Healthy Church Bodies Pt3
Healthy Church Bodies • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsChrist called the church to celebrate diversity, serve a mutual purpose, and to be unified in Him as the body of Christ. There is no better analogy for this concept than that of the human body. Just as the diverse parts of the body work together in mutual purpose, for the good of the whole, the body of Christ (the Church) must do the same. Christians are unified in Christ, and the preservation of that unity is the key to healthy church bodies.
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Healthy Church Bodies
Healthy Church Bodies
Over the last few weeks, we have been exploring the richness of Paul’s use of the body as an analogy for the Church, and what it takes to have healthy church bodies.
I hope you have caught on to the fact that a healthy church…requires a diverse group of people working together in one mutual purpose.
1 Cor 12:4-7
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Paul was specifically speaking about the “spiritual gifts” — within the Church… Amen?
As we discovered a couple of weeks ago in our Sunday night groups, we all have various “Gifts” we bring to the table. God gave us those gifts for the “common good” of the Church.
The Church functions best when we celebrate the diversity of our “gifts,” … and serve where God has called us.
And mutuality — working “for the common good” ...
However… this cannot happen without unity in the Body....
You see.... Unity is the glue that holds the rest together....
1 Cor 12:12-
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.
Paul goes on to say that no one part of the body can function on its own. Nor can the body function properly without one of its parts.
That is why Paul goes on to say:
while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
God placed us together…for a purpose… but.....Here is the sad thing though.... Are you ready for it?
The Church (world wide) is suffering..... It has been infected by disease.
That’s why we see the Church struggling so much to speak into the world around it…that’s why we see it in decline.
Disease destroys the body by breaking the laws of diversity, mutuality, and unity that govern a healthy body. Think about it —
When we get cancer, dementia, diabetes, depression,.... the body stops functioning properly. The effected areas stop cooperating with the rest of the body.... They stop serving the mutual purpose all the parts have in common..... And the whole body suffers!
The same thing happens in the church body.
When the disease of pride, selfishness, jealousy, greed (even for control or position)....enter into the Church, the Body suffers.
Gal. 5:19-
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness,
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,
envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
These things destroy the unity of the Body, and hinder the proper functioning of the Church. If we have these things in our heart, how can we hope to live as Christ lived?!
How can we hope to have a healthy church?
These things....anger, jealousy, gossip, division....prevent the Church from functioning properly, and fulfilling its purpose in this world.
I said last week — and I hope you heard this — the #1 reason why non-believers (people who have never heard about - or known God) do not listen to Christians is because we cannot even agree with ourselves!
We are to busy worrying about our own desires and “feelings”.
However.... This is nothing new...
Paul, Peter, and James — ALL — wrote letters to churches struggling with these same relationship issues plaguing them....
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
And in chapter 4, James asks:
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?
This is important!
Where does the division among us come from? Why do we feel isolated? Ignored? Unimportant to the Church? Why do we gossip and complain?
Most often it is because of our own felt needs and desires for control. We want to feel important! To feel needed! We want to have things “our way”! (Let me tell you — this ain’t Burger King!)
Within the Church Body, that attitude is a disease.
He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”
Pride, anger, jealousy, greed for position and power are a disease to the church.
Disease in the members, results in dysfunction in the body.
Unity in the Body is VITAL to the health of the Church.
Now here’s the cool thing! We don’t have to strive for unity!
We talked about this last week. Unity comes from God.
Unity comes automatically when we function in our God-given roles under HIS direction!
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Paul walked as an example to the believers.... When addressing this issue, Paul pointed to himself, and urged them to walk the same way.
We are to “lead a life worthy of the calling” God has placed on us, and to seek “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
That means that we seek to recognize those destructive attitudes — within ourselves — that destroy unity in the Body, and when we see them, we repent and stop doing them! We expel them from our lives!
We are to walk in such a way as to preserve the unity of the Body.
Let me tell you this....
Unity is relationship!
That is why we must protect it.
Everything in that list in .... Destroys unity!
“...fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.”
Look at
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
“Love One Another”
That is a command for us to do everything in our power to protect our relationships with each other, with others, and with God.
So, how do we do that? (I’m glad you asked!)
Would you believe that scripture gives us direction on this?!
The phrase — “Love one another” — carries several implications for the life and health of the Church..
I. Don’t be indifferent to one another.
“Love one another” — this is by far the most repeated command in scripture.
It goes beyond loving people to the very core of the God’s Nature. “God is Love”
Because God is Love, and He Loved us, we are able to Love others.
Relationship....is the very “heart of the Bible.”
We are to “Love others” because God “Loved us.” A God-given relationship with the people around us is the privilege and perfection of the gospel.....
And the Church is the perfect witness of it. (or at least it is supposed to be!)
Take a look at the first century churches — the ones Paul is writing to:
Their fellowships consisted of rich and poor, slave and free, Jew and Greek, common and intellectual, high class and low class, young and old..... This truly was a perfect testing ground the Love of God, granted to them by the Holy Spirit!
Think about it.... This “melting ground” is the perfect environment for “cliques” to form.... It is the perfect place for little groups to form who “agree” with each other...
But that is not God’s intention for His Church.... His Church is to demonstrate His unconditional love for the world by revealing a Love that transcends the world.... That transcends ethnic, economical, physical, intellectual, and social barriers..... and reaches deep into people’s lives!
But.... There is a tendency in our world for us to build churches around “commonality,” rather than “diversity.”
You see.... We tend to be indifferent to those who do not “fit their mold,” or “agree with us.” Or worse...
Church…we must not be that way! (“Love One Another”)
II. Receive and Greet One Another — don’t reject or ignore one another.
No matter whether we agree with them or not.... No matter whether we like them or not.... No matter whether we are mad at them or not..... No matter what.......
We are to greet them in Love!
Understand this — The silent treatment destroys relationships!
Romans 14:1-4
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.
Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables.
Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.
Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
When we reject — or ignore — a person, we are judging them!
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,
so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ received us “while we were still enemies.” When we reject people, we are judging them unworthy....
Who gave us that right?! We are to receive and welcome people into our group.
That word “receive” means — to “accept”; to “take to one’s self”; to “admit” into fellowship.
It means that we take to ourselves brothers and sisters in Christ — based on our mutual connection to Him — freely and without constraint....
It means that we respond to others without regard to race, social status, doctrinal differences (except in instances of false doctrine), education, intellectual abilities, physical appearances, habits, customs, .....
I want you to notice something — to “Receive and greet” others is not simply saying “hi!”
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Romans
All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am;
Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
This was a command to a deep personal greeting.... One that made a connection with the person being greeted.
That is one thing I love about our church....about our fellowship.... We greet each other with a heart-felt hug and greeting, not simply a “Hi!” and handshake.
But.... now listen.... This deep greeting should not be limited to only members our church, or of other churches we agree with.
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them for one day.
I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.
The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord.
We should not limit our love to our own. We should welcome ALL brothers and sisters in Christ.... That includes FUTURE brothers and sisters, amen!
There are only three instances where scripture tells us to withhold our greetings/fellowship.
False Teachers
Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching;
for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.
Now understand — This does not mean people who do not believe the same as us!
2. Unrepentant/Immoral believers.
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons—
not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world.
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one.
For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge?
God will judge those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.”
1 Cor
This applies to people who are breaking the unity of the Church, which is why scripture tells us:
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.
But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Unrepentant believers are to be removed from the body because they pose a threat to the unity of the body.
But notice that there is a prescribed method given to us that seeks to preserve the Body and the member.
3. Unrepentant unruly, undisciplined believers.
Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.
For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.
Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed.
Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
2 Thess 3
John even called out one pastor for violating this principle....
I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
We are to confront unrepentance, judgment, etc.... in the body… With every intention of reconciliation… because it breaks the unity of the body, and our goal is to preserve it. (“Love One Another”)
I
III. Do Good and Be Kind to one another.
So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice,
and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Do you see the goal of these verses?
In every instance, Paul is saying — “Protect the relationship.”
Kindness expresses love and benevolence to fellow Christians through gestures of generosity, helpfulness, and thoughtfulness even under difficult conditions and…now listen.... expects nothing in return!
A teacher asked her students to give a definition of “loving-kindness.”
One little boy stood up and said, “Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a piece of bread, that would be kindness. But, if they put a little jam on the bread, that would be loving-kindness.”
Kindness addresses the needs of others, but loving-kindness goes over and above what is necessary to relieve the misery of others.
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,
(“Love One Another”)
IV. Agree and live harmonious with one another.
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
Look back at
God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,
for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind—
just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you—
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are called by God to live in fellowship with Him and with each other… We are told:
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.
I want you to see something in Paul’s words:
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,
so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 15:5-6
Paul prayed that we would learn to live in harmony.....
I have to ask....when we struggle with this....when we see others struggling with this....do we pray for God to help?
Do we stand beside each other and hold each other up? Or, do we avoid and condemn each other?
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.
We should be standing with each other, encouraging each other, and “calling” each other out in our struggles — not in judgment, but in love.
Even Paul had to do this....
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
(“Love One Another”)
V. Honor one another.
love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Phil 2:2-4
Honoring one another means putting the needs of others first in our relationships.
We bring joy to Christ when we honor others above ourselves.
(“Love One Another”)
VI. Forgive and Forbear one another.
This concept leaves no room for us to think of our own needs… It leaves no room for us to require something from others in order for us to honor them.
We are to forgive....to give of ourselves....to carry their burdens....to stand with them, regardless of reciprocal actions.
Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
“Forbear” means “to hold up, hold back, to put up with or endure a difficult situation such as persecution or affliction, to put up with a person.”
It means —
“Graciously enduring and putting up with the displeasing, offensive, or sinful attitudes and actions of others.”
This includes the idea that rebuke, discipline, or correction be delayed as long as possible — not as an enabler...out of love for another — in the hope that the offender will recognize their offense themselves and take steps to correct it.
This doesn’t mean that we simply ignore it..... It means that we choose to spend time in prayer, seeking God’s guidance and intercession, before we address it in our fellow brothers and sisters… because...
“True Love...”
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
We are often way too quick to confront offenses, and correct wrongs, which strains the relationship.
The relationship MUST come first!
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.
(”Love One Another”)
VII. Forgive one another.
I want to focus on this, because it is critical to the health of the church.
Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Let me tell you....
Unforgiveness in your heart will fester like cancer..... It is a disease that destroys happiness....joy…peace....and relationships..... Unforgiveness will destroy the health of the Church.
Unforgiveness
It will completely destroy love and relationships in your life, and it effects the health of the church.
(People’s Fellowship example)
Whether we like it or not, how we treat each other in here..... effects how people see us out there.
Our testimony....the health of the church....the effectiveness of our witness.... is directly effected by our Love for Each Other.
People need to see a difference.....
They need to see something greater than the world they live in.....
Our Love for One Another is that difference!
When people see the church.... and they see a group of people who deeply love each other.... who extend forgiveness....who don’t grumble against each other....who don’t gossip....who don’t exclude, omit, or ignore people..... Who carry each other’s burdens, and help fill each other’s needs....
Who genuinely love being around each other......
They are naturally attracted to that.
Because it is healthy..... It is light.... It brings Joy....and Peace!
So.... How are we doing?
Are we manifesting a “love for one another”?
Or.....