THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST (Kent Smith Notes 9/4/23)

THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Romans 12:5

1 Corinthians 12: 12-27

Ephesians 4:1-5

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Romans 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

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OUR IDENTITY

All the members of a church are a vital part of something bigger.

Together we are the expression of Christ on earth.

TOGETHER WE ARE HIS BODY

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Romans 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12 For 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.

If you are not connected with the body that is a problem for you AND the rest of us..

If you aren’t connected, then the body cannot not function rightly.

An Amputation

When a limb falls asleep

WE ARE THE PHYSICAL EXPRESSION OF THE WORK AND LOVE OF CHRIST IN VISIBLE FORM WHILE ON THE EARTH

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OUT INTERDEPENDENCE

God places each member in the body as He desires.

The body cannot function rightly without the contribution of each member.

Every member has an important function.

Everybody is Somebody in God’s body.

WE NEED EACH OTHER

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For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If 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. 16 And 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. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 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.” 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, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

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OUR INTERCONNECTEDNESS

What happens to one part of the body affects all the parts of the body.

WE ARE TO EXPERIENCE A SHARED LIFE

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1 Cor 12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

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OUR NECESSARY UNITY

Christ cannot be divided, and we are His body.

BE DILIGENT TO PRESERVE THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE.

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Ephesians 4: 1-5 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

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