God Loves Diversity in the Body
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Seven examples of gifts to the body of Christ
Romans 12:6 APNT:
But we have various gifts [presents] according to the grace that is given to us.
Then it lists seven different kinds of things where this grace is being poured out.
Romans 12:4 APNT:
For as in one body we have many members and all members do not have one function,
We each have different abilities and desires that we can give to the body of Christ. We are not all the same.
- Prophesying
- Comforting
- Ministering (serving)
- Teaching
- Giving
- Leading
- Being merciful
Romans 12:6–8 APNT:
6 But we have various gifts according to the grace that is given to us.
7 There is [giving] of prophecy according to the measure of his faith, and there is [giving] of ministering one has in his ministering, and there is [giving] of a teacher in his teaching,
8 and there is [giving] of a comforter in his comforting, and of one who gives, with simplicity, and of one who presides, with diligence, and of one who is merciful, with cheerfulness.
What is the difference between prophesying and comforting?
Prophesying is like the connective cells or ligaments in your body.
Prophesying: Inspired delivery of exhortation or preaching (building connections with people so they can be strengthened and can stand).
That building of connections and strengthening is kind of like connective tissue in your body.
Titus 1:9 APNT:
and being diligent concerning the teaching of the word of faith, so that he may also be able to encourage by his sound teaching and to reprove those who are quarrelsome.
Sometimes, prophecy can be reproving, too.
Titus 2:1 APNT:
But you, speak what is suitable to sound teaching.
Titus was with Paul and was probably part of the commission that went to Jerusalem with James. Later, Paul sent Titus to Corinth twice that we know of.
2 Corinthians 8:6, 16–17 APNT:
6 so that we requested Titus, that as he had begun [in his initial visit], so he would complete this grace with you also….
16 But thanks be to God who put this care for you in the heart of Titus. 17 For he received our exhortation and because he was very concerned, he went out to you willingly.
When we are willing to go, then God opens up doors of opportunity for us to minister. This kind of ministering or prophesying is based on having care for people.
Colossians 4:7–11 APNT:
7 Now what concerns me, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister and our fellow-servant in the lord, will make known to you.
8 I have sent him to you for this [reason], that he would know what concerns you and would comfort your hearts,
9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you what concerns us.
10 Aristarchus, a captive with me, greets you and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you received commandment that if he came to you, you should receive him,
11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These who are from the circumcision and they only have assisted me in the kingdom of God and they have been a comfort to me.
Ministering is kind of like the muscle cells in your body. It’s just a picture to help understand what the function is and how it works.
Individually, we all have the capacity to do all of these seven ways of giving to the body of Christ.
Comfort is kind of like an epithelial cell. Those cells are on your skin, on the lining of your stomach and intestines; there are many of them all over the place.
In the physical body, an epithelial cell does not change into a nerve cell.
In Acts, Apollos was teaching, and Aquila and Priscilla heard him and then talked to him.
Acts 18:24–26 APNT:
24 And a certain man whose name was Apollos, a Judean who was a native of Alexandria and was trained in speech and observant in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This [man] was instructed in the way of the lord and was spiritually fervent [gung ho] and was speaking and teaching fully about Jesus, while not knowing anything except the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they brought him to their house and fully showed him the way of the lord.
A teacher is always a learner first.
Comforting: to speak soothingly, to talk to. A comforter offers acceptance, care, consolation, and protection to someone.
2 Timothy 1:16–18 APNT:
16 May our Lord give mercies to the house of Onesiphorus, who refreshed [to cool again or recover from the effects of heat] me many times and was not ashamed of the chains of my bonds.
17 But also, when he came to Rome, he searched for me with diligence and found me.
18 May our Lord allow him to find mercies with our Lord in that day. And you know well how he ministered to me in Ephesus.
1 Corinthians 12:12 APNT:
For as the body is one and there are many members in it and all the members of the body, although they are many, are one body, so also [is] Christ.
Although there are many, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 is still 1—one body.
1 Corinthians 12:13–18 APNT:
13 For all of us also are baptized in one spirit into one body, whether Judean or Gentile, whether slave or free men. And all of us drink of one Spirit.
14 For also the body is not one member, but many.
15 For if the foot should say, “Because I am not the hand, I am not a part of the body,” because of this, is it not a part of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not the eye, I am not a part of the body,” because of this, is it not a part of the body?
17 For if all the body were eyes, where would the hearing be? And if all of it were hearing, where would the smelling be?
18 But now God has placed every one of the members in the body, as he willed.
When we start comparing ourselves to others instead of being happy with our function in the body, it doesn’t work. And it compounds and amplifies problems.
The basic answer is to get it in our hearts that God loves diversity.
1 Corinthians 12:19–20 APNT:
19 Now if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now, there are many members, but it is one body.
Every member in the body of Christ has the same measure of Holy Spirit in them; that’s what joins us together. Then, the rest of it is all different.
Ephesians 3:8–9 APNT:
8 To me, who am the least of all the holy [ones], this grace was given, that I should declare among the Gentiles the wealth of Christ that is untraceable
9 and [that] I should bring light to everyone what is the administration of the mystery that was hidden from the ages in God, who created all [things],
It was God’s plan to put us all together in a family business. And that we all be unique and have wonderful things to contribute as presents to the body of Christ. And here is the purpose:
Ephesians 3:10– APNT:
10 so that by way of the church [the body of Christ], the extraordinary[full of distinctions] wisdom of God would be made known to the rulers and to the authorities that are in heaven,
Having distinctions is God’s wisdom. Let’s admire one another.
The audio teaching is also available on the Acts Now Fellowship website.
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