DCLM Search The Scripture Youth For December 11, 2022 : Topic – One Body, Many Members
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YOUTH SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE
LESSON 101
ONE BODY, MANY MEMBERS
Memory Verse: 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” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
TEXT: Corinthians 12:12-31
Members of the Corinthian church exalted one spiritual gift above others. Those with gift that are more visible thought themselves to be more spiritual and above others. Hence, there was pride, contention and desire for showmanship, which in turn led to disunity. Paul made them to know that what unites them is not race, culture, social status or gift possessed but baptism by one Spirit. “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” (verse 13). Our.conversion through the Spirit of God makes us to be part of His family then we (the Church) become His body while He is the Head. To correct the error, Apostle Paul made members of the church to know the importance of every area of work and each member in the church. Likening the church areas of work to human body, he clarified that as each part Of the body is interdependent, that is how each area of work in the church depends on each other, likewise each member of the church. Consciously or unconsciously every born again youth should remember that he or she is just part of the body not the entire body. Therefore everything must be done with humility and for the benefit of the entire body, We are expected to be uniped with other members of the body of Christ.
ONE BODY, ONE SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 12:12,13; Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 1:24)
Salvation takes place through the Spirit of God. Those without His Spirit arc not part of Him, Therefore to be part of Christ, one must be born again _ “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3,5,6). This new birth is what makes or one to become part of His body. The assembly of saved people is called the Church, which is the Body of Christ. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).
Question 1: How can a youth become part of the Body of Christ (the Church)?
Those who have repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour are part of Christ’s Body. To be Part Of the Body, youths should repent and turn entirely to the Lord. Those who are part of the Body are refreshed and sustained from the fountain of His Spirit. The old idea one’s tribe, race and class distinction no longer bounds us together but the Spirit Of Christ. “For as the body is one, and bath 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 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” (verses 13, 14). Any part of human body that is separated from the head will die off. because, we are fearfully and wonderfully made will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139:14). Likewise, anyone who separates himself or herself from Christ will die off spiritually. All efforts should be made never to detach from Christ.
ONE BODY, DIVERSE MEMEBERS
(1 Corinthians 12:14-27; 2 Corinthians 3:8,9; Ephesians 4:3, 16; 5:30-33)
“For the body is not one member, but many”. In order to explain the kind of oneness expected of every member of the Body of Christ, Apostle Paul used the human body to give the explanation. Each member of the body has its peculiar form, place and use. Though all members are not of equal importance, yet, lack of one diminishes the completeness of the body. So it is also in the church of God.
Question 2: From our text how can you describe the relationship between members of human body?
“If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole Were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body” (verses 15-19). Members of the body are organically related, they are bound together, one part is not the whole body but part of it. They work and function together Without struggling. The eyes do not struggle to do the work of the legs; neither does the head struggle to do the work of the hands. Suppose all parts were legs where will be the eyes’ God made each part of the body unique for specific purposes. They are all organically related, performing their duties assigned by God. Completeness of all aspects of the body brings out the beauty, orderliness. productivity and reveals the glory of God. Likewise, the Church of God comprises of different people with different function.
Question 3: Mention some areas Of work in the Body of Christ.
There are many areas of work in the church and there is no useless member just as it is with the body. We have areas of work like ushering, choir, electronics, administration, finances and others. While some serve God in the villages, others serve Him in the cities. Some work in the home caring fellowships while others function in the school fellowships. Some work with youths and children while others deal with those on the campus. All these organs are meant to bring beauty, orderliness, productivity and reveal the glory of God. We must all unite together. There should not be pride, sense of lack of importance, superiority or inferiority in the Body of Christ. There should be no murmuring, struggling or running others down. God appointed each of us as it pleases Him and we must all unite together to fulfil His plan. Apart from being organically related, members of the church are also cooperatively related. Once there is an instruction, the whole members of the Body move together. Also, members of the church are not expected to pursue personal agenda when corporate agenda is needed. “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it” (verses 25,261. Members of the church should have similar disposition to the feeling Of others. It is amazing to see how the eyes bring water when the leg is pained; and how nerves refuse to move when the stomach aches. We are to be sympathetic with the feeling of others and rejoice when they rejoice.
ONE BODY, DIFFERENT GIFTS (1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:7-16)
Question 4: In the light of today’s study, what does God expect of a born again youth in the Church?
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (verse 27). Apostle Paul wanted the Corinthian believers to know that their individual gifts and offices are component parts of the Body of Christ. For fulfilment of God’s plan and purposes, He has given gifts and offices to members of the church. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues”. To fulfil the reason for our gifts, we must be contented with what God has given to us and work harmoniously with others who have different gifts from ours. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4: I I , 12). The Church of Christ is one body; we are members of the Body. Therefore, we must use our talents and gifts for the unity of the Body.
A songwriter support it thus:
We are heirs of the father
We are joint heirs with the son
We are children of the kingdom
We are family, we are one