RELEVANT TO ONE ANOTHER

DATE: WEDNESDAY 6TH AUGUST 2025

 The Power of Unity in the Body of Christ

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION:

• MEMORISE: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (Romans 12:5)

• BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 12:18-25

• BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 3:1-4:23; 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4

MESSAGE:The Masterpiece of Connectivity: God’s Design for the Human Body

The human body is, without question, a perfect example of how a cordial and cooperative relationship among members of a unit can lead to optimal productivity and flourishing. Imagine, for a moment, a world where our bodies operated without harmony. What if your head commanded your legs to stop moving, but they insisted on continuing to walk? Or what if you woke up in the morning and, in an attempt to open your eyes, your mouth opened instead? The result would be absolute chaos, confusion, and a complete lack of function. Such a body would be incapable of even the simplest tasks. It’s a surreal and comical image, but it highlights a profound spiritual truth.

God, the ultimate architect, designed the human body with intricate detail, ensuring every part, from the most prominent to the most concealed, works in perfect synchronization. He did this to provide us with a tangible, living metaphor for His grand design for the church, which is called the body of Christ. This metaphor serves to show the essential connectivity of its members (believers) and their absolute reliance on one another’s abilities, gifts, and roles. Christ is our Head, and as the Head, He desires that every part of His body not only exists but functions optimally and harmoniously.

The Danger of Spiritual Arrogance: No Part is Unnecessary

In a community as diverse as the church, it is a constant temptation to fall into the trap of spiritual arrogance. This is the mindset that causes a Christian to look down on a fellow believer, believing their role to be insignificant, unimportant, or even irrelevant. The Apostle Paul confronts this very issue head-on in our Bible reading from 1 Corinthians 12. He dismantles the idea of a spiritual hierarchy, emphasizing that every member is essential.

He writes, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (1 Corinthians 12:18). This verse alone should settle the matter for every believer. God, in His sovereign wisdom, placed each person in the body where He wanted them. He is the divine “Chief of Staff,” the ultimate “Human Resources Manager,” and the master “Engineer” who knew exactly where to place each part for the body to function properly. Therefore, to question the role of another believer is to question the wisdom of God Himself.

Paul then goes on to illustrate this truth with a series of rhetorical questions and declarations:

• “And if they were all one member, where were the body?” (1 Corinthians 12:19). A body made of only hands or only eyes is no body at all. Variety is essential for function.

• “But now are they many members, yet but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:20). Unity is found in diversity, not uniformity.

• “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” (1 Corinthians 12:21). The most powerful and visible parts cannot claim superiority over the practical and foundational parts. The eye needs the hand to grasp, and the head needs the feet to move.

This is a powerful rebuke to anyone who believes their role—be it a pastor, an elder, a singer, or a teacher—is superior to another’s. A pastor cannot preach without an usher guiding congregants. A choir cannot lead worship effectively without sound engineers managing the microphones. A church cannot be a sanctuary without a sanitation team ensuring the space is clean and welcoming. Every role is interconnected and relevant.

The Unseen Heroes: God’s Honour for the “Less Honourable”

Paul takes his argument one step further, challenging our worldly notions of honor and importance. He writes, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.” (1 Corinthians 12:22-23).

In a world obsessed with public recognition, titles, and accolades, God’s perspective is radically different. The parts of our physical bodies that we might consider “less honorable” or “uncomely” are often the ones we protect the most. We give them “more abundant honor” through clothing, hygiene, and care. Think of the vital, yet unseen, internal organs like the heart or the kidneys; they are absolutely essential, and we go to great lengths to ensure their health. They don’t seek applause, yet their function is critical to our very existence.

The story shared in the message perfectly illustrates this principle in a spiritual context. There was a pastor whose ministry was thriving with miracles, beautiful worship, and an efficient team of workers. He was thankful for the visible, public parts of his ministry. However, God revealed to him a deeper truth: the miracles were a direct result of the intercession of an old woman who was only a member of the sanitation team. Her public role was simple: she cleaned the church chairs. But her private, hidden ministry was powerful: she would pray for a special miracle for anyone who sat on the chairs she cleaned.

This woman was the spiritual equivalent of a hidden, vital organ. She wasn’t on the altar, she wasn’t a celebrity, and she didn’t have a title. She was a faithful servant in an “unseen” role. Yet, her prayers moved God’s hand to bless others who came to church. Her obedience, humility, and faith were the engine behind the miracles. This story is a powerful reminder that we should never underestimate the importance of the “unseen” and “less honorable” roles in the church.

The Purpose of Unity: No Schism, Just Care

The ultimate goal of this divine design is revealed in verse 25: “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” The word “schism” here means a division or a split. God designed the church to be a place of unity and mutual care, not division and competition.

When we understand that we are all interconnected, that the success of one is the success of all, and that the pain of one is the pain of all, we will naturally develop the same care for one another. We will celebrate each other’s victories, weep with one another in our sorrows, and pray for one another’s strength and anointing, regardless of our different roles.

The hymn “Onward, Christian Soldiers” powerfully captures this spirit of unity. The lyrics declare, “Like a mighty army moves the church of God: Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod; We are not divided; all one body we, One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.” This is the vision of the church that God intended: a unified, cohesive army moving forward under the banner of Christ.

A Call to Action: Acknowledging Every Role

So, what does it mean to be “relevant to one another”? It means:

Acknowledging God’s Sovereignty: Accepting that God has placed you and every other believer exactly where He wants you to be.

Rejecting the Spirit of Competition: Understanding that ministry is not an arena for competition but a platform for collaboration. We are not competing for glory, but complementing one another for the glory of Christ.

Honoring the “Unseen”: Deliberately recognizing and appreciating those who serve in roles that do not receive public praise.

Embracing Mutual Care: Making a conscious effort to pray for, encourage, and support every member of the body of Christ, regardless of their position.

Focusing on the Head: Remembering that Christ is the Head, and our submission to Him is what keeps the entire body in perfect harmony.

The KEY POINT for today is a truth we must hold dear: No one in the church is superior or inferior; everyone’s role is relevant. Whether you are the pastor, the worship leader, the greeter, the cleaner, the security guard, or the single person who faithfully shows up to pray—you are essential. Your role, however small it may seem, is part of a divine symphony. When you fulfill your part with diligence and a heart of worship, the entire body of Christ benefits, and God’s name is glorified.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with a deep sense of value for every member of the body, so that we may operate not as fragmented individuals but as a unified, powerful, and productive whole for the Kingdom of God.

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Father, help me to see every member of the body of Christ through Your eyes, valuing and honoring every role, in the name of Jesus.

2. Lord, deliver me from the spirit of pride and competition, and fill me with a spirit of humility and collaboration, in the name of Jesus.

3. Father, I pray for all those serving in “unseen” roles in the church—the intercessors, the cleaners, the behind-the-scenes workers. Reward them openly and bless them for their faithfulness, in the name of Jesus.