Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1921-05-12

LESSON TEXT Cor. 12:4-N.
GOLDEN TEXT-Ye are the body OF
christ, and members in particular-I Cor
1921.
REFERENCE WATERFALL Kings s:
LIZ; Neh. 3:1-S2; 4:15-23
JUNIOR TOPIC-Hefping One Another.
T. INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| Team Work
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Cooperation 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 wv. 1920.
AS 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-
tuted one body ". 13). A 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 wv. Is, 16). 1t would be
as reasonable for the foot to complain
Of its lot and refuse to function as a
foot, as for one member of church
to envy the place of another. A deacon
who is such by the appointment of
God should not complain that he is
not minister. The church needs it's
foot-members, that is, those who are
swift to run on it's errands; it needs
it's eye-members, who are quick to
perceive opportunities for service; it
needs its ear-members, who are quick
to hear the call to duty; it 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 it's place by the SOW
ereign will of God ". 49,. If this
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 a teacher,
etc.
u. Tho Mutual Dependence Of the
Members Of the Body ". 21).
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, 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 OF
!, heard, yet without them the tongue
could not utter a sound.
= w. The Different Members Have
Been Adjusted by God wv. "a, 25).
: So perfectly has this been done tina
: if each performs its own function
y there will be harmony in the body. AL
g. 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
a other. BY considering Christ the heat
s and obeying Him all strife and divi
v sion in tho church will be elimin
!. ated.
o Related wv. 25-27).
v One member should have the sam
IS care for the other as for itself. TIL
e eye has the same concern for the foo
II as it has for itself; so the most elc
IS quent has the same solicitude for tn
S, humblest member as for itself. Thi
r. is true because the suffering Of til
4 one is the suffering Of the other; tn
honor of the one is the honor Of tn
other; the sorrow Of the one is tn
F sorrow of the other; the property {
the one is the property of the other
- the shame and disgrace Of the one
the shame and disgrace Of the othe
This is true because there is con
mon life which is derived from an
ID directed by its head, Jesus Chris
Of (Eph. 5::2s}.