GateWay Church of Visalia
ONE
One December 28 & 31, 2023 Ephesians 2:16, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
Ephesians 2:16 NASB
16 …and that He might reconcile them both in ONE BODY to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
16 …and that He might reconcile them both in ONE BODY to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
“Both” being the Jews and the Gentiles
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NASB
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Regardless of where you come from or what you’ve done, if you are in Christ, you have been united with the ONE BODY of Christ that needs your giftings.
1 Corinthians 12:14-19 NASB
14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
We need each other because we all fill a unique role because of how God has uniquely gifted us.
1 Corinthians 12:20-21 NASB
20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
There is a necessity for unity and humility amongst the ONE BODY, for how can we thrive as a body when the head is always at war with the heart, or when the hand is always in disagreement with the feet?
1 Corinthians 12:22-24a NASB
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24a whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24a whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.
It is easy to see certain giftings with much more value than others, but without the “weaker” gifts, the “stronger” gifts often have no place to stand.
1 Corinthians 12:24b- NASB
24b But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
24b But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Little things often distract us from unrelenting unity. We are called to such unity that one’s pain is our pain, and one’s joy is our joy.
How can we begin to live as ONE BODY united in Christ?
#1) God has gifted us with three things: (John 3:16, 1 Cor. 12:4-6, 1 Cor. 12:12-13)
Salvation, Giftings, and The Body of Christ.
They are called gifts for a reason, so don’t forget to honor the gift giver.
They are called gifts for a reason, so don’t forget to honor the gift giver.
#2) Gifts (1 Cor. 12:4) vs. Talents:
Gifts are natural abilities that God has gifted you.
Don’t limit these to technical abilities.
Talents are skills that you’ve developed over time through practice and effort.
You can be gifted in leading worship, but you need to work on your
talent of musicianship.
Don’t limit these to technical abilities.
Talents are skills that you’ve developed over time through practice and effort.
You can be gifted in leading worship, but you need to work on your
talent of musicianship.
#3) Find Your Place. (1 Cor. 12:14-19)
What would the Church look like today if every member of the body used their God given gifts to serve the rest of the body?
What are your gifts and how can they serve the body of Christ?
Are you… artsy, a builder, generous, a good listener, a good leader,
abundantly kind, etc.?
What are your gifts and how can they serve the body of Christ?
Are you… artsy, a builder, generous, a good listener, a good leader,
abundantly kind, etc.?
#4) Seek Unrelenting Unity. (1 Cor. 12:24-27)
How would the Church change if we had such unity that we suffered together, rejoiced together, and forgot what division looked like?
Make it a goal this year to find someone in the church that you’ve had issues with before, and love and pray for them so much that any issues you’ve had fade like vapor in the wind.
Make it a goal this year to find someone in the church that you’ve had issues with before, and love and pray for them so much that any issues you’ve had fade like vapor in the wind.
“Though many parts, we are ONE BODY united by ONE GOD”
ONE
Discussion Questions
December 28th & 31st, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Take 15-20 minutes to share how you have seen God’s goodness in your life lately, how God has been using you lately, and some prayer requests. (Pray for one another.)
God has given you gifts just as He desired, so it’s not a matter of whether He has gifted you or not. How do you believe God has gifted you? Do others see any different gifts you may have (This is the time to ask each other if they see gifts in you that you don’t see)? What are you going to do or what can you do ,starting right now, to embrace and use the gift(s) God has given you?
Each member of the body is meant to exemplify, build up, and encourage the others in their own unique ways. How can you use your gift(s) to build up other members in the body of Christ?
Looking at the imagery of the human body that Paul uses, how are the different parts of the body essential? What would it be like to have a church where everyone was the exact same and had the exact same giftings?
Paul also expresses how unified we, as the body, ought to be. There should be no division and when one rejoices we all rejoice and when one suffers we all suffer. How have you experienced this in the past? How can we work and grow to experience this more in the future?
If you haven’t prayed for one another yet, this is where you stop and pray! Allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify you, as we seek to exemplify what is means to be ONE BODY united by ONE GOD.
Discussion Questions
December 28th & 31st, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Take 15-20 minutes to share how you have seen God’s goodness in your life lately, how God has been using you lately, and some prayer requests. (Pray for one another.)
God has given you gifts just as He desired, so it’s not a matter of whether He has gifted you or not. How do you believe God has gifted you? Do others see any different gifts you may have (This is the time to ask each other if they see gifts in you that you don’t see)? What are you going to do or what can you do ,starting right now, to embrace and use the gift(s) God has given you?
Each member of the body is meant to exemplify, build up, and encourage the others in their own unique ways. How can you use your gift(s) to build up other members in the body of Christ?
Looking at the imagery of the human body that Paul uses, how are the different parts of the body essential? What would it be like to have a church where everyone was the exact same and had the exact same giftings?
Paul also expresses how unified we, as the body, ought to be. There should be no division and when one rejoices we all rejoice and when one suffers we all suffer. How have you experienced this in the past? How can we work and grow to experience this more in the future?
If you haven’t prayed for one another yet, this is where you stop and pray! Allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify you, as we seek to exemplify what is means to be ONE BODY united by ONE GOD.