How Does God Bring About Personal Transformation in the Local Church? (Part 1)
The American Church is in trouble. By almost every indicator the vast majority of churches are dying. While congregations blame
pastors and pastors look for new programs, God waits for their return to Him. When we come to the place where we understand that
the local church is a body – totally and completely dependent upon the Head, Jesus Christ – much begins to change.
THE CHURCH IS A BODY
When we reconnect with the head, the body begins to live again. That life is found in being the body of Jesus Christ.
Paul tells us about the nature of the local church, of which each follower of Jesus is a member.
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to
drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NKJV)
Selfishness and self-centeredness, called individuality in the United States, is the death-blow to God’s Kingdom work. Learning the
lessons of this passage helps us rediscover God’s design and our place in this life on Earth as a disciple of Jesus.
• The church is a body – the body of Christ. Many are surprised to learn that they are a part of a much bigger organism, Jesus’
body. While the church is often looked at as an institution or even a social club, the fact is that it lives and breathes. As a body it works
in combination with the millions of other parts to accomplish and carry out the will of the head, Jesus Christ!
• The church is made up of many members. Like cells in a body, the church consists of many pieces or parts. You and I are some
of those pieces. Every piece is vital to the body – think of living without your thumb or heart! As you contemplate these truths, think of
the importance you have to every other person within the local body.
• The church of many members is a unity. While there are so many of us, we are all vital. So many times our selfishness says
things like, “They will never miss me.” How foolish! We miss every individual that doesn’t stay close to the local body of Jesus. While
the church may not run after a missing person, it is sure they feel the loss. There is a lack of ease – a dis-ease – within the
congregation when people are missing. Just as our physical bodies struggle when sick, yet we do not know the cause, so our local
body of Jesus is hampered when all of its members do not work together for its growth and health!
• The church is a spiritual body. The primary purpose of the body of Jesus in our community is to bring health and healing to the
souls of all people there. We are to bring the Good News of Jesus’ sacrifice so that souls can be atoned for and converted to life from
death. We are to nourish those souls, once alive, so they grow into and transform to become more Christ-like. Finally we are to work
together to accomplish the heart and will of Jesus as a team, a unit, His body. We are His hands and feet, to touch and take the
unfailing love of God to every person we meet in our community!
This magnificent body of Jesus Christ is His physical representation on Earth! We – you and your brothers and sisters in your faith
community – are the living breathing body of Jesus. This is the only Jesus the unredeemed will ever see, until they come to faith and
stand in front of Him one day for all eternity. We can bring the passionate compassion and mercy to those around us - when we work
together!
© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.
The American Church is in trouble. By almost every indicator the vast majority of churches are dying. While congregations blame
pastors and pastors look for new programs, God waits for their return to Him. When we come to the place where we understand that
the local church is a body – totally and completely dependent upon the Head, Jesus Christ – much begins to change.
THE CHURCH IS A BODY
When we reconnect with the head, the body begins to live again. That life is found in being the body of Jesus Christ.
Paul tells us about the nature of the local church, of which each follower of Jesus is a member.
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to
drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NKJV)
Selfishness and self-centeredness, called individuality in the United States, is the death-blow to God’s Kingdom work. Learning the
lessons of this passage helps us rediscover God’s design and our place in this life on Earth as a disciple of Jesus.
• The church is a body – the body of Christ. Many are surprised to learn that they are a part of a much bigger organism, Jesus’
body. While the church is often looked at as an institution or even a social club, the fact is that it lives and breathes. As a body it works
in combination with the millions of other parts to accomplish and carry out the will of the head, Jesus Christ!
• The church is made up of many members. Like cells in a body, the church consists of many pieces or parts. You and I are some
of those pieces. Every piece is vital to the body – think of living without your thumb or heart! As you contemplate these truths, think of
the importance you have to every other person within the local body.
• The church of many members is a unity. While there are so many of us, we are all vital. So many times our selfishness says
things like, “They will never miss me.” How foolish! We miss every individual that doesn’t stay close to the local body of Jesus. While
the church may not run after a missing person, it is sure they feel the loss. There is a lack of ease – a dis-ease – within the
congregation when people are missing. Just as our physical bodies struggle when sick, yet we do not know the cause, so our local
body of Jesus is hampered when all of its members do not work together for its growth and health!
• The church is a spiritual body. The primary purpose of the body of Jesus in our community is to bring health and healing to the
souls of all people there. We are to bring the Good News of Jesus’ sacrifice so that souls can be atoned for and converted to life from
death. We are to nourish those souls, once alive, so they grow into and transform to become more Christ-like. Finally we are to work
together to accomplish the heart and will of Jesus as a team, a unit, His body. We are His hands and feet, to touch and take the
unfailing love of God to every person we meet in our community!
This magnificent body of Jesus Christ is His physical representation on Earth! We – you and your brothers and sisters in your faith
community – are the living breathing body of Jesus. This is the only Jesus the unredeemed will ever see, until they come to faith and
stand in front of Him one day for all eternity. We can bring the passionate compassion and mercy to those around us - when we work
together!
© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.
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