3-9-25 “The Unity in the Body of Christ”
“The Unity in the Body of Christ”
(Membership Caring Month #2)
I want to start with something funny that I found on an internet site: Sam shows up at a revival meeting, seeking help. “I need you to pray for my hearing,” he tells the preacher. The preacher puts his fingers on Sam’s ears and prays and prays. When he’s done, he asks, “How’s your hearing now?” “I don’t know,” says Sam. “I don’t go to court till next Tuesday.”
Sometimes we miscommunicate because of cultural differences, paradoxical idioms, different accents, or different meanings of words we use—just like the funny story. I know some of you still have difficulties understanding my accent, but I deeply appreciate your patience, love, and care for me in Jesus Christ.
As we observe March as Membership Caring Month, we focus on nurturing relationships within our church family and reminding ourselves of the unity we share in Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-15 is a powerful passage that calls us to walk in unity, humility, and love. As the body of Christ, we are all interconnected, and it is only in Him that we find true unity. Let’s dive into these verses and reflect on what it means to be one in Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-3 says: “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
The Apostle Paul begins with a call to live in a manner worthy of the calling we have received. We are called to humility, gentleness, patience, and love. These virtues aren’t just good suggestions—they are the foundation for unity. When we walk in humility, we acknowledge that we are not better than one another. When we walk in gentleness, we recognize the fragility of our relationships and seek to nurture them. Patience and love allow us to endure the challenges that come with living in community.
In Membership Caring Month, this is a timely reminder for us. Our church is not just a collection of individuals but a family. And just like in any family, we must care for one another, forgive one another, and seek to maintain the bond of peace. This month invites us to reach out, care for, and strengthen our bonds as members of the same body of Christ.
Some people believe that Christians are always blessed with abundance, well-being and prosperity, and that we should be at peace and harmony with everyone. Yes, we try to do so, and pray for it. But, as Christians, we may face more challenges than non-Christians. To tell you the truth, since I started my faith journey, I have faced many challenges in my life. After graduating from seminary, I planted a new church in 1996. My father passed away the day I started my ministry at the new church, and four years later, my mother passed away in 2000. However, the difference is that I was not alone, even as I walked through dark valleys. Of course, God was always with me, and my family in Jesus Christ was there too. The church family is like the visible presence of God’s angels and grace.
Ephesians 4:4-6 says: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
The Apostle Paul emphasizes that our unity is not built on personal preferences or opinions but on the shared foundation of one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. This is the bedrock of our unity in Christ. We are united not because we are all the same, but because of who we share in common—Jesus Christ.
As we reflect on Membership Caring Month, let us remember that every person sitting beside us in the pew is part of the same body, the same family. We share the same hope in Christ, the same Lord who saved us, the same baptism that marked us as children of God, and the same Father who unites us. This truth compels us to care for each other, as we are all one in Christ.
Ephesians 4:7-12 tells us: “But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
In our unity, God has gifted each of us uniquely for the building up of the body of Christ. These gifts—whether they are roles like apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers, or gifts of service, hospitality, or encouragement—are meant to equip us for ministry and strengthen the church.
As members of the body, we are not passive recipients of God’s grace; we are active participants in God’s mission. Each one of us has a role to play in building up the church and contributing to the unity of the body. Membership Caring Month is an invitation to reflect on how we can use our gifts to care for one another and contribute to the health and growth of the body of Christ.
Think of yourself. What gift does God give you? Someone may say, “Well, I think I don’t have any gift or talent.” I thought the same. I thought I didn’t receive any gift or talent from God, and I saw many around me with great gifts and talents. One day, a pastor’s sermon came to me: “The gift and talent given from God may be small, like just one talent. If you pick up trash on the street and put it in the garbage can while others never care for it, you are gifted to care for nature and talented to clean the places of God. And if you find it and develop your talent, it will grow just like the one with five talents or ten talents.” After that, my father said, “I would be a custodian at church.” A custodian is a greatly gifted and blessed person to take care of God’s house.
You may know that since I came to Wisconsin, I started gardening, and people told me, “You have a green thumb.” I also learned knitting from the UMW group in 2021, and now whenever I make a prayer shawl, people tell me, “You are so talented.” We all are given gifts and talents from God, but some may not be recognized or developed yet. Let’s find what we have been given from God, and develop and grow into Christlikeness.
Our goal as members of the body is maturity in Christ. Unity in the body is not just about agreeing on everything or avoiding conflict; it is about growing together into the fullness of Christ. As we mature in faith, we begin to look more like Jesus—full of grace, truth, and love.
Maturity also means speaking the truth in love. This is vital for maintaining unity. We will have disagreements and challenges in community, but how we handle them is crucial. We speak the truth, but always with love, because we are all part of the same body. Our growth together as a church should reflect Christ’s love and character.
This unity is built on our common foundation in Him—one Lord, one faith, one baptism. We are called to live in humility, gentleness, patience, and love, caring for one another as members of the same body. Let us use the gifts God has given us to build up the body of Christ, speaking the truth in love, and growing together into the fullness of Christ.
May our church be a reflection of the unity we have in Jesus, and may we, as His body, grow in love and service to one another. Thanks be to God. Amen!