KINGDOM LIVING: Church Belonging

LIVING UNDER KINGDOM AUTHORITY

December 8, 2024

CHURCH BELONGING

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

 

INTRODUCTION:

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

1 Corinthians 4:18

1 Corinthians 5:1-2

1 Corinthians 9:1-6

1 Corinthians 11:17-22

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 15 & 16

 

 

TEXT:

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NIV) ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

 

Highlight:

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Mark 9:41 (NKJV) …you belong to Christ…

Colossians 1:18 (NIV) And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

 

 

SIX THINGS ABOUT THE C.H.U.R.C.H. WE MUST GET RIGHT:

1.

1 John 1:6-7 (NIV) If we claim to have fellowship with [Christ] and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as [Christ] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV) We love because [Christ] first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And [Christ] has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

 

Score yourself from 1-10 ()

 

 

2.

Acts 2:42, 46-47 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

Score yourself from 1-10 ()

 

 

3.

• The Church functions properly only when

1 Corinthians 12:20-26 (NIV) ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

 

Video – “The Me Church”

 

Galatians 5:13 (NIV) You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

 

• The we share join us together as one.

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-20 (NIV) ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:24-25 (NIV) But God has put the body together… so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

Romans 16:17-18 (NIV) I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people.

 

Score yourself from 1-10 ()

 

 

4.

Luke 19:10 (NIV) ^“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

John 13:35 (NIV) “ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 17:20-21 (NIV) “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Acts 2:46-47 (NIV) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

 

Score yourself from 1-10 ()

 

 

5.

1 Corinthians 12:26 (NIV) If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Mark 12:31 (NIV) “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

Score yourself from 1-10 ()

 

 

6.

• The Church is made up of different parts

 

1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (NIV) ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many… ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

 

• God strategically placed within the one Body with many members.

 

Ephesians 4:16 (NIV) From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (NLT) Under his direction, the whole body is fitted

together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NIV) ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Acts 2:44-45 (NIV) All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 

1 John 3:17 (NIV) If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

 

Score yourself from 1-10 ()

 

 

CONCLUSION:

1 Corinthians 12:18 (NIV) But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

 

• The Church cannot live without its

 

Colossians 1:17-18 (NIV) He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

John 15:5 (NIV) …apart from me you can do nothing.

 

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