Advent: We Are the Body

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

In the Bible we read of the church as different things, one is the bride, another is the body. We are all part of one body; the body of Jesus Christ.  The body is the church.

We all have special abilities given to us by the Holy Spirit and we are all just as important as anyone else.  The minister preaches the word of God, and the Janitor cleans the church building, some people are good at music, some at fixing things.  Some of us are good at speaking, others are better at writing.  Some are good at listening, others are good at doing.   We all have a part to play in the body as we use our talents for God’s glory and for each others benefit.

Q. What special abilities do you have/ What are you good at?

Jesus Christ is the Head of the body.  The church is his body.  If Jesus is your Lord and saviour, you are part of the body. Without  you in the church there would be an important part missing! Every person, whether a child or an adult, can be a blessing to the other parts by shining with the light of Jesus and letting the fruit of the Spirit show in their lives .

As you grow, God will show you the special jobs He wants you to do in the body. He has given you spiritual gifts to help you do your part well. Whether you are a hand a foot or a nose!

Q. What ways do you think you can help right now?

Sing: Hymn 52: The Churches One Foundation.

(See video below for the tune. I stumbled across this video from Pastor Jim Witteveen our missionary in PG…Yes that is Pastor Theo Lodder on the piano.)

Prayer: Ask each person for prayer requests.  If someone cannot think of one ask them how they can help serve in the body of Christ and pray about that in your prayer.

Ideas to add to your prayer:

• Praise God for goodness; praise him for His love, and mercy and for giving us the Holy Spirit.
• Confess that we are sinful people, confess that we are not always the salt and light we are called to be in the world; in the church we do not always use our gifts and abilities to build up the church and to God’s glory.
• Thank God for the forgiveness of these sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
• Thank God for sending the Holy Spirit to work faith in us, and helping us develop our talents and abilities, and for causing us to be salt, and cause us to shine with his light, and to grow the fruit of  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
• Ask God help us develop our abilities and for opportunities to use them in the body of Christ;