Month: August 2019

There is an indelible and universal truth as it pertains to the church. We need each other. In fact, the Bible is adamantly clear that without the contribution of each member, the church does not properly function. Thus is the substance of Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 12. The church in Corinth struggled with supremacy. There were those who possessed the most coveted and thereby most respected spiritual gifts, and to those they bestowed greater honor. Within the church, they were considered the most important. To dispel such a divisive notion and to promote unity, Paul makes some assertions. Notice what he says in 1 Corinthians 12:19-22, “And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

 Why? Because truthfully, if we all possessed the same talents, the same abilities, the same strengths and even weaknesses; where would the body be? The answer is simple. It would be lacking what you can contribute whether great or small. You see brethren, the truth of the matter remains indelible. We need each other. Therefore, let us conclude that although you may not be able to do what others can; there is no gift given by God that is not both useful and beneficial to the growth and vitality of this congregation. So, by all means, contribute!

Jeremy Tucker 
from Bulletin Digest

Christians are being transformed into Christ’s likeness (2 Cor. 3:18). God is trying to press His people into a Christ-shaped mold. But this transformation isn’t an easy process, partly because the world is trying to press us into its own mold. In order to be transformed into the image of Christ we must resist being conformed to this world. Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2, NASB).

How is this transformation possible? Where does this transformation begin? This transformation is possible only if it begins in the heart. Paul says that we are transformed by the renewal of our minds. This transformation is an inside-out transformation. Too often we focus on changing our actions, instead of our attitudes. That’s exactly what many of the Pharisees did. They were overly concerned with externals while their hearts were deteriorating. Since they focused solely on external righteousness to the neglect of their hearts, they became like cups that are clean on the outside but filthy inside. They were like pretty caskets full of dead people’s bones. They looked good on the outside, but their hearts were hollow (Matt. 23:25-28).

When Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi, he realized that their problems with regard to unity were merely symptoms of a deeper problem. Paul addresses the real problem when he offers the following solution to them: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5, NKJV). Transformation begins in the mind and then extends to our mannerisms. It begins in the heart and then extends to our habits. It begins in our attitudes and then extends to our actions.

From Bulletin Digest