Chicago UBF Membership Class Class #3: Christ as Lord Part II (Community Life) “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:15-16

Who am I?

Christian Faith is a Personal Relationship with God “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13

The Christian Community- a family of faith

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-13:13 Key verse: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

The Body of Christ “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Spiritual DNA: the Holy Spirit in us

Members of the Body of Christ “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

Christian faith in the world

World Christian Denominations

Christian faith in the USA

Protestantism in the USA

Co-working with and learning from other Christians

All Members of the Body are Equally Important “…that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:25b-26

Christ is the head of the body “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:18 “They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” Colossians 2:9

Cultural Differences: West and East x The Leader: What’s most important: Dealing with problems: An angry person:

Christ over culture “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galations 3:28 The spread of Christianity by 400 AD:

The body of Christ “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

Gifts and Functions in the Body “And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28 “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”Romans 12:4-8

Determine & Use Your Gifts What are your spiritual gifts? How can you use them to help the church and glorify God?

Desire the Best Gifts and Practice them with LOVE “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1 “And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31

The Greatest Commandment “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Growing to be Mature in Christ through the Church “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:15-16

Gift of tongues and speaking “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1

Other Amazing Gifts… “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” v3-4

What is love? “Love is patient, love is kind…” 1 Corinthians 13:4a Patience = “long-suffering” “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” Exodus 34:6-7

What love is not “It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:4b-6

Loving our leaders “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7 “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” Hebrews 13:17

Practically loving each other… “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”Galations 6:2 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

The Greatest of These is Love “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.1 Corinthians 13:7 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Chicago UBF

The body of Christ “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27