You often see on our church sign and regularly in our bulletin the expression: "A Place to Begin; A Place to Belong." Our mission is to help people begin their new life in Christ, but we can't stop there. We must go on to provide a place where there is a sense of belonging.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul was answering the church's questions about spiritual gifts. In giving these answers he established the fundamental truth that gifts are not exercised in a vacuum. They operate in the context of a Body, the Body of Christ. The passage contains four principles of life in the Body of Christ that create a feeling of belonging.
#1 You become a part of something great in the Body of Christ, vv. 12-13
#2 You are all vitally important in the Body of Christ, vv. 14-24a
#3 You mutually care for one another in the Body of Christ, vv. 24b-26
#4 You are placed in the Body of Christ to accomplish God's purposes, vv. 27-31
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Belonging... We need to know it. We need to show it.
