13th Sep 26 | 04:00
Daily Study
Members of the body of Christ
Acts 15 - Series 2/Episode 11 - Fri, 17th Apr 2026 - Members of the body of Christ - _Acts 15:22-35_ - THE ANNOUNCEMENT - _I Corinthians 12:27_
Acts 15:25-27 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (26) men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (27) We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
It seemed good to the Jerusalem Council to send chosen men to the churches. This is a beautiful step in this journey.
It was understood from the very beginning of the church's formation that the apostles must dedicate themselves to the ministry of the word and to prayer. Acts 6:2-4 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. (3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; (4) but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
It was because the apostles spent time in prayer and the word that they were able to provide the right guidance at the Jerusalem Council. The dispute that brought about the Jerusalem Council was of deep significance for the entire church. Yet, once the verdict had been reached, it was others, among the leaders, who disseminated the decision and brought understanding to the churches.
The pillars of the early church were James, Cephas and John. Galatians 2:9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Their role was to facilitate oneness and bring about godly solutions.
Each of us in the church has different roles and functions. Though we have different functions, we are one body. Romans 12:4-8 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, (5) so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (6) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; (7) or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; (8) he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
We need each other in the church. All the parts of the body do not have the same function. It is therefore important for us to be aware of each other's functions, celebrate each other's functions, and support each other's functions. If we are hurt in one finger, we see how the other fingers do their best to cover up. Are we consciously facilitating this truth in the church? I Corinthians 12:14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
As we see how the Jerusalem Council decided to send chosen men to the churches to announce the decision of the Council, we see the functioning of roles in the body of Christ.
Consider what is happening in our churches today. We see how people squabble for positions, titles and roles in the church. Is this not shameful? I Corinthians 12:15-17 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
If any of you is caught up right now in this struggle, would you stop, ask the Lord's forgiveness and facilitate the others to fulfil their position in the church?
I Corinthians 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. It is the Lord who has set each one with different functions in the body. When we quarrel over positions in the church, we are questioning and resisting the Lord.
The seemingly weaker and not-so-obvious members of the body are necessary. I Corinthians 12:22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. God has made all of us in such a way that there is no schism in the body, but that we care for each other. I Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
We must always keep in mind the underlying foundation. We are one body. This truth must cause us to quickly resolve our conflicts. I Corinthians 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
We are members of one body, which is the body of Jesus Christ. We are each a member of the body of Christ. I Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
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