I love the church. I love how God has designed thc church! Of course, we as people have done our best to mess it up over the years. But God's design works - if we follow his design.
I believe a powerful and essential picture of the church is that of the body - which is used in 1 Corinthians 11 & 12. The church is Christ's body on earth. As such it is his physical representative in this world. The picture of the body demonstrates how the church ought to function.
According to this picture, each part of the church is equally important. It is essential that each part be active in its role for the church to be healthy and not handicapped in some way. No one part of the body can fulfill the roles of the entire body. There are lots of implications to this analogy - and they are important for the church.
So, if you are part of the church - you have a part to play. An important part which will help complete the church and make it healthy and effective. What's stopping you?
I believe a powerful and essential picture of the church is that of the body - which is used in 1 Corinthians 11 & 12. The church is Christ's body on earth. As such it is his physical representative in this world. The picture of the body demonstrates how the church ought to function.
But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret?
- 1 Corinthians 12
According to this picture, each part of the church is equally important. It is essential that each part be active in its role for the church to be healthy and not handicapped in some way. No one part of the body can fulfill the roles of the entire body. There are lots of implications to this analogy - and they are important for the church.
So, if you are part of the church - you have a part to play. An important part which will help complete the church and make it healthy and effective. What's stopping you?
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