Introduction: While preparing for this sermon, I learned something
new about the human body. The three smallest bones in the human body are
the middle ear ossicles—the malleus, incus, and stapes—more commonly known as
the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. "These
three bones serve a crucial role in moving sound waves from your outer ear to
your inner ear. Without these three smallest bones, you wouldn't be able to hear
as you do now.
Just as the human body has no
insignificant parts, the body of Christ has no minor or unimportant members. We
all have a sphere of influence—however large or small, however visible or
invisible—and we all have a vital role to play in God's plan for redeeming and
restoring the world. We may be as well-hidden as a bone in the inner ear, an
internal organ, or a foot inside a shoe, but every person is essential to the
eternal purpose of God.[1]
One of the questions raised in the
past two Sundays of my sermons was whether everyone has a gift. Richard
Buckminster Fuller, a Milton, Massachusetts-born architect, believed that every
man has a perfect gift. "Everyone has the perfect gift to give the
world-and; if each of us is freed up to give our unique gift, the world will be
in total harmony."
I agree with this statement because
it is in line with Biblical understanding, I Peter 4:10, "God has given
each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts." We have been on
a journey to understand what these unique gifts are and their impact on our
daily living.
Last week we saw how God special
abilities to some people at will. Today, we will look at why God put people
with various gifts together in the Church and how we can work together in
harmony. In our passage, the Apostle Paul personifies the Church by saying the
body of Christ. The human body and the Church operate by similar
principles. I Cor 12:12-31
I. What makes us
as one body of Christ? Vs. 12-13
The Corinthian Church was made up of people coming
from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds. Slaves and the free were part of that
Church. It is a blessing to see at Hope Church, a diverse group of people from various
backgrounds, countries, and cultures worshipping the Lord together. What makes
us one body? We have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all
share the same Spirit. That is why we can find unity in diversity.
II. Human body has
many parts (14-21)
The Apostle Paul uses the human body
metaphor to explain how the Church, the body of Christ, ought to function. A
small anatomy lesson. There are in total 78 organs in the human body. These
organs work in coordination. Among these 78 organs, five organs are considered
vital for survival. These include the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and lungs.
I see a parallel here. Just like
these five vital organs, could it be that Christ gave five gifts or five-fold
ministries such as The Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and teachers
for the Church's survival? When I say the Church, I am referring to the
worldwide Church. The analogy of the human body is better expressed and
observed in a local church setting.
Our human body is very complex. It
is made up of many parts. Such as hands and feet, eyes and ears, and a nose,
etc. Which one of these is more essential, or which one would you rather not
have? Can you imagine if the whole body were an eye? How would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would
you smell and you end up having a weird body.
Or can any one of these parts afford
to say to the other part, I stop working because I am not like you? When they
refuse to perform in their sphere of operation, we have a sick body, which is a
problem. However small or insignificant a particular part maybe, they need to
remain healthy and cooperate with the other parts of the body for the overall
well-being.
An ear cannot withdraw from the rest
of the body because it cannot see anything like an eye does. Similarly, an eye cannot
say to a hand; I don't need you. Or the head should not be so puffed up and
look down on the feet and say, get lost, you dirty feet I don't need you. That
is not how it works in a healthy human body. There is mutual respect, recognition,
cooperation, and even admiration among various parts; we have a healthy body
when that happens.
In summary, the human body contains
many parts, and all are equally important. It is God who puts them where He
wants. The purpose of this placement is that various parts will work in harmony by taking care of the body's
vulnerable parts. Another critical principle we glean from this analogy is that
if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored,
all the parts are glad. Example: Gout. The same principles apply in the
body of Christ; when one member hurts, the rest of us feel it and are affected
by the pain of our brothers and sisters.
III. The body of
Christ has many members (27-31)
After explaining how the human body operates, Paul
shifts his focus to the body of Christ. Vs. 27-28, "All of you together are
Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts Gods
has appointed for the Church: first are apostles, second
are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have
the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of
leadership, those who speak in unknown languages."
A few observations from this text,
"the body of Christ," refers to the entire Christian Church. It is God who
dispenses offices and gifts to His Church. Look at the order of gifts; the
first three—the apostles, prophets, and teachers, are in the same order as in
Eph 4:11, Rom 12:6-7. They are placed first, must be considered of most
significance.
The
rest of the gifts are set off from the first three by "then" and
range in order from miracles to the ability to speak in different kinds of
tongues, which, being mentioned last, seem to be of least importance. Yet,
there is much discussion and confusion over this particular gift.
This list also contains some
spectacular or manifestation gifts, as we have seen earlier, such as the gift
of prophecy, miracles, and healings. In this list, we see two other gifts
mentioned, and they are the gift of being "able to help others."
These individuals are gifted in helping the church officers deal with the poor
and sick. The gift of leadership is the ability to govern and manage affairs in
the Church. They may not be as spectacular as some other gifts are, they are
critical for the well-functioning and the overall health of any local church.
In verses 29-30, the apostle Paul
asks a set of questions for all of them; the answer is a "no." By doing so, Paul
stresses the principle of divine selectivity. As we have learned, not all
believers have these special abilities. God selects individuals and gives them
their specific gifts. In verse 31, we read So; you should earnestly desire the most
practical gifts. What are these gifts?
Some gifted teachers on this matter
refer to them as the motivational gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8. Does everyone
have a motivational gift? The good news is "Yes." No one has been left out. All
of us have been given one or more gifts to serve one another in the body of
Christ. The body of Christ is gifted with many members. Just as the human body
has no insignificant parts, the body of Christ has no minor or unimportant
members.
I am delighted to see a number of
our members using their unique gifts at Hope Church. Some are very skilled with
their hands and can fix many things. Some use their wisdom and knowledge of the
word and disciple others. Some are very generous with their resources.
I see others motivated out of
compassion and reach out to others through prayers and other ways of support.
Some are gifted with music and singing. Yet others maintain our Church property
well so that we continue to have a place to worship. Others are gifted in
teaching and preaching. Others are good at encouraging others. When we
recognize our gifts and use them wisely for the glory of God, everyone is
benefited both in and outside; the Church Amen!
