The Body of Christ

INTRO

I. CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY REQUIRES A PROPER ASSOCIATION (vv. 4-5).

A. The Analogy: The human body (v. 4).

1) We have many members in one body. UNITY

2) All the members do not have the same function. DIVERSITY

B. The Application: The body of Christ (v. 5-6a).

1) Though many, we are one body in Christ. UNITY

2) The many have differing gifts. DIVERSITY

II. THE UNITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.

A. The necessity of unity in the body.

B. The living reality of unity in the body.

C. The glory of unity in the body.

D. The kinds of unity in the body.

1) spiritual unity: of all believers in the invisible body of Christ.

2) practical unity: when there is love and caring and ministry for one another.

E. Disruptions in the unity of the body.

1) when some members of the body go AWOL.

2) when sin divides the body.

3) when we stop caring for one another.

F. The importance of striving for the unity of the body.

1) The only way that a body can maintain a practical unity is when we all “hold fast to the head”, Col. 2:19.

2) We need to make sure that we are not diseased or unhealthy

III. THE DIVERSITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. Next week.

CONCLUSION