Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal // Body of Christ - Part 1

Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal //

Body of Christ - Part 1

Pastor Charlie Weir

God has personally and specifically called you out of a dark place into a dawn place for a specific place in something bigger and better than you could have ever imagined.

Romans 1:28 (NIV) “28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

But for those who choose Christ…

God has personally called you out of a dark place into a dawn place for a specific place in something bigger and better than you could have ever imagined.

What is that something bigger & better?

The Body of Christ for the Mission of Christ! In the Body of Christ, we belong. In the mission of Christ, we have a purpose.

When you zoom out over the work and ministry of Jesus, this is what you see…

Established Leadership Base + Clear Mission Communicated + Supernatural Power Endowed + A Church Anointed + A World Brimming with Opportunities = Life More & Better than Imagined

The Church is The Body of Christ called, commissioned and empowered to lead, nurture and equip the people of Christ for the work of Christ in their current context.

The Body of Christ isn’t a metaphor for church it is the reality of the church.

Coca-Cola’ mission statement and stated purpose:

“to refresh the world in mind, body, and spirit, to inspire moments of optimism and happiness through our brands and actions, and to create value and make a difference. The Coca-Cola Company purpose remains clear: To refresh the world and make a difference. This purpose is uniquely us. It's why we exist, and it's needed now, more than ever.”

Body Proof

Romans 12:4,5 (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. 

Body Proof

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NIV) 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Body Proof

Ephesians 4:4-7 (NIV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Body Functionality

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Body Functionality

1 Corinthians 12:14-27 (NIV) 4 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Being a part of a Body is more than a coexistence, it means cooperating, concerning effort. The body concept is simple to grasp but takes intentionality and determination to embody. We have to overcome our individualistic and insecure tendencies.

Body Functionality

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Paul’s consolidated instructions for the Body of Christ

• Offer ourselves to the Lord as a living sacrifice

• Switch from conformity to transformity

• Be sober minded about yourself

• Be connected with one another

• Be concerned for one another

• Live in unity with one another through humility, gentleness, patience and love

God has personally called you out of a dark place into a dawn place for a specific place in something bigger and better than you could ever think or imagine.

5 Appointments of Christ for the Body

Ephesians 4:11-13 (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. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, 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.

9 Anointed Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the Body

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NIV) 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

7 God Pinpointed Gifts for the Body

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.

• Some Believers have 1 of the 5 gifts of Ephesians 4.

• All Believers can operate in the 9 gifts of 1 Corinthians 12.

• Each believer has one of the gifts in Romans 12.

God has personally called you out of a dark place into a dawn place for a specific place in something bigger than you could have ever imagined.

A church is a group up of individuals who embrace their role in the Body of Christ and use their gift with passion, skill and dependability.