1. KANAAN MINISTRIES THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS Contact details:
27 John Vorster St
Plattekloof EXT. 1
7500
Tel : (021)
Fax: (021)
Presented by Amanda Buys

2. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Eph. 4:16
16 For because of Him the whole body (the
church, in all its various parts), closely joined
and firmly knit together by the joints and
ligaments with which it is supplied, when each
part [with power adapted to its need] is working
properly [in all its functions], grows to full
maturity, building itself up in love.

3. 1 Pet. 4:10-11
10 As each of you has received a gift (a particular
spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment),
employ it for one another as [befits] good
trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful
stewards of the extremely diverse powers and
gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].
11 Whoever speaks, [let him do it as one who
utters] oracles of God; whoever renders service,
[let him do it] as with the strength which God
furnishes abundantly, so that in all things God
may be glorified through Jesus Christ (the
Messiah). To Him be the glory and dominion
forever and ever (through endless ages). Amen

4. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST
PLAYS IN GROWTH
God does not give us His Grace through
supernatural zapping!
God shows His grace through His people.
Sometimes people teach that we don’t need
other people at all, that Christ alone is
sufficient or that His Word or prayer is
enough. They actively and directly lead
others to not depend on people at all.
But the Bible teaches that all these things are part of the
process of how people grow, including other people.

5. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Connection
People’s most basic need in life is relationship. People
connected to other people thrive and grow, and those not
connected wither and die. It is a medical fact, for
example, that from infancy to old age, health depends on
the amount of social connection people have.
The New Testament teaches us that the Body of Christ is
a place where people are deeply connected to each
other, supporting each other and filling each other’s
hearts. This connection also impacts people who are in
recovery from addiction or compulsive behaviour.

6. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
When people are cut off from others and
their souls are starved for connectedness,
the need for love turns into an
insatiable hunger for something
(sex / food / drugs / alcohol).
Ironically, one problem we often see in
the Christian community is that people
get more into religion and less into the
connectedness that the Bible prescribes.

7. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Col. 2:19
19 And not holding fast to the Head, from
Whom the entire body, supplied and knit
together by means of its joints and
ligaments, grows with a growth that is
from God.
We need to see connectedness as the
foundation of how people grow.

8. Discipline and Structure
“Self-discipline” is always a fruit of
“other-discipline”.
Heb. 12:11
11 For the time being no discipline
brings joy, but seems grievous and
painful; but afterwards it yields a
peaceable fruit of righteousness to those
who have been trained by it [a harvest of
fruit which consists in righteousness—in
conformity to God’s will in purpose,
thought, and action, resulting in right
living and right standing with God].

9. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Accountability
Find an accountability partner.
The Body of Christ is the disciplinary agent.
Matt. 18:15-16
15 If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

10. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Grace and Forgiveness
Many Christians do the vertical confession of 1John
1:9, when they confess to God, but not to others.
Grace can be available to us, but we might not be
available to grace. We can be around a lot of
acceptance and grace, but until the hurt and guilty
places of our hearts are exposed, we do not
experience grace, and the gap between our head and
our heart continues.

11. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Grace and Forgiveness
God’s uses other people to dispense His grace.
God made us stewards over the administration of His
grace.
While the head works with “information gathering”,
The heart works with “experience gathering”.
To connect with God’s love, we not only
need people, but also need our hearts to
be available to those people.

12. 2 Cor. 6:11 – 13
11 Our mouth is open to
you, Corinthians [we are
hiding nothing, keeping
nothing back], and our
heart is expanded wide
[for you]!
12 There is no lack of
room for you in [our
hearts], but you lack
room in your own
affections [for us].
13 By way of return then,
do this for me—I speak
as to children — open
wide your hearts also
[to us].

13. Support and Strengthening
When we support something, we hold it up.
Support is required throughout the growth
process.
1 Thess. 5:14
14 And we earnestly beseech you, brethren,
admonish (warn and seriously advise) those
who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly,
and the unruly]; encourage the timid and
fainthearted, help and give your support to the
weak souls, [and] be very patient with
everybody [always keeping your temper].

14. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Many people, however, find themselves cut off from the
church and the healing and protective functions it
provides. In their isolation – or at least the isolated
growth plan they are using – they are easy prey for the
gates of hell to overpower them.
The Body of Christ heals itself just as a physical body
does. The antibodies against infection come in the form
of discipline and structure as individuals, who
confronted in love, help the person stand against the
“infections” of sin in their life. They put boundaries and
limits up against the evil.

15. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
Grace and love bring healing anti-inflammatory agents
to the wound. They mourn with those that mourn. They
bring teaching and truth to the wound and help it to
rebuild stronger cells through teaching gifts.
Many sincere spiritual people struggle for years with
problems they are trying to overcome by Bible study
and prayer. Those are necessary, but that is not all the
Bible tells us to bring to the situation.

16. THE ROLE THE BODY OF CHRIST PLAYS IN GROWTH
The rest of the Body with all of its healing
agents needs to be added and then the
limb can be restored to health.