Live Connected: You Have a Part to Play!Sample

One Body, Many Parts

In Romans 12:3-8, we uncover a powerful message about the body of Christ and the unique gifts that God has given each of us. Imagine a perfectly running car, with all its parts working harmoniously to get you where you need to go. Just like a car, the body of Christ needs each member to function properly, utilizing their God-given gifts to serve others and advance the Gospel. As we look at this passage, I hope you can discover how to use your gifts to be an effective member of the body of Christ. We will be looking at seven gifts in particular.

A car can experience problems if one part isn’t functioning properly. Even the smallest part can have a big impact on the overall functioning of the car. In the same way, we are called to be active participants in the work of the gospel, using our gifts to serve and minister to others. When we fail to use our gifts or work together effectively, we hinder the spread of the gospel and the work of the body of Christ. But when we unite, each of us using our gifts to serve and minister to others, we can accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God. The body of Christ needs us to use our gifts to their fullest potential.

Consider the gifts that God has given you. Are you a faithful steward of the gifts that God has entrusted to you? Are you using them to serve others and advance the gospel, or are you holding back out of fear or selfishness? Are you working in unity with others in the body of Christ, or are you causing disunity and hindering the work of the gospel? Are you valuing your fellow believers’ unique gifts and perspectives or dismissing them as unimportant or inferior?

These are tough questions to grapple with, but they are essential if we want to be effective members of the body of Christ. So, let us not shy away from self-reflection and examination. Instead, let us humbly seek the Lord and ask Him to show us how to use our gifts to serve others and advance His kingdom. May we also seek to build up and encourage our fellow believers, valuing their unique contributions to the body of Christ and working together in unity to accomplish His purposes.