1 Corinthians 12:27

Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.

'This sentence, which ties all the preceding pieces together, spells out what the Corinthians must have known right along, that the foregoing analogies were all about them.' (Fee p. 617)

'Now ye are the body of Christ' -'That's (the above verses) how. healthy person is supposed to act. Now, make the application to the body of Christ..' (McGuiggan p. 173)

'severally members therefore' -'individually members of it' (RSV)

Points to Note:

1. Paul has given us. description of. healthy congregation in these verses. One in which every member is viewed as necessary. In which each member contributes it's talent or function (Ephesians 4:16). Where attention and respect is shown to every member, even those "considered" to be "least."

2. Many claim that the church can never find unity, because the church is composed of people, from all different backgrounds. It's interesting to note, that what man considers to be the "cause" of division, God considers to be "incentive" for unity. Our individual differences are an incentive to strive for unity. In order for the church to succeed and survive, it needs to be composed of people with various talents, abilities and personalities. The church needs people from different backgrounds.

It needs those skilled in music, public speaking, hospitality, compassion, confrontation, child-rearing, relationships, counselling, finance, organization, encouragement, etc...

3. We can never afford to develop an attitude towards our brethren, that in affect says, 'we don't need..that family, member or couple..or..who cares if they leave or fall away.'

1 Corinthians 12:25 indicates that. healthy body realizes that the survival of the body is DEPENDENT upon the survival of the members. And my spiritual health will in some measure be affected by your spiritual health. (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 6:1)

4. 'One member suffers with it'-Someone might say, 'Why should I..why should. invest my emotions in the troubles of another member.' The truth is, the troubles of others will affect us (they do already!) regardless of our willingness to get involved. Unfaithfulness in. member, will affect the rest of the body. Members will pray, they will worry, some will get frustrated, some will agonize, others will get angry.

ONCE MORE-DIVERSITY IN THE BODY: