I love going to church, but there was a time when I didn’t enjoy it so much. I often felt alone in the beginning, seeing many faces, but not feeling apart of the church body. It wasn’t until I started serving in the church that I started to meet people and develop friendships. After being planted in my church for a few years now, I can see the power and fruit of the church body being played out. It often looks like acts of service, prayer circles, encouraging words, to name a few. It’s with and in the body that we bring the Church together and everyone plays an essential role.

“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” Romans 12.4-5, New Living Translation. (See Also: 1 Corinthians 12.12-26)

When you are saved you become part of the Body of Christ, that’s standard, but acting in it, like anything else, that’s up to you. Our faith isn’t just this idle thing, it’s constantly moving and we need to be conscious to be moving toward fellow believers, not away from them. I know what you’re thinking, “People have hurt me in the past” or “Darn, that person gets under my skin” or maybe something like “Who is she to be a leader?”. Those are valid thoughts, I’ve been there, I’m going through it now, but none of those thoughts should change the fact that you’re apart of the body whether there is one member or a few members you don’t get along with very well. The Body of Christ once activated in is beyond powerful. We are ambassadors for Christ together, as one unit, that’s why it is necessary that we live in unity with each other.

What does the bible say about the Body of Christ:

We are to encourage one another. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5.11, English Standard Version
We are to meet together consistently. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10.24-25, ESV
We are to be unified. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” 1 Peter 4.8-10, ESV
We are to keep Christ at the top. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4.15-16, ESV
We are to confess to one another. “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5.13-16, NLT

And those are just a few verses on the church! So how do we do this? How do we actively participate in the Body of Christ?

Here are a few simple ways to do so:

Serve! Pray about it, where is the need in your church? Where can you use your giftings? Getting involved is the surest way to make friendships and mentors.
Attend a life group, a bible study.
If you don’t have a bible study around, why not start one? It doesn’t have to be overwhelming, pray about it. Pray for the topics to be discussed, and the people who are to join.
Start a group text! With just a few people you can send out prayer requests, praise reports, bible verses, etc!
Fellowship! Stick around after service and grab coffee, lunch, go on a hike! Do things together!

As we focus on Christ, unity with each other should come naturally. Let us praise, pray and do life together.

New Living Translation (NLT)

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Message (MSG)

Power in the Body of Christ