1 Corinthians 12:12-14

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.

Question 1:

Paul describes the church as the body of Christ. Christ is the head and we, together, make up the body. What does this mean? It means two things.

We’re united as one by a common purpose.
We each, individually, play a vital role in accomplishing that purpose.

What is the common purpose we share as the church and what are some examples of how individuals play a unique role to accomplish that common purpose?

v. 15-26

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.

Question 2:

Paul says that no part of the body should think of itself as less valuable than another or excuse itself from performing the function it was uniquely designed for. He also says no part of the body should look down on or undervalue other parts of the body that aren’t like them.

Pick one way you contribute to the common purpose of New City and describe how valuable it is (don’t be falsely humble). Then pick someone else in the room and tell them what they contribute and let them know how valuable they are.

v. 27

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

Question 3:

On Sunday we introduced a new “Benediction” that really is a description of what it means to be the church together and what it means to be an individual part of it. Read it together out loud as a group and discuss how you will seek to live it out this week

We the church are a move of God and a family on mission to reach everyone with the good news of Jesus. We believe Jesus is better, the Bible is true, the church is a people, and the mission is worth it. We pursue His presence, commit to community, equip the saints, reach the lost, and multiply disciples together. So this week I will pursue Jesus daily through prayer and reading His Word. I will commit to Christian community, to being known, and to growing with other believers. I will repent when I fall short, knowing the Christ died for my sin. And I will share the good news of Jesus with the lost around me, wherever I go, until all have heard. Amen.