Each Member Is Important

James Weidner III - October 29, 2023

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (NKJV) 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And 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 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Introduction:

We Are All Important Members Of The Body.
But there can only be one Head, Christ.

The Importance of Each Member of the Body being connected.

1 Corinthians 12:15-19 (NKJV) 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

1. Every member of the body of Christ is important.
2. Every member of the body has it’s role.
3. No member can say they are unimportant or unnecessary.

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

God plants/connects members in the body as it pleases Him
1. To carry out the commission of Christ we must be in body fellowship
2. One cannot choose what part of the body they are.
3. Same as one cannot choose who there father and mother are.
4. Ela… an eye or hand or foot cannot carry out it’s mission apart from the body it is suppose to be connected with.
5. A hand cannot look at a foot and say ooooh how I wish I were a foot.
6. We settle into what/who God has created us to be.

Though many, yet one.

1 Cor. 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

1. The work of body ministry is too keep from being divided.
2. Equal concern for all the various parts.
3. One must allow themself to be cared for.
4. Ela… how many of us have a primary care physician or natural path carer? Why… because we want to be able to go to someone and tell us what we need to hear and offer suggestions for how to address the issue.
5. Ela… continues: We can be so quick to run to the ER, or our PCP, or whom you need to call on for physical advice.

The weaker parts are necessary.

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

1. We are all not going to be equal in strength.
2. Nor will we all be strong at same time.
3. The weaker parts allow perspective and remembering

The central purpose of body ministry is edification/care of the whole.

Eph 4:12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

1. Separating oneself from your body is not healthy.
2. Many people, when not doing well, turn to separating themselves.
3. Separation of a body is never good.
4. Hurting oneself, by separation, is never a healthy habit
5. The mind has a way of playing tricks on you in separation.
6. People can create a false reality in their head when they are separated.
7. When the whole body ministers to itself the result is health.
8. When the whole church is ministering to itself the adhesive force of LOVE holds us together.

How to be cared for:
1. Willingly.
2. Proactively.
3. Make request. Communicate proactively.
4. Thankfully. Say thank you.

De 14:2 for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

Offering: Let each purpose in our heart the type of giver we will be or become.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NKJV) 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Let each one give.
1. Giving is one of the principal characteristics of walking with Jesus.
2. He gave so we have.
3. We give because He gave.
4. This is also referred to as sowing.

Seed sowing is not all done equally.
1. There is Sparingly sowing and bountiful sowing.
2. Our method of sowing will have a direct impact on our reaping.
3. Ela… you can give two people an equal bag of seeds. One is an experienced and passionate gardener. The other has no experience but more importantly no passion or desire to sow. It is a safe answer to know whose bag of seed will produce more harvest for them.

The generous sower does so because they have learned the benefits of such sowing.
1. We sow according to our faith.
2. We reap according to the same our faith.
3. If/When our faith is shaken so is our sowing and then our reaping.
4. We have to learn about sowing and becoming experienced and acquainted with God’s supernatural provision through sowing.

The different types of givers:
1. Purposeful giver.

7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart,

1. 1. You thought about it.
  2. 4.1.2. You studied and prayed on it.
  3. 4.1.3. Decided on how to give.
2. Willing & Obedient giver.

Isaiah 1:19 (NKJV) 19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

Exodus 35:5 (NKJV) “Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;

1. 1. 4.2.1. Willing to be obedient.
  2. 4.2.2. When the Lord speaks you are willing to step out and obey.
  3. 4.2.3. “You will eat the best of the land.”
2. Generous giver.

2 Corinthians 9:5 (NKJV) Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

1. 1. 4.3.1. We give not just what we should do but what we can do.
2. 4.4. Sparing giver: just what you have too.
3. 4.5. Cheerful

“God loves a cheerful giver.”

1. 1. •5.1. propitious or merry (“hilarious”),
  2. •5.2. prompt or willing:
  3. •5.3. cheerful, joyous,
  4. •5.4. prompt to do anything
2. Reluctant:
  1. •6.1. Hesitant
  2. •6.2. Out of a feeling like you have too.
  3. •6.3. Ela… like sowing seed but never giving it any water.

Conclusion Offering: Each member of the body must learn how to trust and sow.