Finding Your Place Within the Body of Christ

By Jeff Arnette       As we begin our new year at Central Haywood we need to think about what we can do to help the church grow. Each of us is important to the overall growth of this church. 1 Corinthians 12:14–16 “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.” (ESV)      No one can think that the church does not need them. You possess talents/gifts and relationships that the rest of church does not have. God has given you these gifts and He expects you to be a good steward of them. Ephesians 4:15–16 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (ESV)     So what can you do to help the church grow?     First I ask you to pray for the church. Prayer is a powerful tool that we must use if God is ever going to bless us with growth. Pray that God will bless the leadership and membership with a heart for God, a heart for Jesus, and a heart for His Church. If we make the growth of the Lord’s church our hearts desire and priority, then the Lord will surely bless us with growth. Pray that as the leaders of this church we will lead the way in all these things. The sheep can only go where their shepherds lead them and the sheep will only follow if they sheep know their shepherds.     Secondly, I ask you to look at the different ministries we are doing here and get involved in one or more of them. Each of us needs to be involved in something at church. I ask you to find you place within the body of Christ and use you gifts to do that work. If you don’t know what your talents are, pray about it. If you’re still unsure let us know and we will help you find you role in the church.     The successes of these ministries depend on your involvement. It doesn’t matter how much the preacher or the elders wants to see these succeed if you don’t get involved in them they will not grow. Remember you are the church and it will only grow if you grow. It (the church) cannot minister beyond what you are willing to do. If you don’t do it or will not do it, then it will not happen. Acts 2:47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (ESV)     God in His wisdom added you to His church. Don’t think for a moment that you were added for filler or fluff. You were added because God knows that you have something great to give to Him and His church. You were added because of His great love for you and for the church. Why would you want to look God in the face and say, “I didn’t think I was good enough?” He knows you are good enough and you should too.     You are the key to growth for this church.

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/