Romans 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (ESV)
- Our Relationship to the Church
The Church is the ‘called out assembly’ and is all about:
a. An intelligent relationship (v 3).
We need to think of ourselves not too highly or too lowly. Our assessment about ourselves should be intelligent and fair. God desires us to rejoice in the work that He is doing in and through us. We have to remember that it is not only us through whom the Lord is working, but other Believers as well.
b. An intimate relationship (v 5).
Like in a human body, the members of Christ are connected and must work together, guided by the Head of the body. When any member in the Church suffers, it is the whole body’s problem. The ministry of the local Church is powerful and effective. - Our Responsibility in the Church
With responsibility comes accountability.
There are two categories of spiritual gifts in the Church:
a. Speaking (exposition)
(i) Preaching
The inspiration of truth – the gift of prophesying – not merely the foretelling of future events, but a forth telling of God’s mind more than predictive things. The prophetic gift illuminates the Word of God to our minds and gives us a living Word for the here and now.
(ii) Teaching
While preaching speaks to the heart, teaching speaks to the mind. The Church also needs excellence in teaching.
b. Serving (extension)
Where our word Deacon come from – to serve as an usher, park cars, man the book room, being a treasurer, involved with care, etc…
We must serve with gifts of:
(i) Giving
(ii) Guiding
(iii) Going
Not all are Pastors or Deacons, but all Church members have a ministry
(1 Cor. 12:14-22).
God is the designer of the body. He gave precisely the gifts that He knew we need. We just need to begin to function.
The Church is not merely an organization, it’s an organism – a living dynamic body of Believers in Jesus Christ who’ve entered into a covenant relationship and are responsible to God and one another.
May God help us to be the kind of Church that is consecrated to Him and committed to one another, calling to the world to look to Jesus and be saved.