The Power of One Body

“The Power of One Body”
(1 Corinthians 12:12-31) Series: Chaos and Correction
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw
Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson KY

Welcome/Announcements

Welcome everyone this morning to Henderson’s First Baptist Church.

Here at Henderson’s FBC our mission is to: Cherish the Word, Share the Gospel, Strengthen the Family, Serve the Community, and Reach the World.
Right now we have a team in Toronto Sharing the Gospel and Reaching the World.

Todd is away with our Toronto team working with our new partnership with Robin Wasti, reaching South Asians for Christ in the Greater Toronto Area.

Todd is preaching today at Robin’s church, LEAF Canada Church.

Rich is also out of town, so today I have the privilege of preaching the Word to you as we Cherish the Word together.

Please be in prayer for our Toronto team; you can pick up prayer guides today in your Sunday school classes.

Also, you can stay current by visiting the mission blog, which you find on the homepage of our website, fbchenderson.org.

Additionally, don’t forget to sign-up for the Church-wide Retreat. It’s August 15-17 at Lake Barkley. The cost is $75/room for one night or $150/room for the weekend. You can sign-up in the church office.

Everyone make sure that you sign the red book in your pew. I believe that Bro. Todd has miniature spy drones that track whether or not we do that.

If you’re a visitor I want to let you know that we are so glad to have you today. If you would, please sign the Connection Card located in the back of the pew in front of you. We have a special gift bag for you that you can collect when you leave the service. If you would, please drop that card off with an usher when you leave, they will be honored to give you a gift bag.

Let’s all stand and greet those around us.

Introduction

This morning we are continuing our series in 1 Corinthians entitled Chaos and Correction. The series is named “Chaos and Correction” because the church in Corinth was in a mess. They needed correction, and Paul sought to do that through this letter that he wrote to them.

Last week, Bro. Todd spoke about the presence of spiritual gifts in the body, the unity of the body, and the hand of God in giving us gifts for the church.
The passage today is strikingly similar to last week. It’s almost as if Paul wrote 1 Corinthians as one document. Of coarse, he did! Paul continues this theme in verses 12-31 of chapter 12.

Let’s stand together as we read this passage. I’m going to read all of it and then we’ll pray.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And 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 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

(Pray)

You may be seated.

Illustration: Many of you know that there is a particular part of my body that doesn’t work at all. Some of you may look at me and say, “there’s a lot wrong with you.” Well we won’t go there, but indeed there is one part of my body that is virtually useless; that is my left ear. I can’t hear out of this thing at all. In fact, after the service if you want to come yell in my ear, you can feel free to do so. I am still able to function without the use of my left ear, but make no mistake, I am not able to function as fully as I could if I did have hearing in that ear. My wife can’t whisper in that ear when we’re watching a movie. I can’t switch ears when I’m on a long phone call. If I’m in the woods and a turkey gobbles, I have no idea where it came from. You see, I can function, but I cannot function fully because one of my body’s members is not doing its job.

In the same way, Paul is speaking in this passage about the importance of every member of the body of Christ and why they are important.

Let’s see what he’s telling us.
One body, many members (12-14).

Let’s read these verses again.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Paul gives this analogy of the church as a body; which he frequently uses in the Bible, and he uses 18 times here.

So, we see this idea of many individual members making up the body, or the church. Many members, one body.

In verse 13 Paul mentions here this idea of being baptized by the Spirit and drinking one Spirit.

He’s talking about the sealing of our lives in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation.

John MacArthur describes this by saying that it “is not an experience to seek, but a reality to acknowledge.”

If you are a Christian, you have experienced this baptism in the Spirit. If you have not, you are not a Christian.
The Holy Spirit has filled your life, united you with Jesus, and brought you into the body of the church.

The same Spirit of God that seals your salvation is the One who equips you with your gifts to be used for the body.

Paul speaks here also about the diversity of people that make up the body.

No matter if you are Jew or Greek, slave or free, rich or poor, intellectual or non-intellectual, city or country folks, we are all one in Christ through the baptism of the Spirit.

The Corinthians were experiencing discrimination and injustice in the church already. Paul is making it clear that there is no place for that in the body. We must always remember that.

If someone commits his or her life to Christ and follows Him in obedience and faithfulness, we must welcome them as a part of the body of Christ.
One body, according to God’s pleasure (15-19).

Next, we see that God is the One responsible for gifting the body the way that we are gifted.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:15-19

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

Paul provides the perfect illustration for this point in this passage. We don’t need to explain the illustration much.

The diversity of gifts is necessary for the church.

Can you imagine having an extra set of eyes instead of years? Extra eyes may be cool, but no ears, not so cool. Or what about having a third hand, but no neck. Not only would that be strange, but it would be pretty ineffective. Do you see the point?

We need the diversity.
Who knows better than God what is beneficial for the church?

Let’s look again for a moment at last week’s passage. Look back at verses 4-6.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

God is the one who works all this out. Do we think that He is competent for this task? Do we think He can handle it?

God does this the way that He wants to; according to His wisdom and pleasure, for His glory. He’s got this. We need to trust Him and do what He has for us to do.
One body, all valuable (20-26)
Paul points out next that each member of the body has value and honor.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:20-26

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And 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 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

These verses make clear that every member of the body is necessary. Everyone plays an important part.

Some gifts are more public than others, but that does not make them more necessary.

Some members use their gifts and hardly anyone notices. However, if you take that gift away, it affects the body.

Why did God make the body this way? I’m not sure, but He did. He designed it so that everyone had to play their part to make sure the body is functioning effectively as one.

Paul wanted to make sure that no gift was considered without value.

Verses 25-26 make it clear that gifts are for supporting the body and building each other up.

The gifts are not for comparing ourselves to each other, but for complementing on another.
The gifts are not for division, but for unity.

Everyone’s gift matters. Everyone is important to the body.
One body, different gifts (27-31)

This point has been well established now, but Paul again make it clear that everyone does not have the same gift. The body is diverse and full of unique individuals.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Don’t be confused by Paul’s list here of spiritual gifts. This is not an exhaustive list.

In fact, if you try to compare all the lists of spiritual gifts in the Bible, you’ll quickly realize that they’re all different.
That’s the point. There is no complete list. Each of us is unique.
That’s what Paul is getting across. Do we all preach? No! Do we all practice hospitality? No! Do we all do hospital visits? No! Do we all serve in leadership positions? No! Do we all greet at the doors? No!

Do you get it?

Everyone has a unique gift. The importance is not found in which gift you have, but in whether or not you use it.
Paul concludes this chapter with a verse that comes out awkwardly in the English language.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:31

31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

There is much debate among biblical scholars about what Paul is saying when he says, “earnestly desire the best gifts.”

Some say that each of us should desire more spiritual gifts in general.
Some say that this means each person should desire to have the gifts of teaching and prophecy (that kind of goes against what Paul said earlier in the chapter).
It could indicate that we should seek to see the best gifts exercised in the church.

At any rate, there is no debate about that to which the end of the verse is referring. Paul says that he will show a more excellent way. This more excellent way is using our gifts in a way that is marked by love. But that’s not a sermon for this week. We’ll get into that next week.
G.P.S. (Good Practical Stuff)

Affirm our oneness and your uniqueness.

Do your part in the body.

Don’t be like my ear.

Value your gift.

Use your gift.

I want to point out two things that I believe can help you if you want to go the next step in fulfilling your role in the body.

If you go to our website, you will see a spiritual gifts test. This can help you if you have no idea where to start (again, this is not an exhaustive list). We have a picture of the home screen so you can see it on the right side.
Additionally, there are cards at the ends of the pews that have a place for you to write down how you think you could serve in the body. Go ahead and fill those out right now as we conclude. I want our ushers to come and collect those, right now.

Some of you are thinking, I don’t know about this. I’m not sure I can do this. You do realize that you’re not doing this on your own, right? These are spiritual gifts. God is supernaturally gifting you so that you can serve Him. Do you believe in the power of God?
Conclusion

God is serious about this thing called the church. Jesus is serious about His body.

A miracle happens when God rescues us from the dead, changes our hearts through the power of His Holy Spirit, switches us from His enemies to His heirs, makes us into part of His body, and gives us a unique gift to be used as part of His body to accomplish His purposes in the world. How awesome is that?

Don’t slack off or all of us suffer. Let’s encourage one another. Let’s build each other up. Let’s Cherish the Word, Share the Gospel, Strengthen Families, Serve the Community, and Reach the World together as unique individuals making up one body.

(Gospel Presentation)

(Closing Prayer)

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