Saturday's Scripture Story
Understanding Jesus’ Body Language
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Footnotes
[c] 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or with; or in
Pondering Point
If you have time, mull over this section of the Bible and ask the Lord how you could benefit from being in this part scripture at this time. How are you participating in the body? What roles are you playing? How are you letting the body of other believers help in your own life?
This analogy has such broad impact potential. Supplement the reading by checking out Ephesians 4:1-4 and Colossians 1:18-20 which also address the body of Christ imagery.
Let it breathe in your life. Take time to discuss it with your micro or small group.
Ephesians 4:1-4
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Colossians 1:18-20
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts…
So it is with Christ.
Prayer
Have a conversation with God about the room in your life for Him, for your relationship with Him – and with His people, for His mission, His Word and His Spirit, for His will. Take notes to share later with a few key people.
Hook Questions
Use these questions with your group when you are using Bible stories as central piece to your time together:
- What parts of your body have you broken over the years?
Bible Storying’s Core Questions
- What did you like (or learn new) about the story?
- What did you not like (or not understand) about it?
- What are the various people doing in the story? With whom do you identify within the story?
- What is God doing in the story?
- What might God be asking of you triggered by this
story? How is he challenging you?
Remember: A great way to get God’s stories to stick with you is telling them to other people.