Sunday, March 8, 2009: Spring Training 4--Play Ball!

Spring Training: Play Ball!
1 Corinthians 12: 1 – 31.


I. Introduction.

Spring Training is all about PRACTICE. For baseball players, this is the time of the year to run and train to get back into shape. It is also a time for them to hone their basic baseball skills—pitching, catching, hitting, fielding, etc… Minor League players are focused on “making the team,” but the Major Leaguers focus on getting to know their teammates and developing a team chemistry that will help them win games. However, none of these activities really describes the purpose of Spring Training.

The purpose of Spring Training is NOT to get more practice. The purpose is to get ready to PLAY BALL.

This can be a great analogy for us as Christians. God has created each of us for a purpose. What do you think that purpose is? As a pastor, I am somewhat tempted to tell you God’s purpose for you is to come to church on Sundays. I am tempted to tell you that your purpose is to read your Bible every day and to join a Bible study / Sunday School class. I am even tempted to tell you that your purpose is to give financially to the church and to support the work of the church. But, this would be a lie.

All of these things are good and important things for Christians to do. Yet, they are not God’s purpose for us. Church, Sunday School, Bible study, supporting the work of the church—these are just like baseball Spring Training. They are practice. They are not our purpose. They are important practices and disciplines that help us “get ready” for our purpose.

Our purpose is to do the work of Jesus on the earth until Jesus returns.

Imagine how silly it would be for a baseball player to practice every day but never play a game. Imagine spending your entire life getting ready for something that never happens. Now, imagine a Christian who spends his or her entire Christian life reading the Bible, going to church and giving money to the church…But they never do anything. This is a life with no purpose.

Read 1 Corinthians 12: 1 – 31.

This passage of Scripture is not unique. There are several other Scriptures we can compare with this one. On one hand, this is one of three places where the Apostle Paul provides us with a list of Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4). On the other hand, this is one of numerous places where Paul used the illustration the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, Colossians 1 and others).

The fact that this Scripture is not unique tells me it is important. Important themes in the Bible NEVER appear only one time. They are repeated over and over for us to hear and understand and (ideally) apply to our lives. Therefore, it would be appropriate for us to interpret this as an important Scripture, as it emphasizes (or re-emphasizes) two themes found in numerous places. Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ were important concepts to the early Christians AND should continue to be important for us as well.

II. The Body of Christ = The Church (verses 27 and 28).

What does Paul mean when he uses the illustration the Body of Christ?

I believe that Paul was well educated in popular forms of rhetoric of his day. He writes long and complicated sentences. He employs common metaphors that were popular in the culture of his day. He makes philosophical arguments. And 1 Corinthians 12 fits this pattern.

The illustration Body of Christ appears at the end of Paul’s philosophical argument. He began the passage by describing Spiritual Gifts. He compared the different gifts to different parts of the human body. Then, he makes his final point by telling us he is not referring to a human body. All of this passage describes the Body of Christ. But, what is the Body of Christ?

Our first clue to answer this question is the pronoun Paul used in verse 27. He said, “You are the Body of Christ.” If we were to translate this into East Texas language, we would translate it, “Ya’ll are the Body of Christ.” In other words, this is not a charge to individuals. This is a charge to a group of people.

There are two sides of the Christian life. Christian life would be incomplete if we were to ignore either of these expressions of our life of faith.

The first side of the Christian life is the one we as Baptists are very good about emphasizing. It is the life of personal, individual faith. Jesus died on the cross and rose again for you as an individual. Jesus issues a call to individual men and women to enter into a life of faith with him. As Baptists, we usually talk about how important it is for a person to be “born again,” or to “ask Jesus to come into our hearts.” Both of these expressions mean the same thing. It means every individual must decide what to do with Jesus. Will you be just like the rest of the world and treat Jesus as just another person? Or, will you hand over the controls of your life to live the rest of your days with Jesus as the Lord (the ruler, master, boss) of your life?

The second side of the Christian life is the corporate life. Individual men, women, boys and girls must come together into a Christian community. This community is the Body of Christ. OR, as Paul says in verse 28…the church.

III. God Arranges the Parts of the Body (verse 18).

There are various ways we can interpret the English word “church.” On one hand, we sometimes use the word “church” to describe all believers past, present and future. On the other hand, we often use the word “church” to describe the people who gather here at the corner of First and Bremond Streets in Lufkin, Texas.

The term “Body of Christ” does NOT describe the universal church stretched across the globe past, present and future. I get this from two of Paul’s arguments in 1 Corinthians 12.

First, Paul says there is an interconnectedness within the Body of Christ that can be compared to the interconnectedness of our human bodies. In my human body, my head is connected to my shoulders; my shoulders are connected to my arms and my torso; my torso is connected to my legs; and my legs are connected to my feet. In addition, there are internal connections of vital organs—heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, etc… The proper functioning of my human body depends on all these external parts and internal organs working together. If one part ceases to function properly, my whole body suffers. This image applies to the local church, but it cannot apply to the universal church.

Second, Paul says in verse 18 that God arranges all the parts of the body “just as he wants them to be.” In other words, God has brought us together on purpose. It is no accident that you are a part of Lufkin’s First Baptist Church. God brought you to this church to be the eyes, ears, hands and feet of the Body of Christ. If every member of this body functions in the way God intends, then the body will function properly. If just one member of this body is lacking, then the entire body will suffer.

IV. Spiritual Gifts are Given to ALL Christians (verses 7 and 11).

The first half of 1 Corinthians 12 describes why God brings us together. There is no one person capable of doing all the work of the Body of Christ. My eye cannot do the work of my hands. My foot cannot smell—well, I guess there are times when my foot does smell, but not the same way my nose smells. We need each other, because we are each different.

Paul is clear in verses 7 and 11 that ALL Christians receive Spiritual Gifts. Notice that he does not say “some of you.” He says “each one” receives a manifestation of the Spirit.

Did you know there is no one exactly like you? You are unique—even if you are a twin. Science has shown us that there may be similarities in a person’s DNA. However, no two people have the same fingerprints, interests, passions or experiences.

I have three children who all have the same mother and father. But they are different. They have different talents, abilities and gifts.

In the same way, there is no one in this church like you. You have a Spiritual Gift that makes you different and important to this church. Of course, there might be another person with a similar Spiritual Gift, but they do not have the same passion and experience that you have.
God knows what our church needs. God is concerned with the way our church functions. And God brings individual parts together to form a successful body. God brought you here to make this body function properly.

V. Spiritual Gifts are Given for the Common Good (verse 7).

As I said earlier, 1 Corinthians 12 is one of three places where Paul lists Spiritual Gifts (also Romans 12 and Ephesians 4). I used to think that all three lists of Spiritual Gifts were the same. But, then I read the lists. They are not the same. In fact, there is only one gift that is listed in all three places—prophecy. (Incidentally, I believe the gift of prophecy does not describe a person with the ability to predict future events. Rather, prophecy is the gift of “speaking God’s word to God’s people.” We should probably compare it to our modern day definition of “preaching.” The prophets of the Old Testament sometimes predicted future events, but this was only when they “spoke God’s word,” and God’s word was fulfilled.)

The fact that the three lists of Spiritual Gifts do not all list the same gifts leads me to believe these lists are NOT intended to be exhaustive or comprehensive lists. These lists are simply representative lists.

So don’t worry if you cannot find yourself in any of these gifts. A Spiritual Gift is any gift God has given you that can be used to help the Body of Christ function properly. “Prayer” does not appear on any of the lists. But, I believe there are some people who have a gift of praying. “Music and worship” do not appear on any of the lists. Again, I believe this is a Spiritual Gift that can be used to build up the Body of Christ and to help us function properly.

“Criticizing the pastor and church leaders” does not appear on any of the lists either. But this is NOT a Spiritual Gift. It does not build up the Body of Christ or help us function. As you search for your Spiritual Gift, make sure it is truly a Spiritual Gift—a gift that builds up the church and makes the church BETTER.

The key to identifying a Spiritual Gift is to determine if it is “for the common good.” If the church does not benefit, then it is NOT a Spiritual Gift.

A Spiritual Gift makes all of us better. A Spiritual Gift is something we cannot live without. In other words, if you are not exercising your Spiritual Gift in the Body of Christ, then our church will be LESS. What can you do to make our church better? If you know what that is and refuse to do it, then we cannot do what God has called us to do as a church.

VI. Conclusion: The Work of Jesus Becomes Our Work as His Body (John 14: 12 and John 17: 20 – 26).

While Jesus was on earth, he was complete. He did not need anyone else to perform his God-given ministry. But Jesus told us that we would do even more than him after he ascended to heaven. How in the world can this be possible? How can we do more than Jesus did in his completeness?

The answer can be found in the limitations Jesus experienced while on earth. No, I do not believe Jesus was limited in his power or his knowledge. But, I do believe Jesus was limited by time and space. Jesus did not heal everyone while he was on earth. He only healed those he encountered in time and space. Jesus could not teach everyone. He could only teach those who lived near him physically at the same time Jesus lived.

Now, Jesus is no longer limited by time and space! He has left us to complete his work. He has gifted us spiritually as individuals and brought us together as his body to do his work on earth—preaching the Gospel; proclaiming freedom for the prisoners; recovering sight for the blind; releasing the oppressed; and proclaiming God’s favor (Luke 4: 18 – 19).

God has gifted you to serve. You are a unique and necessary part of the Body of Christ called Lufkin’s First Baptist Church. You have a part to play. And, if you play your part our church will be stronger.

However, if you neglect to use your Spiritual Gift, the Body of Christ called Lufkin’s First Baptist Church will have LESS ministry in our community. The impact Christ could have in Lufkin will be smaller if we do not follow through and use our gifts to serve.

We still need practice. But it’s time to PLAY BALL.