(Please note that the audio file is missing the last 10 minutes of this sermon. The video file is complete.)

I. Body Basics

A Renewed Mind and life is necessary for Responsible Body Participation and Pleasing God (nothing optional)

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present (A) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service of worship (B)                               Move from being self-centered to self-sacrificing to saint-serving

A. To present is to yield/place ourself totally at the disposal of and under the control of God, to do His will and His will only.

B. To do our rational (vs ritual) service of worship is a God honoring, response to Revelation as specified, which gives Him pleasure.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformedA by the renewing of your mind,B that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God

A. To be transformed/metamorphed is to experience a change of identity and actions predicated upon a renewal of our soul (mind will and emotions to pre-fall values, ambitions and obedience, thus proving/demonstrating the perfect will of God in our everyday lives.

B. An emotion is a filtered response to a filtered perception. Our filters are either natural/cultural/conditioned, or Biblical.

                Josh 1:8 meditate (thinking thru implications for applications)...obey all 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
                Isa 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous/victorious right hand.

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberlyA, as God has dealt to each one a measure/std of faith BGodet 267  capacity/(faithfulness stwdshp?) assigned each man in the domain of faith

A. To think sound-mindedly/acc to reality is to govern our life by noble supernatural objectives rather than instinctual natural passions

B. To have Biblical Rm-10-Word-based faith is to believe that God is who He said He is and will do what He said He'll do (Heb 11:6)

II. Body Order

It is vital that every vital part be under the Headship of Christ and linked to other members cf Eph 4:11-16

4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,        Diversity has a purpose.

5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.                        Unity gives diversity a purpose.

III. Body Building is a Team Sport (necessary functions/positions)

6a Having then gifts differing according to the grace(coin of the realm of heaven) that is given to us, let us use them:

1Pt 4:10 As each one has received a gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability/strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

Gifts are bestowals of grace/power by the HS, at conversion/regeneration, for building up the Body, supplanted by maturity cf Eph 4:11-16

1Cor 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, 5 ministries, 6 activities, 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all  11 distributing to each one individually as He wills. 28 God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets...29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets?...30 Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?...31 But earnestly desire the best gifts...better way 13:3...but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 10 when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 13...when I became a man, I put away childish things.  14:1 Pursue love, and desire the manifestation ofspiritual gifts, but especially that you (pl) may prophesy. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 6 what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 12 since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. (14 understanding is unfruitful.  16 sg 17 the other is not edified.) 26 Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, teaching, tongue, revelation, interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 39 Therefore brethren, desire earnestly cf v1 to prophesy (infin: emphasizes exercise rather than gift), and do not forbid to speak (infin) with tongues 40 Let all things be done decently and in order

6b if prophecy (advance light), let us prophesy  in analogy to our faith; Proclaiming God's Revelation: His call to repentance from sin, specifying the correct thinking/behavior, outlining consequences what God said He'll do if they obey (blessing) and if they disobey  (cursing)

1Cor 13:2 have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; 3 prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort
Rm 14:19 edify another 15:2 Let every one Eph 4:12 equip to edify 4:16 Body...edifying of itself 4:29 edification = minister grace  1Thess 5:11 E. one another

7a or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; Ac 6:4 ministry of the word 11:29 send relief 1Co 12:5 differences of administrations 2Cor 5:18 ministry of reconciliation 2Co 9:1 ministering to the saints...superfluous Eph 4:12 equipping the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ Heb 1:14 angels ministering spirits Rev 2:19 I know your works, love, service

7b he who teaches, (cause to learn) in teaching; Mt 28:19 make disciples 20 teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.
2Tim 2:2 the things you heard from me commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Heb 5:12 by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you    Js 3:1 don't become teachers Eph 4:25 every man speak truth with his neighbor

8a he who exhorts/encourages (Climb the mountain and call along side the flagging), in exhortation;  “comfort” speak alongside to persuade
1Th 2:11 we exhorted and “comforted” and charged every one of you 12 walk worthy of God, summons you to his kingdom and glory
1Th 5:11 Therefore, parakaleo/comfort/encourage/exhort and edify one another, just as you are doing. 4:18 encourage one another
1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, persuade the small souled, support/restrain the weak, be patient
2Tim 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

8b he who gives/imparts, with simplicity/liberality; to meet the needs of others without a selfish agenda
2Cor 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Rm 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established
1Th 2:8 we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us

8c he who leads, with diligence; (To stand before/over); a function later proscribed for elders/deacons on basis of character/maturity (no gift)
1Thess 5:12 we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Tim 3:4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect niv
1Tim 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule/manage  his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?
1Tim 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Tim 5:17 Let the elders that rule  well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine

8d he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.  (alms to meet another's need)  Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mt 18:33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ Jude 1:22 compassion, making a difference/distinction:

IV. Body Dynamics

How we obey influences how much we enjoy the process and fruits (present and eternal) of our obedience

9a  Let love (desiring what is in another's best interest) be without hypocrisy.  Hypocritical love seeks our own good above another's
Jn 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."   1Pt 1:22 Seeing you have purified your souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit to a sincere/unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart fervently:  

9b Abhor what is evil/destructive. Cling to what is good.  We value what meets our needs. Holiness requires discriminatory allegiance.
Rm 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in good doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: 
Rm 6:19 For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for (eis=the purpose of) holiness.

10a Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, 
We enjoy the company of those with similar values When we value and enjoy Christ, we value and enjoy members of His Body.

10b in honor giving preference to one another  When we value what God values we will value/honor those whom He values.
If we are not gaining self-worth and experiencing affirmation/value from God, we will be incapable of giving honor/value to others.

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord   Our ministry to each other grows out of our relationship to the Lord.
The thing which should most turn our crank, about which we should be most excited, diligent and delighted, is our service of God.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Can one be pleasing to God and experience His perfect will without being renewed/transformed and an interdependent serving member of a Body?
2. What happens when someone tries to give themselves to Christianity things without first giving themselves to the Lord?
3. What does it mean to be members of one another? Can one love the Lord and dislike His Body? How do you serve the Lord?
4. How do the needs and circumstances of the contemporary Church differ from that of NT times? In what ways are they similar?
5. How have your thinking and life been transformed since you became a believer? How can you be a good steward of your rlshp with God?