First Baptist Church of Louise
nov 30 hanging of the green

      • Psalm 95:6ESV

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  • Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria)

      • Isaiah 7:14ESV

      • Philippians 4:7ESV

      • Luke 2:10ESV

      • John 15:9ESV

  • The First Noel
  • Silent Night
  • We Three Kings (Kings Of Orient)
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Go Tell It On The Mountain

  • The Body: Christ’s People

    Sermon Title: The Body of Christ: Gifts, Functions, and Faithfulness

    Text: Romans 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 12:12–31; Ephesians 4:11–16 Series: Built to Last (Week 2) Theme: Every member of the church has a God-given role in the growth and health of the body. Big Idea: The Church is not built on one person’s gifts, but on every member doing their part under Christ, the Head.

    Introduction Idea:

    Use the imagery of a sports team or orchestra: if one part doesn’t show up or do its job, the whole performance or play suffers.
    Likewise, the Church thrives not when one person is strong, but when everyone contributes.
    Or share a light story about injuring a small body part (e.g., a toe or finger) and how it affected your whole day — showing how even the “unseen” parts matter deeply.

    One Body, Many Parts

    1 Corinthians 12:12–20
    1 Corinthians 12:12–20 CSB
    For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. Indeed, the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
    “For just as the body is one and has many members... so it is with Christ.”
    Unity in diversity: Each believer is part of something bigger than themselves.
    Baptized into one body: A spiritual work uniting all believers.
    No one is left out: "The foot" and "the ear" cannot say "I do not belong."
    God has Arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. v.18
    Application:
    Your value in the church does not come from your title or visibility but from your place in Christ’s body.
    Transition is not the time to step back — it’s the time to step in.

    No Part Is Insignificant

    (1 Corinthians 12:21–26
    1 Corinthians 12:21–26 CSB
    The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, which our respectable parts do not need. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
    “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’…”
    The “weaker” or less visible parts are indispensable.
    The body thrives when each part cares for the others — interdependence.
    “If one suffers, all suffer... if one is honored, all rejoice.”
    Application:
    Every gift matters. From prayer warriors to nursery workers, from elders to those who sweep floors — all are needed.
    A pastor may leave, but the church will thrive as every part takes ownership.

    Gifted for Growth

    (Romans 12:3–8
    Romans 12:3–8 CSB
    For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
    “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”
    Grace-based gifting — not self-appointed, but Spirit-given.
    Paul gives a list: prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leading, mercy — all are ministry.
    Gifts should be used diligently and cheerfully.
    Application:
    Don’t envy someone else’s gift — use the one God gave you.
    “Let us use them” — not tomorrow, not when a new pastor comes, but now.

    Leaders Equip, but the Body Works

    (Ephesians 4:11–16
    Ephesians 4:11–16 CSB
    And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
    “...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…”
    Leaders are not the whole church; they are equippers.
    The goal is maturity, unity, and a church no longer tossed by waves.
    Every part doing its work causes the body to grow “so that it builds itself up in love.”
    Application:
    A pastor leaving doesn’t stop the equipping — the equipping continues as the body lives out what’s been taught.
    The body grows as each part “works properly.”

    ✝️ Conclusion:

    Built to Last means built together in Christ.
    You are not just members of a congregation — you are parts of Christ’s Body. A church that knows and embraces that truth doesn’t falter when one part leaves — it flourishes as each part steps forward in faith, love, and obedience.

      • 1 Corinthians 12:12–20CSB

      • 1 Corinthians 12:21–26CSB

      • Romans 12:3–8CSB

      • Ephesians 4:11–16CSB

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–26CSB

  • Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
  • Jesus Messiah
  • Firm Foundation (He Won't)
  • Behold The Lamb

      • Psalm 95:6ESV

First Baptist Church of Louise
firstbclouise@gmail.com
979.484.7562
http://fbclouise.church
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