THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE GOSPEL

“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:27.

If you have attended Northstar for any amount of time, you know that we believe the church is not a place, a building, or a program. The church is people. We are the church. And as the body of Christ, we all have an important role to play in God’s plan. We are called to be the light in the darkness and the salt of the earth, love our neighbor, proclaim the gospel and serve others: in other words to be Christlike.   

Pretty big task, so big that sometimes we get comfortable sitting on the sidelines instead of jumping into action and show others that being a Christian is better than not being a Christian and that a life lived for Jesus is a better life.

Think of it this way. You work for a Fortune 500 company that has values, policies, and practices that must be adhered to because you are a reflection of that company. People will judge the company’s values and reputation on what they see in you. The company image could be tarnished if you are a customer facing and a poor representative for the company.

When you become a Christian, you are of Christ, part of the body of Christ, and now part of the kingdom of God. When you are out and about in this world, you need to be a good representation of that. Fortunately, we have an example. He started it all. If we follow Jesus, we must do what He did. How do we know what He did? Fortunately, everything you need to know is found in the Bible. “When a person becomes a Christian, he doesn’t just join a local church because it’s a good habit for growing in spiritual maturity. He joins a local church because it’s the expression of what Christ has made him—a member of the body of Christ” (Mark Devers).

We are all in this together. We need to care for and love one another, put others above ourselves, value others, and remember to have our eyes fixed on the prize. We need to live with God in mind and remember that as members of the body of Christ, we all have a role to play no matter how big or how small that role may be. Each person in the body is essential. We all have to work together to support one another, helping each other out, and making sure that we are all part of the church. We are all leading as an example.

When someone asks, “Why are you so different? “Why does your life always seem to be put together? Why are you always so happy? Why do you always have a smile on your face? “I feel like my life is falling apart. You say, “Hey, the answer is simple, Jesus.”   

Remember, that you are part of the church of the body of Christ. You need to be a good representation of that church. Remember that the church is not a place; the church is people.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the image of a body help us understand the relationship between individual Christians and the church?
   
2. How does the diversity of parts in a human body reflect the diversity of gifts and roles within the church?