Blog Church - Week 16

This is Blog Church, and I am your online pastor, Rev. JD.
Sister Rachel will be serving Chocolate-Covered Cake Balls after the service in the foyer. She is using her gift of hospitality to bless us all. Bottled water will be provided by Brother and Mrs. Jim who are using their gift of generosity. Brother Cliff offered to entertain us by clog dancing, but I saw him warming up in the parking lot this morning, and I decided that his gift of cleaning up would be of more service to us today.

Today's sermon is called "Be a Happy Toe!"

Turn in your virtual Bibles and let's read Romans 12:4-5 together:
"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other."

The Body of Christ and The Church are the same thing. Some may think of The Church as The Vatican or a particular church building, but The Church is actually made up of people who are believers in Christ.
The Bible paints a vivid word picture using a human body in order for us to understand how The Church works. Christ acts as the head and every Christian is part of his body. Each person plays a role; each person is valued.
You may be thinking, "I'm not very important because I'm just a stupid, old toe. Why can't I be a heart or a lung or something vital like that?"

Here's what I Corinthians 12:17-22 has to say:
If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? Our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

So you're a toe.
Have you ever stubbed a toe? Or even worse, have you ever had a toenail ripped off like my dad did a couple of times when he was playing sports? YOWzer!!! That HURTS!!! Suddenly, the WHOLE body pays attention to that toe. Why? Because the nerves are going crazy with pain because the toe is injured. You find yourself hobbling over to sit down and comfort the toe.
After the injury, it takes awhile for the body to get back to normal because the toe has been out of whack and not functioning properly. Other parts have to accommodate until the toe is back working at full capacity.

I Cor. 12:26-27 says, "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it."

Another analogy used to describe The Body of Christ is The Family of God. That's why people are often called Brother or Sister within a church setting. Imagine what a loving family acts like. They look out for and protect each other. They help and encourage each other. When something great happens to one of them, they all rejoice. When something bad happens to one of them, they all sorrow. When one of them dies, they all grieve.

As a toe, your gift may be that you are very friendly and easy to talk to. You may be a good listener. You may naturally be an encourager. You may not be an attention getter. You may think you're not nearly as important as the minister who is up front, preaching a sermon and serving God in a more demonstrative fashion. EVERYone hears the minister and recognizes the importance of that position, right? You may not feel very important being a gnarly, insignificant toe.

Sometimes people's minds wander off during the sermon. It is sad, but true.
HEY YOU over there, WAKE UP!!! Where are those tasers??!!
Someone may not have gotten much from what the pastor said because their mind was burdened with problems. They may feel terribly down that day for some reason. That person may cross your path, and you smile at them and say hello. You pay them a compliment and begin an easy, casual conversation. You talk for awhile, and the person's burdened mind feels lighter for having spent time with you.
Their problems didn't vanish, but their outlook and attitude were changed because of your encouragement and kind attention. They leave there strengthened and ready to tackle their problems.
The truth is, for that person on that day, YOU were more valuable to them than the minister. By simply doing what came naturally, you made a positive difference. Your giftedness was necessary and important. While the minister was gabbing in the foyer discussing the need for new choir robes with Sister Christina and indulging in gluttony on Sister Rachel's Cake Balls, YOU were doing your part in The Body of Christ, The Family of God, The Church.
Be a happy toe!

Romans 12:8-9 says, "If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them."

And everybody said... AMEN!!!