Why I Love the church of Christ, Part 1Lesson Text: 1 Cor. 12:12-27

Maud church of ChristBy Jim BradshawSunday Evening, October 26, 2014

It is Not about the buildingAct 20:28 ESV Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Eph 5:25-33 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, (26) that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (28) In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (29) For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, (30) because we are members of his body. (31) "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." (32) This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. (33) However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

I Love the church of Christ

Because It is the Body of ChristCol 1:18 ESV And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Eph 1:20-23 ESV that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (22) And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, (23) which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

I Love the church of Christ

Because It is the Body of Christ1Co 12:12-16 ESV 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.

I Love the church of Christ

Because It is the Body of Christ1Co 12:17-22 ESV 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,

I Love the church of Christ

Because It is the Body of Christ1Co 12:23-27 ESV 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.

I Love the church of Christ

Because It is the Body of Christ1Co 12:12-16 ESV For just as the church is one and has many members, and all the members of the church, though many, are one church, so it is with Christ. (13) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one church --Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (14) For the church 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 church," that would not make

it any less a part of the church. (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the church," that would not make it

any less a part of the church.

I Love the church of Christ

Because It is the Body of Christ1Co 12:17-22 ESV If the whole church were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole church were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? (18) But as it is, God arranged the members in the church, each one of them, as he chose. (19) If all were a single member, where would the church be? (20)

As it is, there are many parts, yet one church. (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 church that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

I Love the church of Christ

Because It is the Body of Christ1Co 12:23-27 ESV and on those parts of the church 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 church, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, (25) that there may be no division in the church, 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 church of Christ and individually members of it.

I Love the church of Christ

Because It is the Body of ChristGal 3:27 ESV For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Eph 4:4-6 ESV There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Rom 16:16 ESV Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.