“Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?“
1 Corinthians 12:14-17

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AUGUST 6, 2024

The human body is composed of many parts, each with its own purpose. All are necessary for the body to function. Each individual piece is dependent upon the others. No part can function by itself isolated from the rest of the human body. Can you imagine a kidney trying to live on its own, or a foot walking away? No, each part has a specific contribution to make to the health and wellbeing of the whole.

As members of the body of Christ, there is a diversity of function. This is illustrated every Sunday morning at WBC by people greeting, serving at the welcome desk, ushering, caring for small children, serving persons with special needs, teaching Sunday school for youth or adults, singing in the choir, playing instruments for worship services, providing technical support for audio and visual transmission, etc.

In fact, all believers are equally important to the body. Therefore, the contribution of everyone to the body of Christ is valued. No one is more significant than anyone else—and no one can afford to sit out! Each of us has a unique role to play, and each is to be appreciated as a fellow servant of the King. The exercise of a wide variety of skills and abilities is necessary for the body of Christ to function properly.

We need one another to become the people God intends us to be.

The practical application of this interdependence is that we must be in community with other believers. Community implies face-to-face interaction with one another. Corporate worship is an important part of the life of the body of Christ, but corporate worship alone is insufficient for the necessary interaction among its members. We need smaller venues where we can listen to one another, empathize, pray, and work together. WBC provides a variety of places for this to happen in children’s ministries, student groups, adult communities, men’s and women’s groups, special ministries like choir or orchestra, even GO Teams and Puente del Pueblo.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • How have you identified your role in the body of Christ?
  • What changes in your role have you experienced over time?
  • Where are you experiencing community in the body of Christ?

 

Church Reading Plan: Jeremiah 34; Psalm 5-6