CHURCH - You are the church

1 Corinthians 12:12-14a | The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ [the church]. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

1. What makes someone part of the church or the body of Christ?  
2. How does someone receive the Holy Spirit? 

1 Corinthians 12:14b-18 | Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

3. Which parts of the body of Christ are important? 
4. Is any one person in the body of Christ more or less important than another person? Why or why not?
5. Who decides which part of the body you are — or what gifts you have and the role you play in the church?

1 Corinthians 12:19-27 | How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

6. What gifts, talents, and abilities has God given you? 
7. We should use our gifts to serve God and others. How are you serving God/others by serving the body of Christ (the church)? How are you serving God/others as the body of Christ (outside of the church)?