Faith: Body of Christ

We are a body of Christ and all formed for God’s family

1 Corinthians 12 v 12-37

 “Now you are a body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12 v 27)

In this body we are called to:

Encourage

•  All of us are more consistent in our faith when others walk with us and encourage us.
•   “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5 v 11)

 Love

•  We need to show people the kind of love God shows us everyday
•   “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3 v 16)

To journey together

•  We need to do life together, not alone. Jesus wasn’t alone, he had his disciples with him.
• The journey we are on is Jesus’ journey and whether or not we are fully aware of it, was are walking it with our brothers and sister in the church.

Be a Support

• To make life the way God intended it to, we must learn how to lean on other, yet know how to lend them our support
• And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 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. (Hebrews 10 v 24-25)

To be in fellowship

• The fellowship of the church is more important than any individual
•  Unity is important, it is the soul of fellowship
• TRINITY – God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit – Unified as one
•  “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4 v 3)

To grow

•  Your local fellowship is the place of God, designed for you to discover, develop and use your gifts

To Evangelise & Disciple

• Tell the good news. We need to communicate our faith in Jesus clearly and relevantly from the Bible.
• Helping people in their Christian walk – to grow in faith, use their gifts to serve God, to stand firm and to live for Christ.
•  “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27 v 17)

To Reach Out & Serve others

•  As members of Christ’s body we are his hands, his feet, his eyes and his hearts.  He works through us in the world.
• We bring God glory by serving others with our gifts

Be a community

• Be there for others in the church in times of happiness – new child, new job, marriage and in sadness – illnesses, loss of jobs & loss of loved ones.
• Working together
• “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed, those who help others are helped” “Proverbs 11 v 25)

To pray for each other

• Pray for your friends, your family, your colleagues, our church & the wider church, your community & the wider community, our local government & the wider government, our country & the wider world, our missionaries, the persecuted church.
•  But don’t just pray, also praise and thank God. Thank him for the day, thank him for your food, and thank him for everything.
•  “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2 vs 1)