One Body - Many Members

Romans 12:3-5 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Here are the notes I took from the sermon at my home church last Sunday. Text was Romans 12:1-12

We are all called and empowered by God to be a part in His mission field.

Look around you - There are many of us here. In Christ, we form one body, one group having differing gifts. We show who God is in differing ways. Use whatever gift you have received to help others. A good example of this is team sports. Each player on the team has a position to play - not every player on the football team is a quarterback. Each person must play his part and work together as a group.

God fills us with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation ( conversion ). 

What is the Priesthood of all believers?

In Bible times the temple was the dwelling place of God. People worshipped God either in the temple or turned themselves toward the temple in order to worship. The most holy place of the temple was the "Holy of Holies" and only the High Priest was allowed to enter this place and that only once a year.

The temple was divided into four parts.

1) the outer court was the Court of the Gentiles - anyone could come into this court to worship God.

2) Next was the Court of the Jews - only Jews were allowed to enter here.

3) Next was the Court reserved for priests only.

4) The Holy of Holies - only the High Priest could enter here.

The people had to bring their offering to the Priest, the Priest stood between the people and God.

This all changed when Jesus died on the cross. At the moment Jesus died the curtain surrounding the Holy of Holies was torn in two from the top to the bottom. We no longer need a Priest to intercede for us to God. Now we are all priest to God. Each of us can come boldly to the throne of grace now.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We are all called into the ministry. We bring God's message to the people and the people to God. We have access into God's presence.

How does this influence our church? - We are all called. Leadership is called from within the church. Our ministries belong to all of us.

1)  Community - get involved, pray

2)  Ministry happens everywhere - not just inside the church. You are a minister for God where ever you go - job, church, restaurant, arena, school, with friends, etc

3) Prayer - We need to be a people of prayer