Part of the Whole
January 19, 2020      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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1 Corinthians 12:12, 14, 18, 22, 27 (NIV)
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Romans 12:4-8 (NIV)
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 4:11-13, 16 (NIV)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Short circuits & Cul-de-sacs
1) You don’t know / believe
    Comparison = fear / insecurity
    Isolation = pride / independence
2) Responsibility shifted to “professionals” and/or the “spiritual leaders”
3) Lack of devotion to doing good works (Titus 3:14)

Titus 3:14 (NIV)
14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

“Let them see Your good works that they may see the power of God’s grace in you, and may thank Him... and give Him glory... who has given such power to men”.
- Matthew Henry