Mr. Potatohead
Notes
Transcript
Handout
18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
The church isn’t Mr. Potatohead …
I. The Church Shares a God-Designed Feature (vv. 14-17)
I. The Church Shares a God-Designed Feature (vv. 14-17)
12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many.
15If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
#1. Designed to Serve One Another
#1. Designed to Serve One Another
What would happen if your feet decided to go on strike and walk out?
They would get to the doors and then be stuck (they aren’t hands!)
In fact, they wouldn’t get anywhere at all because they don’t have the necessary brain signals or attached muscles that allow them to move in the first place.
14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
The church was designed to be unified (one body) but diverse (many parts). Just because you don’t have the same gift (motivation, ministry, manifestation) as someone else does not make you any less a part of the body.
In fact, when you recognize that you are different from other people, you begin to see your need for them and their need for you.
#2. Designed to Care for One Another
#2. Designed to Care for One Another
What if the ear decided to leave because it’s not as beautiful as the eye?
The body would not be able to hear the alerts of others.
#3. Designed to Love on One Another
#3. Designed to Love on One Another
What if … ?
All the eyes got together?
All the ears got together?
All the mouths got together?
Sometimes I feel like church’s become a place for a bunch of ears and mouths, especially in small towns.
There was a sign in a small town that read, “Welcome to Smallville. There’s not a lot to see, but there’s an awful lot to hear.”
Genuine love does not ask for anything in return.
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Our love for one another is what reveals and distinguishes us.
Let us consider how to stimulate (agitate, arouse, bring forth) one another to love and good works
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
How is this achieved?
By being a part of the body.
If a body-part leaves, for whatever reason, the entire body will suffer. But that body part will die because it has been cut off from its life source.
The same is true for the Christian who tries to walk out their Christian life in solo mode.
The church isn’t Mr. Potatohead …
II. The Church Shares a God-Designed Purpose (vv. 18-27)
II. The Church Shares a God-Designed Purpose (vv. 18-27)
#1. Purposefully Placed
#1. Purposefully Placed
18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
Placed — to put in place; to kneel down and set, to lay the stone; to ordain for a specific purpose
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
#2. What’s Your Purpose? — To Be Useful
#2. What’s Your Purpose? — To Be Useful
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked,
Every piece, every member, every part has a part.
In fact, is it not often the smaller parts that sometimes have the greatest impact?
If you don’t believe me, think about breaking something.
You probably never think about your toes, but if you have ever broken one you realize just how much you use your toes.
Did you know your big toe carries about 40% of the foots load?
Just ask Willie. I bet he never really thought about his thumb, but now that it’s broken he realizes just how much he uses it.
The gifts, the members, which we might overlook often deserve the most honor:
I have an individual here in this church who emails me multiple times a week, and those emails almost always include some form of encouragement for me.
I know people who pray (and I’m not even talking at our weekly prayer meetings) but have a faithful prayer life. It would be too easy to overlook what a blessing that is for a church body.
I know people here who come in throughout the week to clean, and sure they sweep, or they dust, or they mop, but you know what else they’re doing? They’re cleaning toilets.
And the beautiful thing is that in Christ’s body (His church) it has all the tools it needs
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
#3. What is Your Purpose? — To Be Relational
#3. What is Your Purpose? — To Be Relational
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
Your body is functioning right now because it is full of individual cells that are acting in harmony with each other.
If a cell doesn’t act as it should, if it doesn’t fill its role, if it rejects its purpose, that’s called cancer.
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
The church is not Mr. Potatohead …
III. The Church Shares a God-Appointed Function (vv. 28-31)
III. The Church Shares a God-Appointed Function (vv. 28-31)
28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.
Spoiler Alert: The Church’s Function is to Love
Spoiler Alert: The Church’s Function is to Love
How God demonstrates His love through His church changes.
Not everyone has the same motivation.
Not everyone has the same area of ministry.
Not everyone has the same manifestation, or the effect/result.
But everyone in the church has the same function — to love.
What does it mean for Christ to be the head of the church, and how does this authority impact the body of believers?
How can we actively demonstrate love for one another as described in John 13:34-35 in our daily lives?
In what ways can you use your unique gifts to serve the church community?
Why is it important to understand that each member of the church, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has a purpose?
What steps can be taken to promote unity and care within our church body, especially among those with different gifts and roles?
How can understanding your role in the church help you feel more connected to others in the community?
What does it mean for the church to be described as one body with many members?
How can we encourage our peers to identify and embrace their spiritual gifts?
What practical ways can we show appreciation for the contributions of less visible members of our church?
How do the diverse gifts and roles within the church reflect God's nature and creativity?
