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Lesson Five

Romans 12:4-7

Romans 12:4-74 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Romans 12:8

Romans 12:88 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.

I Corinthians 12:20-23

I Corinthians 12:20-2320 But now are they many members, yet but one body.21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

I Corinthians 12:24-27

I Corinthians 12:24-2724 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Focus Verse

Romans 12:4-5

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.

Focus Thought

Every member of the body has a ministry. Let all serve in their given ministries.

IntroductionIntroduction

No greater parallel to the uniqueness of the body of Christ exists than that of the human body. The human body, with all its many complementary parts, is a microcosm of the many-faceted body of Christ. The uniqueness of both the physical body and the spiritual body is the synergy involved—all the parts working together to produce a result that is greater than the sum of the parts. The physical body could never accomplish all of its functions without this unified focus. Likewise, God’s body, with all its diverse parts, could never accomplish its purpose if its members did not work together.

IntroductionIn this lesson, we shall study how each member has its own function or ministry, yet it is dependent on each of the other parts and helps them to understand their importance. Furthermore, we will learn how diversity in the body need not engender division, but it is necessary to the overall purpose of the church. Paul provided a classic example of this in his first letter to the Corinthians—unity without conformity. (See I Corinthians 12:12-31.)

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (A)

Uniqueness of Each Member of the Body

As a large organization or corporation is not just one member multiplied many times, so is the body of Christ. No organization or corporation is the exact duplication of any of its individual members, but it is a unified effort of the diverse members working together to produce what one could never accomplish alone.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (A)

A. One Body

As much as this lesson focuses on individual members emphasizing their roles and responsibilities, we all realize the importance and value of the corporate body of Christ. God has foreordained that the body of Christ—the church—will be victorious. It will not fail or fall because it is God’s body.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (A)When God came to this earth in flesh, He came to

seek and to save that which was lost by establishing the church. He knew that His ministry in Jesus Christ would last only three and one-half years. However, His ministry through His body, the church, would last for centuries.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (A)For us to be able to minister as members of the

body, it is essential first that we become members of that body. This is only possible by being baptized into the body of Christ: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (I Corinthians 12:13).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (A)To become a member of the body of Jesus Christ, a

person must experience the new birth: repenting of his sins, being baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost. As he grows and matures, living in holiness, he begins to live as a member of Christ’s body, one part of the whole, fulfilling Paul’s words: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (B)

B. Many Members

“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 12:4-5).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (B)

When we study the human body with all its parts, we understand the miracle of its existence and learn to appreciate it as a type of the body of Christ. God the Creator designed the human body, knowing that it would be a microcosm of His spiritual body, the church. Therefore, when we look at the human body, we are observing a small prototype of Christ’s spiritual body.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (B)Physiologists have revealed to us that there are

about 206 bones and 650 muscles in the human body. They also tell us that the body contains approximately eleven pints of blood and seventy-nine pints of water.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (B)Couple this with at least fifty thousand miles of

blood vessels and capillaries and one hundred billion brain cells, and we have a highly specialized piece of machinery that mankind with all his ingenuity has never been able to duplicate. This body did not evolve from some lower form of life, but God designed and created it in His own image—the highest form of life.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (B)Interestingly, our physical bodies—as well as the

spiritual body—consist of many members. God could have made a body comprised of one member, for “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). However, He foresaw the advantage of having a body comprised of many members synchronized to accomplish a higher purpose.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)

C. Each Member with aUnique Role

Although the physical body has many parts, Paul listed only four in his first letter to the Corinthians: foot, ear, eye, and head (I Corinthians 12:14-26). We know that the body is comprised of more than these four parts. It takes all four and more for the body to reach its full potential.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)

“If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?” (I Corinthians 12:17). We clearly understand the message: the body has many parts, and each part has its unique function.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)

The church also is a body with many parts. Just like the human body, every member has its distinctive role, and we do not expect everyone to have the same function or ministry.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)

In his epistle to the believers in Ephesus, Paul named some of the ministries that God placed within the church, but he also stated their combined purpose—to edify the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-12

“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 4:11-12).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)

Paul also listed three of these five ministries in his first letter to the Corinthians: “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” (I Corinthians 12:28).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)

From these and other writings of the apostle Paul, it is clear that he never intended to establish only a few areas of ministry. Numerous are the ministries that God intended to be within His body, the church. We will discuss only a few of them in this lesson.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)

1. Encouragement. At times, everyone needs to receive the ministry of encouragement. This ministry, though not often one of high profile, is as necessary as any other ministry in the church. Many of us are victorious today and will be in heaven because someone with the ministry of encouragement knew just what to say or do at the appropriate time.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)

Many people selfishly wait for someone to encourage them or to provide for them a “shot in the arm.” Obviously, such people are not interested in being involved in the ministry of encouraging others. What they do not realize, however, is that when a person encourages others, he receives encouragement himself. Paul quoted this principle from Jesus in his address to the church elders at Ephesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)In his letter to the Romans, Paul mentioned several

areas in which the body of Christ ministers through diverse gifts:

Romans 12:6-8“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).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)2. Exhortation. Although the basic meaning of the

word exhort is “to urge earnestly by advice, warning,” in this passage, it means “encouragement.” The Greek word for exhortation has to do with comfort and consolation. If we combine these two definitions, we arrive at the meaning “vocal encouragement” as opposed to encouragement by deed.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)Many people do not realize the power of their

words—both positively and negatively. The wise man, Solomon, wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21). The fact is that we all have the potential of helping or hindering others by our choice of words and the manner in which we say them.

Proverbs 15:23

“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due

season, how good is it!” (Proverbs 15:23).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)What a challenge! Good deeds of encouragement

often involve financial expenditure, but words of encouragement cost us nothing more than a desire to be a positive influence upon others. All we have to do is to open our mouths and try to say something that will be encouraging to others.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)Anyone can accomplish this if he really tries. We

often speak words of discouragement when we ourselves are discouraged or feeling bad. However, we should remember that we have the awesome responsibility of encouraging others with our words regardless of how we feel.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)3. Leadership. Democratic countries elect their

leaders from among a list of those who aspire to public office. The voters have the right to reject the one who presently fills the office at the next election, and they can vote in whomever they choose to replace him. Although the election places the candidate in the position of a leader, the election alone does not make that person a good leader.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)Leadership, the ministry of influence, is a vital part

of the church. What greater opportunity do we have to influence people than by the Spirit of the Lord? Our personalities can always help open doors and perhaps cause people to notice us, but the Holy Spirit is the Christian’s advantage. God’s Spirit emanates from us and touches hearts like no human personality ever could accomplish.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)The ministry of leadership carries with it great

responsibility, for those who follow a leader trust him to know the way. Certainly, a leader’s responsibility for his own salvation is serious enough, but his influence on the eternal destiny of others is doubly serious. (See Isaiah 9:16.)

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)4. Mercy. Perhaps we do not think of mercy as a

ministry, but the definition of the word itself makes it easier to comprehend its character as ministry. The word mercy simply means “pity, compassion.” Thus, the ministry of mercy is the showing of pity and compassion on the needy, which includes more than just those who are bereft of food and clothing. However, we should not exclude the latter from the list of the needy.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)Many of our churches have extended themselves to

help those where hurricanes and other natural disasters have ravaged their homes and lives. They have offered money, food, shelter, and clothing to thousands of displaced evacuees. Perhaps the teacher could add recent events to this list.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)Many opportunities exist around us daily where we

could minister to those in need of mercy. Many people stumble in their walk with the Lord and struggle to return to their previous spiritual status and effectiveness. At such a critical time, they need to hear words of encouragement and mercy. This ministry counters the judgmental spirit that is so prevalent in our world today.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)As the Jewish nation used the labels of Pharisee and

Sadducee in the Bible, we have labels today that often reflect a lack of mercy. If someone does not appear to satisfy our particular expectations, we often label them—regardless of the accuracy of the label. Even if the label were accurate, resorting to such judgment does not reflect the mercy of the Master.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)5. Intercession. Although most ministries are

public, interceding for people through prayer ministers to them in a private way. They may never be aware that someone interceded for them. However, as the intercessor approaches God for them and prays earnestly for their souls, he renders them a service that is beyond compassion.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)We find a good example of the ministry of

intercession in Genesis 18. Because his nephew Lot lived in Sodom, Abraham appealed to God to spare the city.

Genesis 18:23-25“Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do

after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that

the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

(Genesis 18:23-25).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)Although Abraham’s intercession was not

successful in God’s sparing the twin cities, it was successful in His sparing Lot and some of his family. As a result, the angels rescued Lot, his wife, and two daughters from the doomed cities. Sadly, Lot’s wife looked back toward the cities while escaping and suffered the judgment of God.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)We may never know the full extent of the

effectiveness of our intercession, but we still should continue in the ministry of intercession. Many souls are in the balance daily and are in need of our intercessory prayers.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)6. Musical Ability. Without question, musical

ability is a gift from God, and we can certainly use it as a ministry. However, those with musical talent often misuse and abuse their gift as they become lifted up in their performance instead of focusing on ministry. When we use for performance what God has given for ministry, self becomes the focus and manifests itself in pride.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)We should remember that God intended music to

be a special language whose vocabulary contains words of comfort, challenge, inspiration, and encouragement. When we use it properly, music can even soothe the troubled spirit and dispel evil spirits. (See I Samuel 16:23.)

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)7. Giving. “Therefore when thou doest thine alms,

do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:2).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)When we think of giving, our minds usually go to

finances. However, the perspective of giving is much more encompassing than money. It involves the gift of time, abilities, talents, love, and even the giving of ourselves. When a person gives only of his finances and not in other ways, he robs himself and others of tremendous opportunities to give and receive many blessings.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)Although everyone should give monetarily, it

should encompass more than the periodic transfer of something valuable from one person to another. It should be a ministry that reaches the deeper level of one’s offering of himself. Referring to the generosity of the Macedonians, who gave a sacrificial offering, Paul stated that they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (II Corinthians 8:5).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)8. Helps. “And God hath set some in the church,

first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that . . . helps” (I Corinthians 12:28). In our coveting earnestly the best gifts, we often overlook the ministry of helps that Paul mentioned.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)We tend to focus more on the gifts that are public

and demonstrative—gifts of healing, the working of miracles, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy. However, the ministry of helps is as vital to the work of the Lord as the other gifts that are more publicly demonstrative.

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)This ministry is obvious in Jesus’ discourse in

Matthew 20:26-28:

Matthew 20:26-28“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and

whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the

Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his

life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

I. Uniqueness of Each Member (C)9. Teaching. Although the original text suggests

that pastors and teachers are one and the same person in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, teaching can be a separate ministry (Ephesians 4:11). Many God-called people who never become pastors possess the ministry of teaching. As someone has stated, “Preaching makes a statement; teaching proves it.”

II. Great DiversityGreat Diversity

in the Body of ChristIt is obvious that there is a great diversity of gifts in the body of Christ, each serving the varied needs of the membership. Just as a normal human body must be able to accomplish a wide range of functions, the same is true of the spiritual body of Christ. God’s body, the church, should enjoy the blessing of these differing kinds of gifts.

II. Great DiversityDifferent kinds of results naturally follow diversities of needs, ministries, and services. Expecting the same kind of results from the various ministries would be like expecting the same kind of results from the different parts of the human body. We never expect a kidney to perform the duties of the human heart because their functions are vastly different. So are the results of the various gifts of services and ministry within the body of Christ.

III. Interdependence (A) Interdependence ofMembers within

the BodyA. God Gave Members

to the Body

“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the

head to the feet, I have no need of you” (I Corinthians 12:21).

III. Interdependence (A) To explain the interdependence of members within the body of Christ, Paul again used the analogy of the human body. Since it is not difficult for us to understand the interdependence of the members of the physical body, it should not be difficult for us to understand the interdependence of the members of the spiritual body.

III. Interdependence (A) Each member of the physical body needs the other members of the body. Although there are some members that surgeons can remove without endangering the life of the human body, God originally made the body to be complete with all its members. We could assert the same about the spiritual body, for God intends the church to be comprised of all its members—all of them vital to the body.

III. Interdependence (A) God continues to add “to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). The members, whether physical or spiritual, are servants to the body to make it complete, enable it to function as a body, and give it beauty.

III. Interdependence (B) B. God Gave the Body

to the Members

Not only did God give the members to the body, but He gave the body to the members. What would the members be by themselves? All the members may have their individual functions, but those functions are all associated with the body.

III. Interdependence (B) If we were to separate the members of the physical body from the body, they would be completely useless. Without a connection to the body, the individual members would serve no purpose at all—no matter how complicated and necessary they are to the body itself.

III. Interdependence (B) Through this analogy, we can easily understand how the individual members of the church need the rest of the body. Certainly, the church gives all of us meaning and worth.

II. Unity in Diversity (A) Unity in Diversity

A. Diversity Is Not Division

The different members of the body all have diverse functions, yet their diversity does not engender division. Unity actually exists in their diversity, for they all enjoy a togetherness that contributes to oneness of function that makes the body whole.

II. Unity in Diversity (A) The word schism in our lesson text comes from a Greek word that means “division.” (See I Corinthians 12:25.) God has so tempered the body that it is a synergistic miracle with diversity and no division. It is not a body working against itself; it is a unified body working together for a higher purpose.

II. Unity in Diversity (B) B. Unity Is Not Conformity

The unity of the body does not mean that all the members have the same function. Much like an engine that has many working parts necessary for its complete operation, the body enjoys the unity of the various members without any or all of them conforming to the same function. Likewise, when all the members of the physical body function properly in their diverse duties, it results in a unity like no other.

II. Unity in Diversity (B) If all the members were alike within the body of Christ, the church would never accomplish God’s work. Indeed, it takes all the members doing what God has called them to do in order to fulfill the complete ministry of the body. While God has designed that some of the ministries edify the church, He designed others to evangelize the world. Thus, every part of the body of Christ feels the results of this diversified, yet unified, ministry to the world.

ReflectionsWe have studied how the physical body is typical of the spiritual body. Paul adeptly compared the two with common comparisons that are easily understood. He reminded us that the body is one, yet it has many members—each with a unique role.

ReflectionsDiffering gifts, services, and results remind us that the body of Christ is full of great diversity. Although this is true, the individual members are interdependent. Diversity in the body should never create division. Furthermore, unity is not conformity; we achieve it not by being alike in function, but by working toward the same purpose. Finally, each member of the body has a ministry, and each should faithfully serve in that God-given function.

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