The Diversity of the Body, Pt. 1
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
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.
The Diversity of the Body is found in the great variety of people who serve the King. Jews, Greeks, Slaves, Free…the body of Christ is made up of the privileged and the impoverished, the educated and the simple, the handsome and the plain, the American and the British, the Asian and the African.
Although the body has many parts, it is still one body. In the same way, Paul describes the body of Christ as many members, but in unity. This unity is paramount for the operation of the Spirit.
Without this unity, the body fights against itself and destroys the progress made by each part of the body.
With this unity, God can do amazing things in the world. The greatest revivals, including the Pentecostal outpouring in Acts 2 and the Latter-Day Rain outpouring at the turn of the 20th century, were examples of how God worked through groups that were in unity and sought a common goal under a common Savior in the power of the same Spirit.
- The Basis of Our Unity
- One Spirit
- Many Members
- One Body
One Spirit not only means the Holy Spirit of God, the only power by which the church operates, but also one Spirit of cooperation and purpose that unifies and galvanizes our faith and work. We must choose to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then to carry the spirit of unity in the church and into the world.
Many Members is the goal of the mission of the church. It is the purpose of the church, that is, to save souls and increase the size of the body. While evangelism is definitely a big part of our mission, it is just as important to have a powerful unity within the body that takes the church from a group of converts to a body of believers. When a small multitude of people serve the same God, they should be able to unite under the standard of the Savior. The diversity that comes from a large group of believers should be seen as a powerful positive in the body. With the diversity of individuals in the body, more work can be done, more talents can be utilized, more knowledge and expertise can be used for God’s glory. With diversity comes challenges, but yet diversity yields amazing results in the body of Christ.
One Body is the ultimate goal of our fellowship. When we enter into the family of God, we must check our own agendas at the door. There is only one way to serve God: it involves complete surrender. To serve God with a hidden agenda or a set of conditions undermines the effectiveness of the Kingdom. The community of faith, believers in the same Truth, must come under the command of a common King, Jesus Christ.
Are You Willing to Come Together Under the Leadership of the Spirit?
While many members in one body produces unique challenges with which to deal, it is a glorious mixture of talents, gifts, and abilities, personalities and backgrounds. It is an alphabet soup of sorts, with one homogenizing factor, the Holy Spirit who leads, guides, directs, teaches, and reminds us of the truth of Christ’s work and teaching. We must submit to the King, and follow His Spirit wherever it may lead.
Your leadership has pledged—and today reiterates its pledge—to follow Christ with all its ability. I simply ask you today, as we begin exploring how to be and live as “One Another,” to follow us as we follow Christ. God is building His Church here in Kannapolis, and He wants us to move in that one accord, that fellowship, that sense of unity, that will allow us to see that Church move forward like a mighty army!
Devoted To You 