Good to see you this morning.
Would you turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 12?
We've been working our way through the book of 1 Corinthians in the New Testament,
and today we come to chapter 12, verses 12 through 31.
That's page 959 in the Pew Bible, if you want to turn there.
Page 959, 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verses 12 through 31,
12 through the end of the chapter.
All right, let me read this for us.
Paul writes this.
He says,
Jews or Greeks, slaves or free,
and all were made to drink of one spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member, but of many.
If the foot should say, because I'm not a hand, I do not belong to the body,
that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say, because I'm not an eye, I do not belong to the body,
that would not make it any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing?
If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he chose.
If all were a single member, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you.
Nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.
And on those parts of the body that we think less honorable,
we bestow the greater honor.
And our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
which our more presentable parts do not require.
But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
that there may be no division in the body,
but that the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together.
If one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ.
And individually, members of it.
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,
then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating in various kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles?
Do all possess gifts of healing?
Do all speak with tongues?
Do all interpret?
But earnestly desire the higher gifts?
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Let's pray together.
Lord we are grateful
for the fact that you are a God who reveals yourself to us
Lord apart from your own self revealing
we would remain so in the dark as to who you are
and what it means to know you and love you and be created by you
and to be redeemed by you
Lord so we stand just in gratitude and gratefulness this morning
that we have Lord not just impressions or sensibilities
but God we have your own words that you have spoken and preserved
for us
Father we pray that by your Holy Spirit we'd be able to understand
this word this morning
that you would speak to us afresh through these words
and Lord that we would be changed as a result
we ask this in the name of Jesus our Savior
Amen
well friends I think you'll agree
that the human body
is an amazing thing
I needed to do some research on the human body
to prepare for this sermon
so I did what every good researcher does
I Google searched some things
that's a joke
that's not how you're supposed to research things
apparently the human body has
you medical professionals can correct me on this
apparently the human body has 206 bones
640 muscles
and nearly 100,000 miles of blood vessels
the human body is a stunning diversity of organs and limbs and parts
of all sorts and shapes and sizes
and yet for all its diversity
it functions with an incredible unity and symmetry doesn't it
so incredible in fact I think we rarely think about it
after all when was the last time you stopped
and really pondered the beauty and complexity and necessity
of say your pinky finger for instance
in fact you might even ask as you think about it
do we even really need that little thing
I mean is it anything more than kind of a decorative accessory to your hand
something that you put a pinky ring on if you're Italian
something to sort of extend daintily while drinking your tea
I mean the Simpsons got along just fine with only four digits
why do we need this fifth one
in the New York Times a while ago
there was an article in the health section
written by someone who had broken their pinky finger
apparently she fell directly on it while jogging
and she sort of was stunned by how much she had
you know relied on her pinky finger
and apparently according to the occupational therapist that she interviewed
you actually lose 50% of your hand strength
when you lose the use of your pinky finger
50%
the human body though made of an incredible diverse array of parts
is at the same time an amazingly intricate unity
it all sort of works together doesn't it
now the point of our passage this morning is pretty clear
Paul wants us to view our life together as a church
like a body
you are the body of Christ
and individually members of it
now we're so familiar with that sort of language
that we don't stop and really think about the real meaning of it
we call the church the body of Christ all the time
and it's not as if we really think about fingers and toes and eyes and ears
we just think about a group of people
in fact the word member today
means kind of nothing more than that
someone who belongs to a particular group
right
I was in the Lego store in the West Farms mall on Monday with my kids
buying Legos of course
and at the checkout I was asked
if I wanted to become a member
of the Lego VIP club
I thought VIP wow
I'm only buying two Lego sets
what if I buy a third
apparently I could get a
$10 gift card for every like
$3 million worth of Legos that I bought
they even gave me a membership card
and I'm sure they'll send me lots of emails
telling me of all the Lego sets I need to be buying
but such is the meaning of membership today
right
you sort of belong to a group
there are some maybe some minor kickbacks
but nothing real serious
but you know for Paul
the word member
hadn't sort of picked up those watered down connotations
the word member really meant
body part
a limb
an organ
you are the body of Christ
and individually the fingers
and toes
and limbs
and organs
of it
so our text today wants us to really meditate on this reality
that in Christ we are a
body
and that's what we're going to do
what does being a body in Christ
mean
first thing
being a body
means
that we all have a common experience
that unites us
no matter what our background
being a body means that we have a common experience
that unites us
no matter what our background
look again at verse 13
Paul says
for
in one spirit
we were all baptized
into one body
Jews or Greek
slaves or free
and all were made to drink
of one spirit
what is the common experience
that makes us
into one body
Paul describes it like this
we were baptized
in the Holy Spirit
we were made to drink
of the Holy Spirit
okay that sounds a bit weird
right
what is he talking about
well Paul is describing here
not some event
that happens
for some people
who are particularly
spiritually elite
but what happens
to every believer
at conversion
what Paul is talking about
in verse 13
did you notice
is true of all Christians
two times in that verse
all
all of you
when you come to believe
and trust
in Jesus
as Lord
as Savior
what happens
in another place
Romans 5 5
Paul will say
that the love
of God
has been
poured
into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit
and in John 7
that Jeff read
for us earlier
Jesus himself says
let the thirsty
come to me
and drink
and whoever believes
in me
out of his heart
will flow
rivers
of living water
which John adds
was a reference
by the way
to the Holy Spirit
which those
who believe in him
receive
and you know
this is just
the fulfillment
of what God
had always promised
the Old Testament prophets
talked about it
like this too
when the Spirit
would come
after God
had done his great
work of redemption
when he would send
the Spirit
to cleanse our hearts
of all that defiles us
when the Spirit
would come even
and give us
new hearts
taking out
the heart of stone
and giving us
a heart of flesh
and so friends
you see
when we come
to Christ
in faith
turning from sin
and placing our trust
in him
something radical
happens
the Spirit
washes us
of our stains
and quenches
our thirst
uniting us
to Christ
so just to be clear
the baptism
that Paul's talking
about here
isn't water baptism
water baptism
is an outward symbol
of this inward
spiritual reality
the reality
of the union
that we have
with Christ
and the Spirit
that cleanses us
and makes us new
and the drinking
that Paul's talking
about here
isn't necessarily
a reference
to the Lord's Supper
no it's what
Jesus was talking
about back in John 7
that quenching
of our hearts
thirst for God
that happens
when we come
to Jesus
and are filled
with his Spirit
at our conversion
this is the common
experience
that unites us
now let me say
if you're here
and you're new
to Christian things
or if you're exploring
things spiritually
we're glad you're here
we're glad you came
you're always welcome here
and let me say
I think it's important
to see this point
that Paul's making here
if you're figuring
things out
about Christianity
because it's important
to see that Christianity
is very different
at this point
from other religions
and other sort of
spiritual paths
and programs
because Christianity
after all
doesn't say
okay
here's a spiritual
regimen
here's a spiritual
program
here's a set of rules
or activities
to follow
and if you follow
them perhaps
one day you'll achieve
the filling
of your soul
with God's
cleansing
satisfying presence
Christianity
doesn't say that
in fact
surprisingly
what other religions
or spiritualities
present as the goal
Christianity presents
as the starting point
this is where you begin
a plunging
into the reality
of God
a drinking
deep
of his heart
satisfying
streams
now how can
Christianity
do such a thing
you might wonder
does it just sort of
waive the requirements
okay anybody
gets to come
fine
actually no
it doesn't just
waive the requirements
other religions
might possibly
be on to something
there
that there are
a set of standards
that need to be kept
because God
in his beauty
and his goodness
demands something
of us
the standard
for knowing him
and coming to him
is still perfection
yes
Christianity
doesn't actually
waive those
requirements
rather it says
that the requirements
were met for you
by one who loved you
and died for you
and rose again
so that resting
in him
you might be
brought to God
now Paul's point
here
is that this
soul
cleansing
this thirst
quenching
union
that we have
with Christ
in the spirit
is at the same
time
a union
with others
in Christ
as we are
connected to him
in his spirit
so we are
connected
to one another
so you see
being the body
of Christ
is more than
a mere metaphor
friends
it is a deep
mysterious
even spiritual
reality
we are truly
vitally
connected
to one another
in Christ
by his spirit
and first off
that means
that I can
no longer
look
at a fellow
Christian
and size
them up
in terms
of the
categories
by which
we usually
divide up
the world
as Paul
says here
for example
Jews are
Greeks
slaves are
free
that is
their racial
background
or their
socioeconomic
class
what unites
us in
Christ
is infinitely
greater
than what
makes us
different
you see
have you ever
had an
experience
of that
with another
believer
I was at
a wedding
not so long
ago
and at the
reception
I was seated
next to a
person that
I had
practically
nothing in
common with
he was
older than
me
he was
from a
different
nationality
from a
different
city
a different
socioeconomic
upbringing
our first
languages
were
different
and yet
we shared
Christ in
common
you see
we had
both come
to know
what it
was like
to have
our sins
cleansed
and to be
indwelt by
his soul
satisfying
presence
and you know
though our
differences
were real
though our
differences
were real
they were
not as
important as
what united
us
we were
part of
the same
family
the same
body
and though
I just
met him
and we had
nothing in
common
we had a
great time
talking together
until they
cranked up the
music and then
we couldn't
hear what each
other was
saying
so you see
friends
first being a
body
means that we
have a common
spiritual
reality
a common
spiritual
experience
that unites
us
no matter
what our
background
second
being a
body in
Christ
means that
no one
can say
I don't
belong
look again
at verses
15 and
16
if the
foot should
say because
I'm not a
hand
I do not
belong to
the body
that would
not make it
any less a
part of the
body
and if the
ear should
say because
I'm not an
eye I do
not belong to
the body
that would
not make it
any less a
part of the
body
now here we're
getting into
Paul's central
burden or
concern with
this passage
it seems that
in the
Corinthian church
some members
were made to
feel inferior
because they
didn't exercise
certain spiritual
gifts
as we'll see
in chapter 14
the Corinthians
seem to have
elevated
one particular
spiritual gift
speaking in
tongues
and made
that one
the mark
of being
really
indwelt
by the
spirit
and being
really
spiritual
and so
those who
didn't have
it
were made
to feel
like second
class
citizens
you see
they were
starting to
feel in
their hearts
well
maybe I
just don't
belong here
and Paul
wants to
speak to
those believers
who are
feeling that
way and
say ah
but remember
you are a
body
and in the
body not
only do you
have full
possession of
the spirit
by virtue of
faith in
Christ
that's verse
13
but in
addition
whatever
particular
gift the
spirit has
given you
no matter
what limb
or organ
you happen
to be in
the body
you are
critical
to the
body's
health
after all
imagine a
body
made of
nothing
but ears
or noses
that would
be sort
of gross
and such a
body would
also have a
hard time
eating
or seeing
or walking
it wouldn't
be much
of a
body
at all
at least
not for
long
so Paul
is helping
them to
see that
you do
belong
regardless of
what others
are telling
you
in fact
you are the
farthest
thing from
being an
afterthought
in the body
or a
second-class
citizen
no
you
have been
divinely
arranged
to play
a critical
role here
look at
verse 18
God
arranged
the members
in the
body
each
one of
them
each
one of
them
as he
chose
so fellow
Christian
if at
times you
start to
question in
your heart
here at
Trinity
do I
really
belong
here
perhaps
you could
speak this
question back
to your
heart
if all
were a
single
member
where would
the body
be
God has
given you
a valuable
part
to play
and that
means
you
must be
who you
are
be who
the spirit
has gifted
you to
be
bring your
gifts to
bear
don't try
to be
someone
you're
not
yes
emulate
the
Christ
like
character
of
believers
that you
look up
to
but don't
necessarily
try to
imitate
their
gifts
you most
likely have
a different
yet essential
part to
play
by being
you
you see
being a
body in
Christ
means no
one can
say
I don't
belong
now for
Paul's third
point
being a
body in
Christ means
no one
can say
I don't
need you
if verses
14 through
20 spoke
to those
who are
being made
to feel
inferior
in verses
21 through
26 he
addresses
those who
see
themselves
as
superior
and here's
the real
razor's
edge of
the paragraph
here he's
talking to
the self
proclaimed
spiritual
all-stars
the
Allen
Iversons
of the
church
who rarely
if ever
think they
need to
pass the
ball in
order to
win the
game
sorry
my wife's
family's
from
Philadelphia
I only
know
Philly
sports
teams
Allen
Iverson
hasn't
played for
the
Sixers
in a
decade
I know
fill in
the blank
with your
ball hog
that you
know
but Paul
is saying
stop and
consider
you see
when you're
thinking I
don't need
others
have you
thought that
the church
is
a body
do you
really not
need your
hands
do you
really not
need your
feet
of course
not
Paul says
they're
indispensable
verse 22
well what
should their
attitude be
instead
not I
don't need
you but
rather
Paul says
I delight
to honor
you
verses 23
24
think about
the parts
of your
body
that are
weaker
or the
parts
that are
unpresentable
even
yes Paul
is talking
about those
parts
what do we
do with
those parts
of our
body
do we
say we
don't need
them
no
just the
opposite
we show
them greater
care and
attention
we protect
them
we clothe
them
and why
do we
do that
with certain
parts of
our body
in Paul's
mind it's
not because
they're inherently
shameful
that's not
why we
cover them
up
no you
see for
Paul the
body the
human physical
body with
all its
members is
God's good
creation
Paul couldn't
be more a
body affirming
in this
passage
God arranges
it and God
composes it
so why do we
act this way
towards certain
parts of our
body why do
we cover them
up why do
we show them
that attention
not because
they're shameful
but because
they're too
precious
to just be
put on
display for
everybody to
see
we honor
them
we treat
them as
more special
and more
valuable than
our hands
or our
noses
which are
just out
there in
public
so you see
what Paul's
doing here
look again at
verses 22
and 23
even if
some members
seem to be
weaker in
your eyes
or if you
think they
are less
honorable
you need
to remember
that you
are a
body
and you
should show
them all
the more
honor for
being so
and of
course what
seems weak
in the world's
eyes
is of course
not so
in God's
eyes
and what
humans think
to be less
honorable
well friends
God thinks
differently
in fact God
chooses what
is foolish in
the world to
shame the
wise and
what is weak
in the world
to shame the
strong and
what is low
and despised
in the world
to bring to
nothing the
things that
are
that's chapter
one verses
27 through 28
of this same
letter
have you
forgotten the
gospel Paul
says
God gives
his honor
to those who
lack it
how
ultimately
through the
cross
where Jesus
takes the
shame that
our sins
deserve and
in exchange
we receive the
honor his
righteousness
deserves
and so
there can
be no
division in
the body
every
single one
of us
is the
recipient
of sheer
unmerited
grace
even the
spiritual
gifts that
we possess
are just
that aren't
they
gifts
not
something
we've
earned
not
something
we've
merited
but
something
we've
been
freely
given
you see
friends
life in
the spirit
life in
the church
is not
like
an
MMORPG
video game
where if
you play
long enough
and you
build up
enough
experience
points
you can
level up
and earn
new powers
and new
weapons
it doesn't
work that
way
God
gives
graciously
and often
he gives
gifts to
those whom
we would
least expect
from a
worldly
point of
view
anyway
after all
who would
have thought
that God
would make
the apostolic
foundation
of his
church
the very
pioneer
of the
new
creation
who would
have thought
that God
would make
that foundation
out of a
few Galilean
fishermen
a tax
collector
some other
guys we
frankly know
nothing about
and last
of all
a self
righteous
religious
zealot
namely
Paul
before he
met
Jesus
God
indeed
gives
honor
where we
least
expect
it
so that
the members
may have
the same
care
for one
another
if one
member
suffers
all
suffer
together
if one
member
is
honored
all
rejoice
together
that's
what it
means to
be a
body
no longer
saying I
don't really
need you
the total
opposite
I'll
suffer
with you
in your
sufferings
I'll
rejoice
with you
in your
successes
what
could be
more
intimate
than that
friends
and you
know
with our
physical
bodies
this happens
quite
naturally
doesn't
it
I
break
my
toe
and
suddenly
my
whole
leg
stabs
with
pain
and
for
the
next
month
or
so
I'm
on
crutches
and
my
whole
body
suffers
right
and
on
the
other
hand
someone
compliments
my
new
haircut
if I
had
hair
that
is
and
suddenly
I
stand
up
a
little
straighter
I
smile
a
little
broader
I
walk
a
little
lighter
my
whole
body
rejoices
to be
the
body
of
Christ
means
we
do
this
for
one
another
what
comes
naturally
to
our
physical
bodies
we
strive
to
make
natural
in
our
spiritual
body
you
see
without
a
second
thought
when
a
church
member
loses
a
job
or
loses
a
loved
one
or
gets
discouraged
because
their
efforts
at
sharing
the
gospel
with
their
friends
seems
to be
so
fruitless
their
fellow
members
are
there
not
just
to
help
practically
but
also
even
to
suffer
with
them
to
grieve
to
limp
alongside
to
absorb
some
of
that
cost
to
be
present
with
them
in
the
pain
of
it
suffering
reverberates
through
the
community
and we
face
these
things
together
because
we
are
a
body
on
the
flip
side
honor
reverberates
through
the
community
instead
of saying
I
don't
need
you
we
delight
to
notice
the
ways
in
which
even
the
most
unseen
gifts
are
contributing
to
the
common
good
of
the
church
and
we
honor
them
now
friends
what
gifts
in
our
context
might
go
unnoticed
gifts
in
our
church
I
think
at
times
the
ability
to
speak
eloquently
or
to
have
articulate
words
or
having
a
formal
education
can
be
overly
exalted
maybe
not
on
purpose
or
intentionally
but
it
happens
and
so
those
who
happen
to
have
those
gifts
need
to
work
doubly
hard
to
honor
those
with
other
gifts
that
our
culture
might
not
think
so
highly
about
gifts
like
serving
and
helping
administrating
gifts
of
mercy
gifts
of
giving
we
want
to
honor
these
gifts
and
thus
let
honor
reverberate
through
our
whole
body
we
rejoice
in
it
we
stand
up a
little
straighter
we
smile
a
little
broader
we
walk
a
little
more
lighter
and
friends
we
need
to
recognize
too
that
the
polish
of
the
speech
doesn't
come
even
close
in
importance
to
the
substance
of
the
message
we
need
to
be
willing
to
hear
the
spirit
speaking
through
our
brothers
and
sisters
who
may
not
be
eloquent
or
polished
but
who
are
speaking
words
of
wisdom
and
knowledge
that we
need
to
hear
you
see
are we
listening
for that
for the
timely
scripture
rich
spirit
empowered
words
that will
build up
the
church
even if
the
speaker's
style
doesn't
conform to
the typical
sorts of
people
we happen
to like
or listen
to
and
friends
as we
think
about
suffering
together
rejoicing
together
as members
in a
body
let me
just
say
do
people
know
that
you're
a
member
of
this
body
do
people
know
that
you're
someone
that
belongs
here
to
this
fellowship
of
Christ
that's
the
value
of
formal
membership
after
all
it's
a way
of
just
saying
yes
I
am
a
part
of
the
body
I
want
to
do
this
life
together
so
friends
if
you're
a
follower
of
Jesus
and
you're
not
a
formal
member
of
a
church
yes
you're
an
organic
member
of
the
body
of
Christ
whether
you
like
it
or
not
but
let
yourself
be
known
as
a
member
so
that
we
can
start
doing
this
together
intentionally
you see
being a
body
in
Christ
means
no
one
can
say
I
don't
need
you
to
any
other
member
each
member
needs
each
other
and
so
being a
honor one
another
in
all
our
varied
gifts
our
passage
concludes
then
in
verses
27
through
31
with
Paul
just
bringing
things
home
for
the
Corinthians
as if
this
sort
of
thinly
veiled
analogy
wasn't
obvious
enough
Paul
just
sort
of
jams
it
down
home
verse
28
again
he
reiterates
it's
God
who
gives
the
gifts
as
he
chooses
in
verses
29
through
30
Paul
drives
home
the
point
that
there's
no
gift
that
goes
to
everyone
the
way
that
Paul
asks
these
rhetorical
questions
they
all
imply
the
answer
no
of
course
not
everyone
is
an
apostle
or a
prophet
or a
teacher
of
course
not
everyone
speaks
in
tongues
which
strategically
he
placed
at
the
very
tail
of
the
list
you
see
and
so
God
appoints
different
gifts
to
different
people
in
the
church
and
there
isn't
a
single
spiritual
gift
that
will
be
given
the
basis
of
our
so
called
spiritual
gift
rather
Paul
is
pushing
us
to
delight
in
the
diversity
that
God
has
made
but
then
in
verse
31
there's
this
bit
of
a
curve
ball
isn't
there
we
think
we're
swinging
and
suddenly
whoops
if
God
gives
the
gifts
if
they're
all
worthy
of
honor
in
what
sense
should
we
earnestly
desire
or
seek
them
and
in
what
sense
are
some
higher
than
the
others
is
Paul
sort
of
undermining
everything
he
just
said
well
I
think
at
this
point
after
Paul
sort
of
cleared
the
ground
enough
he
can
finally
show
us
that
there
is
a
good
sort
of
desire
that
we
can
have
for
spiritual
gifts
so
long
as
we
understand
them
rightly
you see
and
the
higher
gifts
here
literally
means
greater
gifts
but
greater
not
in the
sense
that
they
bring
greater
attention
to
ourselves
but
they
bring
greater
benefit
to
the
church
as
a
whole
Paul
is
saying
essentially
seek
the
gifts
that
do
good
to
others
and
especially
as we'll
see in
chapter
14
that
means
the
ability
to
speak
God's
word
helpfully
to
others
something
that
we
should
all
pursue
rather
than in
their
context
speaking
in
tongues
which
apart
from
an
interpreter
doesn't
really
do
the
church
much
good
because
no one
can
understand
what's
being
said
but
all
the
same
how
do
we
seek
something
that
comes
as
a
gift
well
we
remember
that
God
delights
to
give
good
gifts
to
his
children
and
we
pray
we
ask
God
to
give
us
what
he
will
use
to
do
the
most
good
through
us
we
ask
God
give
us
what
you
want
to
use
to
do
the
most
good
through
me
and
then
after
we
pray
we
get
about
the
business
of
serving
you
see
we
get
about
the
business
of
doing
body
life
together
of
finding
our
place
in
the
every
member
ministry
life
that
is
the
body
of
Christ
are
you
serving
friends
don't
wait
until
you
know
what
gifts
you
have
chances
are
you
won't
even
find
out
until
you
start
serving
find
a
way
to
do
good
to
the
body
and
do
it
and
you
see
that's
a
completely
different
mindset
than
the
mindset
that
had
taken
hold
in
Corinth
they
exalted
one
gift
made
it
a
sign
of
super
spirituality
some
people
thought
they
didn't
belong
other
people
thought
they
didn't
need
anyone
else
but
Paul
turns
that
all
upside
down
and
says
the
higher
gifts
aren't
the
ones
that
make
us
look
great
they're
the
ones
that
do
the
most
good
to
others
that
help
the
body
get
great
in
particular
the
ones
that
help
people
grasp
God's
word
as
Paul
will
say
in
chapter
14
verse
12
since
you
are
eager
for
manifestations
of
the
spirit
strive
to
excel
in
building
up
the
church
but
we need
to learn
that
there
is
a
still
more
excellent
way
the
way
we
often
seem
to
miss
and
that
way
of
course
is
the
way
of
love
next
week
we'll
begin
looking
at
chapter
13
and
we'll
embark
on
this
way
of
love
but
you
know
in
a
sense
hasn't
Paul
already
been
showing
it
to
us
hasn't
he
already
put
it
before
our
eyes
showing
us
God
the
father
who
has
arranged
and
composed
this
body
with
such
care
and
intentionality
God
the
holy
spirit
who
has
showered
gifts
freely
upon
each
member
making
us
an
integral
part
of
the
whole
and
Jesus
God
the
son
who
has
taken
this
body
to
himself
and
called
it
his
own
and
has
become
so
united
to
it
that
now
what's
true
of
him
is
true
of
us
that
just
as
he
is
righteous
and
holy
and
glorified
friends
so
we
are
justified
and
sanctified
and
even
glorified
in
him
you
see
this
body
is
encompassed
with
the
triune
God's
love
how
could
we
not
love
this
body
as
well
let's
pray
together
God
help us
to see
and help
us to
live
as what
we
are
a
people
who
are
deeply
and
intimately
connected
to one
another
by your
spirit
Lord
help us
to live
as your
body
and help
us all
to find
our
place
Lord
to live
in a
way
that
brings
good
to
others
we
ask
God
we
pray
that
as
we
do
this
Lord
the
world
would
see
in
our
midst
something
different
Lord
a group
of
people
who
aren't
just
trying
to
get
ahead
a group
of
people
who
aren't
just
trying
to
one
up
one
another
a group
of
people
who
aren't
just
sort
of
occupying
the
same
space
for
a
little
bit
of
time
every
week
but
Lord
a
group
of
people
who
are
intimately
connected
to
one
another
in
a
unity
and
in
a
love
and
in
a
compassion
Lord
that
speaks
of
your
unity
and
your
love
and
your
compassion
and
of
the
wholeness
and
of
the
perfection
of
the
new
creation
that
is
to
come
Lord
help
us
to
be
a
sign
of
that
day
we
pray
Amen
God
be
ór