Fit Together in Christ

Fit Together in Christ

2006017

Topic # 627 (Unity)

from David Chadwell's sermon

Introduction:

A. Chadwell Illustration…

B. It is hard to communicate understandably.

C. Established thinking can distort new information.

I. Consider the concept of the church that the apostles taught.

A. The concept of the church was new to those in living in the first century.

B. NT writers used images everyone would understand in teaching on this concept:

1. Mt. 16:18-19 – Jesus calls the church His kingdom.

2. Rev. 21:9 – John calls the church the bride of Christ.

3. 1 Peter 5:2- Peter likens the church to a flock of sheep.

4. 1 Tim. 3:15 – Paul refers to the church as the household of God.

5. These were all concepts that would have been familiar to everyone – regardless of their heritage.

II. Paul often used the image of a physical body in teaching on the church.

A. 3 times – 3 different congregations.

1. Lessons make a number of similar points – but there are different emphases.

B. Rom. 12:3-8

1. Basic lesson: enormous diversity in a physical body; there is enormous diversity in the church.

2. Church at Rome consisted of Jewish Christians who had grown up under Law and Gentile Christians who had worshipped idols.

a) Backgrounds in total contrast. Completely different people.

b) Adjusting to; and working with each other was less than easy.

3. Paul stressed:

a) 12:3 - every ability mankind is given comes from God. Do not exaggerate your importance to the church.

b) 12:4-5 - Different body parts have different abilities and perform different functions – yet each part uniquely benefits the body.

a) Nose and ankles have no similar function.

b) Nose and ankles provide body unique benefits.

c) 12:6-8 - whatever your function is, do it well, for the benefit of the body.

C. 1 Cor. 12:12-31

1. Basic lesson: every part of the body depends on every other part.

2. Church at Corinth consisted mainly of Gentiles – w/fairly common backgrounds.

a) But…spirit of competition going on – to who had the greatest spiritual gift.

b) Their spiritual gifts had been given to benefit the entire congregation.

3. Paul stressed:

a) 12:12-18 - diversity of function; diversity of ability exists for the good of the body.

b) 12:19-20 - Body not composed of identical parts.

c) 12: 21-25 - No part of the body is independent – every body part needs and benefits from every other part.

d) 12:26-27 - Just as the body responds to pain – other parts focus on relieving it…that is the way Christians respond to each other.

4. In 1 Cor. 12 – Paul places heavy emphasis on God’s design:

a) Body is interdependent – by God’s design.

b) God made the body to be unified; not divided.

c) God gave individuals spiritual gifts so they could serve the body.

d) All of this is by God’s design – not a matter of choice or preference.

D. Eph. 4:11-16

1. Basic lesson: every spiritual role God established in the church is designed to benefit the church.

2. Ephesians did not understand God’s purposes in the church.

a) Their background: a person used existing groups to advance himself; promote himself; win honor; prestige.

b) Did not exist for the good of the group; group existed to create opportunity for you.

3. Isn’t that similar to today’s mentality?

a) how many people feel the church exists to

b) Honor & respond to my rights; my problems. We can feel these are more important than the group itself.

4. 4:12 - Paul stresses the purposes of these divinely established roles:

a) 4:12 – equip Christians to serve

b) 4:12 – build up the body of Christ.

5. 4:13 - It is a constant objective of every congregation.

a) This always is going on!

b) 4:15-16 - Congregations must be committed to creating the type of environment where all Christians can grow up in every aspect of Christ.

III. Focus on Eph. 4:16

A. How can diversity come together in a manner that permits the body to function?

B. Just because there are a # of different parts w/just as many functions does not mean you have a body.

1. Something has to fit & bind them together in a way that allows the body to function.

2. They must be fit together in a way that helps the body function productively.

C. 4:16 – Paul focuses on the joint.

1. Consider a knee joint.

2. Leg muscle & leg bone. Have nothing in common.

a) Made of different material; do not have same function.

b) Only commonality: in the same body.

3. Yet every time leg moves – muscle & bone work together. How?

4. Fit together ligaments. Ligaments tie muscle to bone.

a) Cut ligaments- joint is useless – function of muscle & bone useless.

b) W/o ligaments – running/walking becomes impossible.

D. Misunderstanding is easy; understanding is hard.

1. In the church – something must fit us, knit us, and bind us together.

2. And that something is Jesus Christ.

a) We are His body.

b) He is the spiritual ligament that fits us together.

IV. Here’s the Point:

A. Every member – must choose to let Jesus fit us to and knit us to the body.

B. Being a living, functioning part of the body is not about:

1. what I like

2. what I prefer

3. what I would stress

4. What I want.

5. Too much of this creates negativity! Brings down entire group!

6. Being a part of the body is all about serving God’s purposes in Christ.

C. This is hard.

1. Every one of us has grown up in a society that stresses individual rights.

2. Too often

a) What I like; prefer; want divides congregations.

b) How many have the idea I have the right to make the congregation what I want it to be.

c) We have been trained to be more concerned about our desires than God’s purposes!

D. When we learn to function together – wonderful things happen!

1. God designed the church to function like a body.

2. Every type of person, from every type of background, can help achieve God’s eternal purposes!

3. If we let Jesus fit us; knit us together – God can work through us to accomplish eternal good beyond comprehension!

E. Goal: to function in a way to accomplish His purposes in incredible ways!

Conclusion:

A. Eph. 4:15-16 – body grows up into Christ.

B. Are you growing in such a way to support the Head?

C. God wants you in the body to achieve His purposes!

D. Are you a healthy part of His body?

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Fit Together in Christ 2006017 Topic # 627 (Unity) from David Chadwell's sermon Introduction: A. Chadwell Illustration… B. It is hard to communicate understandably. C. Established thinking can distort new information. I. Consider the concept of the church that the apostles taught. A. The concept of the church was new to those in living in the first century. B. NT writers used images everyone would understand in teaching on this concept: 1. Mt. 16:18-19 – Jesus calls the church His kingdom. 2. Rev. 21:9 – John calls the church the bride of Christ. 3. 1 Peter 5:2- Peter likens the church to a flock of sheep. 4. 1 Tim. 3:15 – Paul refers to the church as the household of God. 5. These were all concepts that would have been familiar to everyone – regardless of their heritage. II. Paul often used the image of a physical body in teaching on the church. A. 3 times – 3 different congregations. 1. Lessons make a number of similar points – but there are different emphases. B. Rom. 12:3-8 1. Basic lesson: enormous diversity in a physical body; there is enormous diversity in the church. 2. Church at Rome consisted of Jewish Christians who had grown up under Law and Gentile Christians who had worshipped idols. a) Backgrounds in total contrast. Completely different people. b) Adjusting to; and working with each other was less than easy. 3. Paul stressed: a) 12:3 - every ability mankind is given comes from God. Do not exaggerate your importance to the church. b) 12:4-5 - Different body parts have different abilities and perform different functions – yet each part uniquely benefits the body. a) Nose and ankles have no similar function. b) Nose and ankles provide body unique benefits. c) 12:6-8 - whatever your function is, do it well, for the benefit of the body. C. 1 Cor. 12:12-31 1. Basic lesson: every part of the body depends on every other part. 2. Church at Corinth consisted mainly of Gentiles – w/fairly common backgrounds. a) But…spirit of competition going on – to who had the greatest spiritual gift. b) Their spiritual gifts had been given to benefit the entire congregation. 3. Paul stressed: a) 12:12-18 - diversity of function; diversity of ability exists for the good of the body. b) 12:19-20 - Body not composed of identical parts. c) 12: 21-25 - No part of the body is independent – every body part needs and benefits from every other part. d) 12:26-27 - Just as the body responds to pain – other parts focus on relieving it…that is the way Christians respond to each other. 4. In 1 Cor. 12 – Paul places heavy emphasis on God’s design: a) Body is interdependent – by God’s design. b) God made the body to be unified; not divided. c) God gave individuals spiritual gifts so they could serve the body. d) All of this is by God’s design – not a matter of choice or preference. D. Eph. 4:11-16 1. Basic lesson: every spiritual role God established in the church is designed to benefit the church. 2. Ephesians did not understand God’s purposes in the church. a) Their background: a person used existing groups to advance himself; promote himself; win honor; prestige. b) Did not exist for the good of the group; group existed to create opportunity for you. 3. Isn’t that similar to today’s mentality? a) how many people feel the church exists to b) Honor & respond to my rights; my problems. We can feel these are more important than the group itself. 4. 4:12 - Paul stresses the purposes of these divinely established roles: a) 4:12 – equip Christians to serve b) 4:12 – build up the body of Christ. 5. 4:13 - It is a constant objective of every congregation. a) This always is going on! b) 4:15-16 - Congregations must be committed to creating the type of environment where all Christians can grow up in every aspect of Christ. III. Focus on Eph. 4:16 A. How can diversity come together in a manner that permits the body to function? B. Just because there are a # of different parts w/just as many functions does not mean you have a body. 1. Something has to fit & bind them together in a way that allows the body to function. 2. They must be fit together in a way that helps the body function productively. C. 4:16 – Paul focuses on the joint. 1. Consider a knee joint. 2. Leg muscle & leg bone. Have nothing in common. a) Made of different material; do not have same function. b) Only commonality: in the same body. 3. Yet every time leg moves – muscle & bone work together. How? 4. Fit together ligaments. Ligaments tie muscle to bone. a) Cut ligaments- joint is useless – function of muscle & bone useless. b) W/o ligaments – running/walking becomes impossible. D. Misunderstanding is easy; understanding is hard. 1. In the church – something must fit us, knit us, and bind us together. 2. And that something is Jesus Christ. a) We are His body. b) He is the spiritual ligament that fits us together. IV. Here’s the Point: A. Every member – must choose to let Jesus fit us to and knit us to the body. B. Being a living, functioning part of the body is not about: 1. what I like 2. what I prefer 3. what I would stress 4. What I want. 5. Too much of this creates negativity! Brings down entire group! 6. Being a part of the body is all about serving God’s purposes in Christ. C. This is hard. 1. Every one of us has grown up in a society that stresses individual rights. 2. Too often a) What I like; prefer; want divides congregations. b) How many have the idea I have the right to make the congregation what I want it to be. c) We have been trained to be more concerned about our desires than God’s purposes! D. When we learn to function together – wonderful things happen! 1. God designed the church to function like a body. 2. Every type of person, from every type of background, can help achieve God’s eternal purposes! 3. If we let Jesus fit us; knit us together – God can work through us to accomplish eternal good beyond comprehension! E. Goal: to function in a way to accomplish His purposes in incredible ways! Conclusion: A. Eph. 4:15-16 – body grows up into Christ. B. Are you growing in such a way to support the Head? C. God wants you in the body to achieve His purposes! D. Are you a healthy part of His body? E. I N V I T A T I O N