The Church: The Body of ChristSample

The New Testament is filled with metaphors that help us understand how God relates to us and how we should relate to one another. Last week, we looked at the metaphor of family: The church is like the family of God, uniting all believers and helping one another grow to be more like Jesus. This week, we’re unpacking a different metaphor for the church: The church is Christ’s body. The brilliance of the body metaphor is that it brings together two seemingly opposite ideas: unity and diversity.

The church as a whole functions together to do the physical work of helping, serving, and sharing the teachings of Jesus with the world. We as a church body unite to do the work of compassion, justice, and restoration.

But we fulfill that united purpose in diverse, unique ways! Think of how the body is made up of many different parts, all with different functions and roles. The body of believers is the same way: We all have different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities, and by God’s design, we cooperate to build each other up and live out our calling as the people of God.

Read: Ephesians 4:11-16

Reflection Questions:

• How does the body metaphor explain how unity and diversity come together in the church?
• Have you seen churches work as a body in the ways the Bible describes? What have they done well?
• Do you know what role you play in the body of Christ? Ask God to show you how you can use your unique experiences, strengths, and personality to build up your local church. If you have no idea where to start, ask a friend or mentor to help you figure out your strengths and a way to use them to serve others.