Strengthening the Body

Job 39-40; 1 Corinthians 13-14 

“…Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church…When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church…everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.”

1 Corinthians 14:12, 26, 3

When we understand we are part of a body, our expression of spiritual gifts must strengthen the body and not just ourselves. The individualism of western culture is a lens through which many of us read Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts. At the expense of body participation, we are more concerned with the misuse of tongues than we are of the speaking gifts.

 If everyone has something to contribute when we come together in the body of Christ, why are paid staff the only ones we hear from?

We need the participation of the whole body for the church to be strengthened for service and mission.

“Lord God, thank you for the body of Christ, for your glory.”