The Christ Centered Life (Part 5): Everybody is Somebody

Everybody is
Somebody
in
The Body of
Christ
I Corinthians
12:12-31

Pro Bodybuilders
• They are disciplined and
will often do anything
to win a competition
(legal and illegal).
• To Win, you can’t have
any weak body parts.

God is a Body Builder
• He cares about every part of the body
• He wants every part of the body to function as
it is supposed to.
• He wants the body to be properly
proportioned.
• Let us see what he has to say about the body
he is building.

1 Corinthians 12:12–31 (ESV)
12 For just as the body is one and has many
members, and all the members of the body, though
many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one
Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or
Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink
of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of
one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say,
“Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the
body,” that would not make it any less a part of the
body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not
an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not
make it any less a part of the body.

17 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? 18 But as it
is, God arranged the members in the body, each
one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single
member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there
are many parts, yet one body. 21 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.” 22 On the
contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be
weaker are indispensable, 23 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, 24 which our more
presentable parts do not require.

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor
to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division
in the body, but that the members may have the same
care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer
together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating,
and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all
possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all
interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I
will show you a still more excellent way.

I. Appreciate the Solidarity (Unity) of
the Body (vs. 12-13)
12 For just as the body is
one and has many
members, and all the
members of the body,
though many, are one
body, so it is with Christ.
• We have many
members.
• All these parts make
one body.

I. Appreciate the Solidarity of the Body
(vs. 12-13)
13 For in one Spirit we
were all baptized into one
body—Jews or Greeks,
slaves or free—and all
were made to drink of one
Spirit.
• One Spirit baptized all.
• Every Christian has
experienced Spirit
baptism.
– “all”
– “were”
– Baptism by the Spirit
doesn’t mean “second
blessing”
• No ethnic, social or
economic bias.

All ethnic, social and economic groups
are included in the Body of Christ.

“and all were made to drink of one
Spirit.”
John 7:37–39 (ESV)
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus
stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him
come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me,
as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow
rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about
the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to
receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given,
because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Not only is the body important to God,
but each part of the body has great
importance to God.

II. Don’t Underestimate your importance to
the body of Christ (14-20)
14 For the body does not consist of one member
but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I
am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,”
that would not make it any less a part of the
body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am
not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that
would not make it any less a part of the body.I wish I
were a
hand!
I’m not as
important as
the eye.

II. Don’t Underestimate your importance to
the body of Christ (14-20)
17 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? 18
But as it is, God arranged the members in the
body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all
were a single member, where would the body
be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one
body. I Can’t
hear you!

Keep it in balance
• The Body is made up of many parts.
• We should appreciate the beauty, unity and
solidarity of the body of Christ.
• Don’t underestimate your worth to the body
of Christ.
• But also, Don’t overestimate your worth
to the body of Christ.

III. Don’t Overestimate Your Importance to
the body of Christ (vs. 21-26)
21 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.” 22 On
the contrary, the parts of the
body that seem to be weaker
are indispensable, 23 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,
24 which our more presentable
parts do not require.
• All body parts are
important.
• Don’t be arrogant. Problem
with Corinthians.
• Those that have lesser gifts,
social status, are physically
weaker receive special
honor.
Goodbye
hand, we
don’t need
you

III. Don’t Overestimate Your Importance to
the body of Christ (vs. 21-26)
But God has so composed
the body, giving greater
honor to the part that
lacked it, 25 that there may
be no division in the body,
but that the members may
have the same care for one
another. 26 If one member
suffers, all suffer together; if
one member is honored, all
rejoice together.
• Just as all the members of
the body are significant
so are all the people in
the church.
• Whenever any part of the
body of Christ hurts, take
care of it.
Hurrah for
the ear!

Review
• We should appreciate the beauty, unity and
solidarity of the body of Christ.
• Don’t underestimate your worth to the body
of Christ.
• Don’t overestimate your worth to the body of
Christ.
• Celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ.

IV. Celebrate the Diversity of the Body
(vs. 27-31)
27 Now you are the body
of Christ and individually
members of it. 28 And God
has appointed in the
church first apostles,
second prophets, third
teachers, then miracles,
then gifts of healing,
helping, administrating,
and various kinds of
tongues.
• Diverse members are
given to the body of
Christ to care for it.
– Apostles
– Prophets
– Teachers
– Miracles
– Gifts of healing, etc.

(vs. 27-31)
29 Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all
teachers? Do all work
miracles? 30 Do all possess
gifts of healing? Do all
speak with tongues? Do
all interpret?
• Even among the gifts
that are still in effect,
how many actually have
these gifts?
• But we do all have gifts?
• Paul isn’t attempting to
list all the gifts (see Rm.
12).

(vs. 27-31)
31 But earnestly desire the
higher gifts. And I will
show you a still more
excellent way.
• But earnestly desire the
higher gifts?
• Let me show you a
more excellent way:
The more excellent
way is Love

Conclusion:
• The Corinthians were arrogant about gifts
– They were arguing over who was more significant in
the body of Christ
– Some felt inferior because they didn’t have what was
considered the greater gifts.
– Some thought themselves special because they knew
they had a great gift.
– There was jealousy and strife over the gifts.
– They were not encouraging and building up one
another through their gifts.
– They were more into their gifts than loving one
another.

Conclusion
• We should encourage one another with our
talents and gifts
• We should help each others find and improve
in their gifts.
• We should never be jealous over someone’s
gifts.
• We should use our gifts to build up the body
of Christ.
• Love takes precedence over gifts.

The Christ Centered Life (Part 5): Everybody is Somebody

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The Christ Centered Life (Part 5): Everybody is Somebody