The Church: The Body of Christ

 

      This Sunday, October 8, is the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

      Verse of the Stewardship Season:

            Psalm 23:4

      This week’s sermon is: Tenants

      This week's readings are :

            Isaiah 5:1-7

            Psalm 80:7-19

            Phil. 3:4b-14

            Matt. 21:33-46

 

Message: The Church – The Body of Christ

The Church is the Body of Christ

               1 Corinthians 12 - For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. … ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. 

               Ephesians 3:6, 4:12 -  ⁶ The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. … ¹¹ And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

               Colossians 3:15 - ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

One obvious implication of this reality is that the Church is subject to Jesus.

               1 Corinthians 2:16 – We have the mind of Christ.

               Word of God

Less obvious implications:

               The Church is imperishable.

               The Church is necessary for salvation.

               The Church grows.

                              Organization or Organism?

                              Ephesians 4:13 – Maturity

                              Filled with everlasting life.

               The Church is obliged to be at peace.

                              Congregationally

                              Universally

The Essence of the Church begins and ends with Jesus.

               We are not a club – the sum of our parts.

               We are one total body.

               Sacramental Reality

                              Baptism – Born again by water and the Spirit.

                              Lord’s Supper – Fed on the body and blood of Christ – his life flows in our veins.

Time and Eternity