Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-05-12

LESSON TEXT Cor. l24-27.
GOLDEN TExT-Ye are the body of
shrist, and members in particular.-I Cor
12:27
REFERENCE WATERFALL Kings 5:
liz; Neh. 3I-S2; 4:l5-23.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Helping One Another.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
Team Work.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Incorporation or Competition.
This Scripture pictures the church,
the body of Christ, under the figure
of the human body. The topic Work
ing With Others can only have APP
plication to Christians working with
each other; for it is as members of
the body of Christ that this relation
ship and obligation are set forth. The
church is an organism, not merely an
organization. AS such it is:
!. One Body (yv 12-20).
As a body it has many members,
each with definite ministry or func-
ton. Many members are essential to
a body Or organism. SO it is with the
church. Each member has its own
gift and Office The proof of this one
ness is that by the sovereign act of the
Holy Spirit all believers are consti-
thted one body w. 49, multiplicity
of organisms does not make a body,
but multiplicity of members with
their separate functions. There is no
room for jealousy or discontentment
among them (vv 10, 16) 1t would be
as reasonable for the foot to complain
of its lot and refuse to function as
foot, as for one member of a church
to envy the place of another. A deacon
who is such by the appointment of
God should not complain that he is
not a minister. The church needs its
foot-members, that is, those who are
swift to run on its errands; it needs
its eye-members, who are quick to
perceive opportunities for service; 1t
needs it's ear-members, who are quick
to hear the call to duty !; 1t needs its
tongue-members, who can speak forth
the message of truth; it needs its
hand-members to perform it's many
deeds of kindness. Each member of
the church has its place by the SOW
ereign will of God ". 1S). If this
were realized there would be the most
efficient cooperation among the men,
bers of the church. The pastor would
faithfully do the work of pastor;
the minister, the work of minister,
the teacher, the work of teacher,
etc.
II. The Mutual Dependence of the
Members Of the Body ". Ply.
They must cooperate for the life
and service of the body. AS the foot
cannot dispense with the head, the
eye with the hand, etc, so in the
church. even the most highly gifted
are dependent upon those of the lower
order. Self-conceit and pride are as
much out of place on the part of the
highest in ability as of the lowest In
fact, a sober realization of this will do
away with selfish pride.
III. The Least Attractive Members
Are the Most Necessary wv. %, 23).
In the human body the heart is Of
more vital Importance than the
tongue. So in the church prayer is Of
much more Importance than the gift
Of eloquence. Many examples could
be given of those who wrestled with
God in the closet, doing more for the
cause of Christ than those who shone
forth most conspicuously in the public
eye. The lungs are never seen or
heard yet without them the tongue
could not utter a sound.
~. The Different Members Have
Been Adjusted by God wv. "a, 25).
So perfectly has this been done that
If each performs. its own function
there will be harmony in the body. All
schism in the church is due to failure
of one member to perform It's duty be-
cause of envy Of the position Of an
other. BY considering Christ the head
and obeying Him all strife and divi-
sion in the church will be elimin-
ated.
v. Members Are Sympatheticaliy
Related wv. 25-2).
One member should have the same
care for the other as for itself. The
eye has the same concern for the foot
as 1t has for itself; so the m0t elo-
quent has the same solicitude for the
humblest member as for itself. This
is true because the suffering Of the
one is the suffering of the other; the
honor of the one is the honor of the
other; the sorrow Of the one is the
sorrow of the other; the property of
the one is the property of the other;
the shame and disgrace Of the one is
the shame and disgrace of the other.
This is true because there is a COM
mon life which is derived from and
directed by its head, Jesus Christ
(Eph. 5:23).
Doing Things.
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