The Body of Christ

Functioning Together as a Body in Ministry

Text: ‘For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.’ Romans 12:4-5

Concept of the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-5)

The Church is called the body of Christ.The life of Christ is in His body

The believer in Christ is:

Crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20)

Buried with Christ (Colossians 2:12)

Risen with Christ (Colossians 3:1)

Seated in heavenly places with Christ (Ephesians 2:6)

One body in Christ

The local church is a body.

A body has many members

All the members work together for one another.

No member of the body is competing against another.

The body completes itself never competes against itself.

We live in a competitive world

Sport – ability to compete

Business - competitive

The body must build itself up in love. (Romans 12:4-5)

Body is joined together but its members have different gifts

Every member of the body must function or something will be lacking.

The role of each member is different.

Some roles seem more important than others but all are necessary.

Building up His body1. Love for Christ (John 14:15; 13:34-35)2. Love for one another (1 John 3:16)

Leadership in the body of Christ

Illustration:The local church must be steered like a ship.

Governments (1 Corinthians 12:28)‘Kubernesis’ - to guide, to steer.Compare Acts 27:11 – the pilot or helmsman of the ship

The steersman has control of the wheel, but many seamen must be working together for the ship to sail. The ship must also have power to move (manpower, wind or engine).

The local church needs leaders to steer but many others must be involved in ministry and the local church must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Good leadership will produce good leaders.

Ministry gifts will produce ministries

1. Purpose for ministry

There are leaders who are called to the ministry, (1 Timothy 1:12)

These leaders fulfil the roles of Overseers (episkope) and Deacons (diakonos) (1 Timothy 3), and the ministry gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12).

The purpose for these ministries is to build up the body of Christ and to equip the believers for ministry. Leadership and ministry involves the whole body of Christ.

Ministry gifts are given to build up the body of Christ for ministry.

Every believer has a ministry to fulfil.

Ministry is serving

Ministry – Household of Stephanas, (1 Corinthians 16:15) ‘I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)’

(KJV) Addicted to the ministry of the body of Christ

Addicted to servingJunkies – serving.Addict – thinks of nothing elseHas one aim every day - to satisfy the addition.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it heartily unto the Lord.Become skilful in your ministry.

Helps (1 Corinthians 12:28)

Greek ‘Antilepsis’ – literally means to be in front so as to support.

SupportingProviding support to others.Carrying one another’s burdensGetting involved with other people’s problems means having to carry the problems of others

The Ministry of helps means:Praying for one anotherProviding for one anotherJust being there!

Roger Bannister running the first 4 minute mile in 1954

2. Different Gifts – One body (Romans 12:6-17)Need to become skilful in fulfilling our place in the body.Work at it.

Illustration:Runner puts so much effort to win a race they are sometimes physically sick. Push themselves to the limit to win the prize.

The Holy Spirit empowers those who have learnt to be skilful.

Word given by inspirationProphecy (Romans 12:6b) – according to our faithWord given by the Spirit for ‘Edification, Exhortation and Comfort’ (1 Corinthians 14:3) Edification – Building (‘oikodome’ - ‘building a house’)Exhortation – Encouraging (‘parakaleo’ – ‘to call to the side’)Comfort – Comforting (‘paramuthia’ - ‘speaking closely to a person’)

Ministering (Romans 12:7a) – different areas of service.

Word given by preparationTeaching (12:7b) – work hard at it. Exhorting (12:8a) – ‘call to one’s side’ - learn to be an encourager.

Ministry must be fulfilled in the right manner

Ministering in love: (Romans 12:8b)• Give with simplicity – liberality not thinking about it afterwards.• Rule with diligence (spoude) - giving oneself to it – with haste (Enthusiastically and with eagerness)• Be merciful with cheerfulness (hilarotes) - delighted, hilarious

(Romans 12:9-10)• Love without hypocrisy• Abhor evil hold on to the good.• Kindly affectioned with brotherly love (as a family)• Prefering one another

All the affairs of life should be seen as ministry unto the Lord.(Romans 12:11)

Everyday work should be regarded as ministry.Whatever we do, do it enthusiastically

Not lazy in business – be the best worker

Fervent in spirit – boiling – compare sport.Fervour of a football match

Serving the Lord – doulos (a slave)

Every believer must find his or her place in the body of Christ and fulfil it.

1. Don’t try to be somebody else2. Everything we do is important!

Need the Holy Spirit Baptism

Jesus is the baptiserThirst for Him – come to Him and drink (John 7:37-38)Holy Spirit comes upon the believer.

3. Ministry through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

God is to be explored.

Paul said ‘ln Him we live, move and have our being.’(Acts 17:28a)Those who desire to be close to Him must seek after Him.

Illustration:In the natural realm their are many different waves with messages.

TV wavesRadio waves

We need a receiver to get them.

Holy Spirit sends gifts to the body of Christ

We need the Holy Spirit baptism to be able to receive them.

Need to tune into the Holy Spirit

Receive MessagesTuning in.ReceptiveFaith and Sensitivity to the moving of the Holy Spirit.

Many things can cause the loss of reception.SinStressDaily affairs

Elisha called for a minstrel (2 Kings 3:15).Music can soothe the spirit and allow us to tune in to the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit will always glorify Jesus

Tongues - many messagesPaul says just 2 or 3 but there could be many as the Holy Spirit sends many. (1 Corinthians 14:27).Make sure there's someone who is able to pick up interpretation.

Prophecy – 2 or 3 in a meeting. All may prophecy. Holy Spirit sends many messages and at anytime. One who prophecy’s must be able to receive these messages and step out in faith to express it. (14:29-32).

The Holy Spirit involves the believer in expressing the gift. The Holy Spirit inspires the believer but the believer will express the gift in his or her own way.

Messages can sometimes lead into Word of Wisdom or contain a Word of Knowledge.

Jesus ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit – Jesus – faith of the person (Acts 10:38)

Illustration: HandballOne throwsAnother gets into position to catch.Throws to another who scores

Gifts of healing.Holy Spirit throws the gift to the believer. (Mark 16:17-18)The believer now stands in the name of Jesus (represents Jesus).But the person who needs healing must receive the gift by faith from the believer in the name of Jesus.

No healing takes place if the Holy Spirit has not thrown the gift or the believer hasn’t caught it or the person being healed doesn’t receive it.

Summary:

1. One body – many members

2. Working together – completing not competing

3. Love - motivating

4. Every member must fulfil his or her ministry.

5. Become skilful in ministry

6. All the affairs of life should be seen as ministry unto the Lord.

7. Be receptive to the Holy Spirit

8. Desire Spiritual gifts.

9. Tune in.

10. Let God move through His body.