What Church Membership Means

Micaiah Irmler

I Corinthians 12:12-27 NKJV

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.  14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?  16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?  17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?  18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.  19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.  23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,  24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,  25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 

The Body’s Foundation vs. 12-14

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.  14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

Ephesians 2:20 NKJV having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Colossians 1:18 NKJV And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Ephesians 5:23 NKJV For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

The Foundation is .

The Forms Christ’s Family.

The Body’s Function vs. 15-24

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?  16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?  17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?  18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.  19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.  23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,  24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 

Different Gifts Same Goal. Not All Visible but All Valuable. What I am a part of is bigger than the part that I play.

Remember: You can’t fulfill your function outside the family of .

The Body’s Focus vs. 25-27

25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 

John 17:21-23 NKJV

21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Colossians 1:18 NKJV And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Remember: We are one in origin and one in objective.

Remember: Points of Don’t Need to Be Points of .

Committed to Membership - Knowing Christ. Committed to Maturity - Growing in Christ. Committed to Ministry - Serving Christ. Committed to Missions - Sharing Christ.

Quote: The church is to be the one place in the world where race culture and class are trampled on by grace. ~Allister Begg