v.12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptised by one spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

v. 27-31 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

How important do you think you are?

You/we are the Body of Christ, I would think that makes us all rather important. It also gives us responsibility. This passage from Corinthians is emphasising not a challenge to achieve unity, but to maintain a unity already given by God, through the spirit. This means learning respect for other members, especially for the weak and those lacking a sense of self-esteem and belonging.

The term ‘Body’ was a metaphor for human society in the first-century Roman world. Christians were an alternative society – what Paul was trying to say is that they were still part of the world around them, so the unity we should strive for is a united community as well as a united fellowship within the church.

If we are to achieve that, then what part are we each going to play in achieving it?

We first need to recognise that what we already do is of value. Sometimes we can feel uncomfortable, when we look at new things to do. God knows better than us the place where we are to serve and it may not be obvious to us. Every part of the body is different, God has created us all to be different and so we cannot expect always to blend in, but more often to stand out because our gifts and abilities are individual. But each of us has a purpose and we fit alongside each other to achieve God’s purpose. When we feel valued as individuals we are confident to give our best. Do we acknowledge each other in that way? Do we support each other positively affirming what we each do, to build the fellowship and in turn the community in which we live?

Our acceptance of Christ and commitment to follow him includes accepting each other and a commitment to live in solidarity with all who make this same journey of faith. The church struggles because in many cases Christ is no longer at the centre. There are churches where it is just a social event to go to a service on a Sunday, but we need to recapture the sense of coming together to worship the Christ who is the focus of our lives. That common love of Christ is expressed as love for each other, whilst recognising our diversity in the way we worship and celebrate our faith, that love for each other also crosses the denominations.

What motivates you to come to church? What inspires you in your daily life? These are questions which we each need to ask of ourselves so that we can come together in confidence in the unity of Christ, who is not just the head, but the muscles and ligaments and all the other things that hold the Body together.