In our text this week, 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul uses the human body as an analogy of what the church should be like. We often call the church “the body of Christ.” This analogy was common in the ancient world, and why not. Everyone has a human body and can relate to the scenarios presented about the body. 

Here are a couple of real obvious things about a body, both human and the church body. 1) it is comprised of many different parts, and yet, 2) those many different parts create a unity of the whole that forms the body. I told you they were obvious. The point is unity comes not from being all the same, but in our diversity. Sometimes in the church we encounter conflict or tension with people who are different from us, and we may secretly (or not so secretly) wish we didn’t have to be around them. In our text this Sunday we will see that God has sovereignly placed each of us, including those people we really don’t get along with, in the church for a purpose. Could it be that while God is using you in a ministry, he has placed another person alongside you to help you grow and mature, even through a struggle in the relationship. 

It is interesting that 1 Corinthians 12, this amazing chapter about serving in the church alongside other people who are different from us, is followed by 1 Corinthians 13. Right, I know 13 comes after 12 BUT, if you have been at a wedding in the 40 years you know what 1 Corinthians 13 is known as: The Love Chapter!  How are we to serve with other members of the church body? With love. Join me this Sunday as we unpack the Healthy Body Dynamics of ministry in the local church.