ONE BODY IN CHRIST

Text: Romans 12
9 January 2011

(I) DANGERS THAT THREATEN ONENESS

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

1. Danger of thinking too highly of ourselves

2. Danger of self-assertion

3. Danger of despising people

4. Danger of haughtiness

5. Danger of exclusion

6. Danger of conflict

(II) UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING DIVERSITY

“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,So we, being many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” Romans 12:4-5

1. Many members

2. Members having different function

3. Individually members one of another

(III) DIVERSITY OF GRACE GIFTS

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion of our faith;Or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;He who exhorts in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:6-8

1. A short list of gifts

a) Prophecy

b) Ministry

c) Teaching

d) Exhorting

e) Giving

f) Leading

g) Showing mercy

2. Application of Gifts

a) Each gift is different

b) Each gift is given out of the grace of God

c) Each gift is to be deployed in its individual capacity

(IV) GOAL TO BE BORNE IN MIND

1. Oneness of the Body of Christ

2. All gifts must serve to promote Oneness in Christ