Current Trend

• Our consumer-driven societyhas developed consumer-driven churches.
• Churches often satisfy the members at the expense of the mission.
• The temptation is to find comfort that does not require investment.
• Seeking to have our preferences met prevents us from meeting the needs of others.

Biblical Example [1 Cor. 12:12-31]

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. 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. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

• All gifts are a blessing from God.
• Lie #1: Because of my gifts, I am not valuable (12:12-14)
• The church’s ability to function properly depends on its unity within diversity. (12:12-13)
• Lie #2: Because of my gifts, I do not need anyone. (12:21)
• Part of the body may seem insignificant, but when it suffers it jeopardizes the life of the entire body. (12:24-26)
• The most important gift of any believer is love. (12:30-31)

Personal Application

• Our willingness to invest in others is a demonstration of our faith in God’s design.
• Committing to serve a way for others to experience what you have experienced.
• In what ways could you consider contributing to our church family?
• Next Steps: Where will you serve?