GracePoint
Sunday, September 17, 2023 - Pastor Steve Webster
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Here at the beginning of a new ministry season we’re reflecting on 3 meaningful metaphors used in the Bible for the church designed to reveal what the church is to be all about. Today our focus is on the church as portrayed in the Scripture as being a body; specifically the spiritual body of Christ.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. Colossians 1:15-18a, ESV
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. Colossians 1:24, ESV
Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour. Ephesians 5:23b, ESV
1. As the body of Christ the church is to be characterized by _______________
As in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4-5, ESV
The fundamental basis of the unity of community we are to enjoy with each other as members of the church is a shared faith in Jesus Christ.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, NLT
2. As the body of Christ the church is to also be characterized by _______________
Even as the human body is made up of various parts, each having a different function to serve within the operation of the whole, within the body of Christ we're all uniquely designed by God to fulfill different roles.
As in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4-5, ESV
The body is not made up of one part but of many.... God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:14, 18-20, NIV
Even as we all have different natural abilities, the Holy Spirit has given to each of us who are Christ followers at least one spiritual gift to be used for the common good of the church.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8, ESV
There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, ESV
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10, NIV
Join the Serving Core Course scheduled for Sunday, October 1st from 3 to 6 pm by selecting the link below.