You can easily understand the church by looking no further than your own body.
We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which Christ has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.)
Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain--His Spirit--where we all come to drink.
God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't.
Romans 12:3-8
See yourself as God sees you, a member of His family by grace.
All believers have a significant role and function in the family
Though we all have different roles in the family we are one in Christ.
God has given us spiritual gifts for helping the whole family.
preaching, (the ability to persuade, warn, and admonish from God’s Word)
serving/helps, (using your talents to help others in the body)
Teaching(gift to explain more fully God’s Word)
encouraging,(the ability to enter into the pain and heartache of others and bring comfort)
giving,(the gift of benevolent/charitable giving)
leadership/administration,(the ability govern the affairs of the church and to lead others to accomplish their God-given mission)
showing mercy,(the ability to give comfort, to show compassion, to enter in to others hurts)
Ephesians 4:11-13
Christ gave gifts to the church to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Isn't it true that your passion in life (what you really enjoy doing) has a lot to do with your talents, temperament and training.
Your passion can be seen in that which fulfills you and builds others up and contributes to the spiritual life of the body of Christ.
Your passion is part of God's way of directing you to where you can best use your spiritual gifts.
In what areas of the church's ministry would you like to make an impact with your life and spiritual gifts for the glory of God?
You are Christ's body--that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. And as a part of this body God has given you gifts to use for the benefit of the whole body.
In order to be a healthy body we need all the parts functioning together with the gifts God has given them.
Audio of Lesson
