Members One of Another

06. Members One of Another

"So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:5) 

 “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (NIV)

I Corinthians 12:12-27  talks about the physical body and how it has many members.  Each members has a function individually, but they must all work together if the body is to function correctly. 

One Body, Many Parts

 ¹² The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 

 ¹⁴ Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be 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 cease to be 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 arranged 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 combined the members of the body and has given 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.” 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012:12-27&version=NIV1984

Another way to look at this is to think of a partnership.  As a member of the Body of Christ, I am in partnership with Him.  I must cooperate with Him, but also cooperate with other members.

Mother Teresa once said:  “You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together, we can do great things.”

“CBS radio newsman Charles Osgood tells the story of a lady named Ruth who lived in a nursing home. She had been sent there after suffering a stroke that left her right side paralyzed. Like many stroke victims, she was having a difficult time adjusting to her current condition. Making matters worse was her disappointment at being unable to play the piano, one of her great passions in life.

But then one day the director of the center introduced her to a fellow resident named Margaret. She was also a stroke victim who had been an accomplished pianist. At first Ruth thought the director had brought her and Margaret together to sympathize with and console one another. But he had a better idea. You see, Margaret's stroke had affected her left side, just the opposite of Ruth's. So he sat them down side by side at a piano, put a piece of music in front of them, and encouraged them to play it together.

It wasn't easy. At first they struggled, but in time they got better. Before long they were making beautiful music together. As they continued playing together, a beautiful friendship developed between them. And remarkably, as partners they learned to play better together than they ever had on their own.

Everyone in partnership. Everyone working together. Everyone contributing to the good of the body. That is God's goal, God's vision, God's desire, for the church.”

http://www.trinityurcvisalia.com/sermons/rom12v4f.html

ASK:  What is necessary for believers to function practically and to minister to each other?

For example:  Do I look for as many opportunities as possible to encourage other mature Christians to participate in teaching the Scriptures, praying, helping others, counseling, etc.?

ACTION:  Select one person you can help become a more functioning member of the Christ’s body.

           

                            Name_____________________

List two things you can help to make that happen:

                               1.                                                    
                               2.