design
for your
local
church
thank
you for
the
blessing
of being
part of
your
body
your
people
thank
you for
the
gifts
that
you
have
given
to
each
one
thank
you
for
the
grace
that
we
receive
from
and
through
each
other
thank
you
father
for all
that you
have done
for us
and we
ask
and pray
that you
will
continue
to work
amongst
us
for
our
good
and
for
your
glory
in
Jesus
name
amen
we're
going to
sing
together
Thank you.