DCLM Search The Scripture Youth For November 6, 2022 : Topic – Loving and Serving the Body of Christ
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YOUTH SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE
LESSON 1001
LOVING AND SERVING THE BODY OF CHRIST
Memory Verse: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
TEXT: Galatians 5:13-15; Romans 12:3-10
The Bible is clear on the duty of each believer in the church. It emphasises the necessity and the responsibility of serving the body of Christ. The Church is likened to a bride, a flock that the Shepherd is watching over, a kingdom where Jesus Christ is the King and having the dominion. The Church is also called the family of God, where God is the Father. She is described as a building whose foundation is Jesus Christ. Over and above all these, the Church is referred to as the Body of Christ. As every part of the body serves the whole body, we should serve Christ, the church and the brethren.
THE UNITY OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST (Romans 12:4,5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 10: 17; Galatians 3:26-29; John 17:20, 21; Ephesians 2:10-22; 4:4-6)
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). The Word of God emphatically dwells on the unity of the Church. It says, “the body is one”, and this truth of oneness in the body runs through these three verses. Though there is unity in the body, there is also diversity in the function of the members. This is similar to the human body. While we speak of only one body, there are several parts of the body — head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands, legs, toes, e.t.c. Though the parts of the body are several, they are united.
Question 1: How can one become a member of the body of Christ?
To become a member of the body of Christ, a youth must repent of his sins and believe on the Saviour. At salvation, the Holy Spirit baptises the new believer into the body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). As soon as we become born again, all tribal, national, social, professional or academic discriminations are supposed to be removed by our conscious effort and prayer. “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:3-6). The Lord in John ‘s gospel prayed “…That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20,21).
Question 2: Mention some attitudes that can affect the unity of the church.
It is a sin against God when brethren in the church divide against one another. Our marriages must not be coloured by tribal preferences. It is unhealthy to discriminate against a member of the church along gender lines. Competition, hatred or resentment in the church contradicts the prayer of Christ and it is a sin.
Question 3: What does it take to keep the unity in the church?
It takes humility to keep the unity of the brethren in the church. Co-operation of all the members of the church is required for unity to be achieved. “For 1 say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Romans 12:3-5). No member of the body of Christ should think of himself more highly than he ought to think. None should be self-conceited. We should humble ourselves before other believers and let the body be one. The key to the unity of the Church is humility.
UPHOLDING LOVE AND UNITY IN THE CHURCH (John 15:9-12; Romans John 17:9-11, 19-21; Galatians 5:13-15; Acts 2:44-47; 1 Corinthians 6:5-8; 12:23- 26)
When there are no problems, almost all members profess love, unity and brotherhood. But when problems arise, real unity is tested. This happened in the Corinthian church that Apostle Paul had to say, “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren” (I Corinthians 6: 5-8). We cannot but accidentally step on one another’s toes as we relate together. Our-interests may clash at one time or another. Unfounded stories or rumours may be peddled round about us among the careless brethren in the local church. Such offences, when there is unity, are settled in the church by the leaders. Whatever the offence, and whoever the source, we must endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the church in the bond of peace. “A new commandment 1 give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).
Question 4: Why do some brethren despise others in the church?
Some believers despise others because they feel that other brethren are not as cultured or civil as they are. But if Christ were to look for reasons why He cannot love us, He would not need to look too far before He spots a thousand and one faults in our lives. Christ loves us just as we are and He expects us to love the brethren in the same manner. Do not look for reasons why you should not love your brethren. Rather, search for the things in their lives that would compel you to love them.
Question 5: Why must we love the brethren?
God commands us to love our brethren and that reason alone suffices for us to love them. Second, the soul of our brother or sister is precious before God and we must love that which God deems precious. Third, our brethren may not be wonderfully intelligent in secular matters being limited by their level of training, but spiritually, their hearts are perfect and for that, we must love them. Fourth, a brother or sister may not be a possessor of a higher education degree, but he possesses the rich grace of the eternal God to live right and victoriously. For that, we must love him. The duty and great service we have one towards another is love. We should love under all circumstances. Brethren may make mistakes, we should still love one another. A fellowship member may deliberately go into mischief, still love him and see how you could help to restore such. People may not grant you the recognition you expect in the church, still love them. A Christian youth may be lacking the basic things of life today, but you are to still love her. She might be mightily blessed of God with all comforts of life tomorrow. We should love one another as Christ has loved us. Our love must be sacrificial, unconditional and sincere. “And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all” (1 Corinthians 12: 6). We have different members of the body carrying out diverse functions. Every member of the body has a function to carry out, which if not allowed, may cripple the body. We should seek how to best serve the body of Christ. Several services are available in the church.
UNDERSTANDING AREAS OF SERVICE AND MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH (1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Romans 12:4-8; Acts 6:1-6; Galatians 5: 13; Acts 9:36-39)
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8).
Question 6: Mention some ministries and areas of service available in the church.
The areas of service in the church range from the high profile to the daily regular duty of caring, giving and showing mercy. Every Christian youth has a duty to fulfil. In the youths’ fellowship, all the members cannot lead, but all can give something to comfort, assist and cheer up the needy. In the local church, all the members cannot teach, but all can Show mercy one to another, bearing one another’s burden. In every church, all the members can be involved in serving one another one way or the other. duty of serving the brethren is described as “ministry”. Some serve the body by helping in various ways such as comforting the distressed and bereaved, cleaning up the church, visiting the sick, the weak and the lonely. “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” ( 1 Corinthians 12:29,30). The point here is that we should not compete with one another. We should do whatever the Lord has for us with all our might. Philip, in the early church, accepted what he was given to do and did it cheerfully. The work looked mean, but he concentrated on it. He later became an evangelist and the city of Samaria received the gospel through his ministry. Some people can hardly appreciate or adjust to serve in the days of small beginnings. But they err. We should start like Philip and leave the future to God. If you start at a seemingly low level of ministry, the Lord can, in the future, lead you into a higher position. Some people classify some work in the church as unimportant, but they miss it. God places high premium on every ministry in the church because He sets up all the ministries. Second, the Bible says whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Giving, visitation, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and giving water to the thirsty are as rewarding as any other ministry (Matthew 25: 31-46). Will you do service for your Lord today?