12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit.

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-18 (ESV)

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:19-27 (ESV)

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12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

MANY MEMBERS, ONE BODY

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

MANY MEMBERS, ONE BODY

Have you put your trust in Jesus?

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

EVERY MEMBER A MINISTER

EVERY MEMBER A MINISTER1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11 4 Now there

are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.



What are your spiritual gifts?



How can you serve our community?



What “gifts” could you be hiding behind?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.



Ephesians 4:11-16 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Clergy

God

Laity

TraditionalParadigm

Staff-centeredParadigm

Christ(THE HEAD)

Leaders(ELDERS)

New TestamentParadigmOrganic

Paradigm

Servants(DEACONS)

The Rest

(MINISTERS)

What unrealistic and/or unhealthy expectations are you placing…

…on other members of the body?




…on your LIFE Group?





…on leaders?





…on leaders?

…on the future Lead Pastor?





…on leaders?

…on the future Lead Pastor?

…on yourself?


18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY


Do you believe God put…

…you in this body?

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY




…the others around you in this body?

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY





…that person you really don’t like in this body?

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY





…that person you really don’t like in this body?

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

He did!

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

INTERDEPENDENCE


Are you jealous or envious of someone else’s role in the body?

INTERDEPENDENCE



Are you prideful of your role in the body?

INTERDEPENDENCE



Are you prideful of your role in the body?

Do you tend to overestimate or underestimate your importance to the body?

INTERDEPENDENCE

22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

UNITY—ALL ARE WELCOME!


Have you ever felt unimportant or not useful in the body?



Have you ever felt unimportant or not useful in the body?

Have you ever felt like you don’t quite fit into the body?


26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

CONNECTEDNESS


Who do you need to rejoice with?

CONNECTEDNESS



Who do you need to mourn with?

CONNECTEDNESS



Who do you need to mourn with?

CONNECTEDNESS

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

What are your spiritual gifts?

How can you serve our community?

What “gifts” could you be hiding behind?

What unrealistic and/or unhealthy expectations are you placing on other members of the body?

Do you believe God has placed each of us together?

Is comparison creeping into your view of the body? If so, how?

Have you ever felt like you don’t fit in?

What part of our body have you been encouraged by?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Top 10 Characteristics of a Healthy Church1. God's empowering presence—The healthy church actively seeks the

Holy Spirit's direction and empowerment for its daily life and ministry.

2. God-exalting worship—The healthy church gathers regularly as the local expression of the body of Christ to worship God in ways that engage the heart, mind, soul, and strength of the people.

3. Spiritual disciplines—The healthy church provides training, models, and resources for members of all ages to develop their daily spiritual disciplines.

4. Learning and growing in community—The healthy church encourages believers to grow in their walks with God and with one another in the context of a safe, affirming environment.

5. A commitment to loving and caring relationships—The healthy church is intentional in its efforts to build loving, caring relationships within families, between members, and within the community they serve.

Top 10 Characteristics of a Healthy Church6. Servant-leadership development—The healthy church identifies and

develops individuals whom God has called and given the gift of leadership and challenges them to become servant-leaders.

7. An outward focus—The healthy church places high priority on communicating the truth of Jesus and demonstrating the love of Jesus to those outside the faith.

8. Wise administration and accountability—The healthy church utilizes appropriate facilities, equipment, and systems to provide maximum support for the growth and development of its ministries.

9. Networking with the body of Christ—The healthy church reaches out to others in the body of Christ for collaboration, resource sharing, learning opportunities, and united celebrations of worship.

10.Stewardship and generosity—The healthy church teaches its members that they are stewards of their God-given resources and challenges them to sacrificial generosity in sharing with others.

Top Three Areas of…

StrengthsCongregation said…1. Learning & Growing in Community2. Commitment to Loving & Caring

Relationships3. God Exalting Worship

Leadership said…4. Learning & Growing in Community5. Servant Leadership Development6. Commitment to Loving & Caring

Relationships

Room for GrowthCongregation said…1. Networking w/ the Body of Christ2. Spiritual Disciplines3. God’s Empowering Presence AND

Outward Focus

Leadership said…4. God’s Empowering Presence AND

Outward Focus5. Spiritual Disciplines AND

Networking w/ the Body of Christ6. God Exalting Worship

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12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit.

Documents

body of christ

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ministerevery member

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slavesor freeandall

unpresentable parts

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varieties of service