How the Body Treats Itself - Part 1

I. Introduction (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

A. The Church is a Body

1. Not just an organization
2. A living organism
3. With many members

B. Every Member is Important

1. No one is unnecessary
2. Each has a function
3. All are needed

II. The Picture of the Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

A. One Body, Many Members

1. Unity in diversity
2. Different parts, same body
3. All connected

B. Baptized into One Body

1. By the Spirit
2. Jews and Gentiles
3. Bond and free

C. The Body is Not One Member, But Many

1. Variety is God’s design
2. Not uniformity
3. But unity

III. How NOT to Treat the Body

A. Don’t Devalue Yourself (v. 15-16)

1. “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body”
2. You ARE part of the body
3. You matter

B. Don’t Think Everyone Should Be Like You (v. 17)

1. “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?”
2. We need different gifts
3. We need different functions

C. Don’t Reject Others (v. 21)

1. “The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee”
2. We need each other
3. No independence

IV. How the Body SHOULD Treat Itself

A. With Care (v. 25)

1. No schism in the body
2. Same care one for another
3. Looking out for each other

B. With Compassion (v. 26)

1. When one member suffers, all suffer
2. When one is honored, all rejoice
3. Empathy and sympathy

C. With Honor (v. 23-24)

1. Less comely parts get more honor
2. Covering one another
3. Building up, not tearing down

V. The Application

A. You Are Part of the Body

1. If you’re saved, you’re a member
2. You have a place
3. You have a purpose

B. Treat Others Well

1. Don’t look down on them
2. Don’t think you don’t need them
3. Care for them

C. Function Together

1. Do your part
2. Help others do theirs
3. Work in unity

Conclusion

The church is a body. Treat it that way. Care for one another. Need one another. Honor one another.