Joe and Jessa when I was a missionary in Portugal I saw the most amazing picture of the "BODY of CHRIST." I saw two men sitting and sharing stories at our Field Council meeting. The reason that this is a vivid memory is because of the unlikely hood that they would have anything in common! One man was a former college basketball athlete, possessed a gregarious personality, and exuded confidence. The other gentleman was just that, gentle. He was mild-mannered, slight build and patient. But there they sat, completely engaged with what the other one was saying!

The reason that they were connected was because they were partnered in church planting! The outgoing man was the front man. He would go out into the community and share the gospel, develop friendships and establish a small group of people who needed a pastor. In steps the patient gentleman. He would take them to the next level. He would teach, disciple, develop a leadership team and train them to stand on their own.

Neither one of them was hard wired to do what the other did. They saw the value in what the other brought to the table. They didn't want to do each others job. Their times together were spent talking about the growth of the people they both cared about. Laughing at how awkward it would be if they weren't a team. Even though you would not have paired them to be friends they were part of something far more binding. They understood the true meaning of the "BODY of CHRIST." No petty jealousy, begrudging, resentment, complaining or rivalry just phenomenal UNITY!

Verse: I Corinthians 12:12-27 One Body with Many Parts

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of t

he body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.