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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor

Epiphany 3
Series C

From Rev. Kelly Bedard

"Delightful Diversity" 
or 
"A Christian Philharmonic"
1 Corinthians 12:12-21, 26-27

The Blessings of Diversity:

1. Greater capability for a greater variety of functions and tasks

2. Positive interdependence--celebration, not just toleration

3. Reveals the fullness of Christ--a collective reflective!

4. Enables us to be more effective in reaching the whole world!

(This outline is inspired/taken from God's Vision For Your Church by David Cannistraci.)

 Notes

1. Melos ("part," verse 12): secondary meaning is of bodies given up to criminal intercourse because they are, as it were, members belonging to the harlot's body

 2. Soma ("body," ibid): that which casts a shadow as distinguished from the shadow itself 

3. Doulos ("slave," verse 13): metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another's will; those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among people.

4. Eleutheros ("free," ibid): in an ethical sense, free from the yoke of the Mosaic Law

5. Potizo ("drink," ibid): metaphorically, to imbue, saturate one's mind

6. "Unity, not unvarying uniformity, is the law of God in the world of grace, as in that of nature. As the many members of the body compose an organic whole and none can be dispensed with as needless, so those variously gifted by the Spirit compose a spiritual organic whole, the body of Christ, into which all are baptized by the one Spirit." (A. R. Fausset)

7. "When a thorn enters the heel, the whole body feels it, and is concerned: the back bends, the belly and thighs contract themselves, the hands come forward and draw out the thorn, the head stoops, and the eyes regard the affected member with intense gaze... When the head is crowned, the whole man feels honored, the mouth expresses, and the eyes look, gladness." (John Chrysostom)

8. "Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to 'rush along' and 'in unison.' The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concertmaster, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ's church." (Enhanced Strong's Lexicon)

9. "Each church is like a facet in a diamond--my facet is not the only plane that reflects the glory of God. As we come together, each facet retains its own identity but joins together to form something greater than itself: a beautiful diamond reflecting the light of the sun." (Delph)

Rev. Kelly Bedard

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