Beyond the Weekend

August 22 | The Church As A Body

August 22, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Listen: 
1 Corinthians 12

TODAY’S MESSAGE

The Apostle Paul shares the message of Jesus in the flourishing city of Corinth and spends 18 months helping the new church grow. Paul moves to another town and later hears the church in Corinth is in crisis. He writes the letter of 1 Corinthians to address their deep divisions. Corinth is a city of incredible opportunity and people migrate there to make something of their lives. Sadly, the church looks no different than the surrounding culture—the church fractures over status, family heritage and wealth. Spiritual gifts have become one more way to decide who’s valuable and important—and who’s not.

While Paul writes this letter to a church 2,000 years ago, we see the same crisis today. Our culture values people based on education standards, neighborhood quality, income level and abilities. These standards can easily slip into the church and shape how we value and treat each other. Paul’s words to the Corinthian church apply to us today. We are a body made of many members. We come from various backgrounds and gifts. Yet in Jesus Christ, we are made one through his Holy Spirit.

This week, we’ll see there’s a huge difference between attending a church and belonging to a church body. We’ll see how the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to build up the body, and how inferiority and superiority threaten the body. God places each member exactly where he desires with the purpose of loving, serving and helping the church body grow. Our unity deepens as we learn to see and value each other as Jesus does. We can encourage each other in the work God has given us. Together, we can help the church body grow stronger.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Ask God to reveal any areas where you don’t value others in his body the way he desires. Confess anything he shows you and ask for help to grow more like him. “Father, please show me any areas where I’ve allowed the culture to seep into how I value people. I desire to see and love others as you do. Help me play my role in your body and value every part for your honor. Amen.”


2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE

Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.

PROVERBS 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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