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[Silence] Be gracious to me, O God, in thy true love. In the fullness of thy mercy, blot out my misdeeds. [Congregation responds] Create a pure heart in me, O God, and give me a new and steadfast spirit.

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Do not drive me from thy presence, or take thy Holy Spirit from me. [All] I ask thy permission, O God, to disperse the spirit of the wounded heart of a God I have not despised. Let us bow our heads as Brother Kinchin leads us in the invocation. This morning, Heavenly Father, we come thanking you for this day and thanking you, Heavenly Father, for each and every day that you've given us.

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Now, Heavenly Father, I ask you now to bless this service I pray thee. Heavenly Father, we pray a special blessing upon our pastor, Heavenly Father, and his family. Bless each and every one of the ministers here on the platform. Bless each and every one of the shepherds. Bless our choir director and the choir of all two Lord.

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Heavenly Father, help us, Heavenly Father, to know, Heavenly Father, that you are God and besides you, there are no others. We know, Heavenly Father, that we do have all of these things we've been talking about and everything like that. But, Heavenly Father, we know that you know, Heavenly Father, of everything. Forgive us for our sin.

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Bless the sick and the afflicted here and elsewhere wherever they are. Heavenly Father, bless the one that's out of the offices. Protect them while the blood-drawn ones are praying out bravely. And, Heavenly Father, overstand these all of us and send Jesus' name we pray.

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Let us all greet one another this morning. Good morning. Now let's turn to hymn number 385, Onward Christian Soldiers, hymn 385. [ Music ] ♪ Among Christian soldiers ♪

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♪ Watching as you walk ♪ ♪ With the crows of Jesus ♪ ♪ Calling on thee, Lord ♪ ♪ Christ, the royal Master ♪

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♪ Leads against the foe ♪ Forward into battle, see it banner go, On one Christian soldier, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus, knowing all before.

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And the sign of triumph, Satan's laws can't be Conquered Christian soldiers, unto victory Built the nation's quiver, and the shout of praise Brothers lift your voices, honor and praise.

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On one Christian soldier, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before. ♪ Like the mighty Naui ♪ ♪ Who's the Church of God ♪

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♪ Brothers we are training ♪ ♪ Where the saints have trod ♪ ♪ We are not divided ♪ ♪ Home on Maui we ♪

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♪ One in hope and vow of treasure ♪ ♪ One in charity ♪ ♪ On one Christian soldier ♪ ♪ Marching as to war ♪

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♪ With the cross of Jesus ♪ ♪ Going on before ♪ ♪ On one Christian healer ♪ ♪ Joy the heavenly door ♪

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♪ Lin without your voices ♪ ♪ Hymns of triumph song ♪ ♪ Glory, love, and honor ♪ ♪ Unto Christ the King ♪

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♪ His through countless ages ♪ ♪ Men and angels sing ♪ ♪ On one Christian soldier ♪ ♪ What she has to offer ♪

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♪ May the cross of Jesus ♪ ♪ Not be all before ♪ - You may be seated. [ Background noise ]

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>> The scripture this morning comes from the first Corinthians, the first through the twelfth, the twelfth chapter, the first through the twelfth verses. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were heathen,

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you were led astray to dumb idols, however you may have been moved. Therefore, I want you to understand that no one speaking in the spirit of God

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ever says, "Jesus be cursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts,

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but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of service, but the same Lord. And there are varieties of working,

00:06:45.440 - 00:06:59.460

but it is the same God who inspires them all and everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the spirit for the common good. To one is given through the spirit the utterance of wisdom,

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and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same spirit. To another, faith by the same spirit. to another, gifts of healing by the one spirit,

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to another, the workings of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another, various kinds of tongues,

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to another, the interpretation of tongues. All of these are inspired by the one and the same spirit who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members

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and all the members of the body, though many, are one body. So it is with Christ. May many blessings be added to the reading and the hearing of this word.

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- This is our time of prayer together. So while the song, I Ask the Lord, is being sung as our prayer theme, we're gonna ask that you would gather around the altar.

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Brother Watterson Stanton. (gentle music) [MUSIC PLAYING] [ Music ]

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I asked the Lord to comfort me when things were going my way. He said to me, I will comfort you and lift your cares away. I asked the Lord to walk with me when darkness was all that I knew. He said to me, "Never be afraid, for I will see you through."

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I didn't ask for riches. He gave me wealth untold. ♪ The moon, the stars, the sun, the sky ♪ ♪ And gave me eyes to behold ♪

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♪ I thank the Lord for everything ♪ ♪ And I count my blessings each day ♪ ♪ He came to me when I needed him ♪ ♪ I only had to pray ♪

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♪ And he'll come to you if you ask him to ♪ ♪ He's only a prayer of mine ♪ Amen. As we pray together, let us remember our sick and shut in brother O.C. Leslie is in

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Bracken Ridge Hospital. He fell and was injured in that fall in the rest home. Let's remember him in a special way. Lucio Frazier who has been in Bracken Ridge Hospital is now back at the rest home.

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And for all sorts and conditions let us pray of humankind. Lord we thank you for the gift of another day. You have granted us a new expression of your grace and so we bow now in this holy place to pour out to you the gratitude of our hearts. We pray that you would possess us with your spirit. We're all aware of the fact that we are sinners. Every one of us has

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sinned and we come short of your glory. Lack of faith, lack of uttermost surrender to you has kept us back. So we pray as we bow reverently in your presence that you would forgive us. We ask that you would renew the right spirit within us, help each one of us to be the kind of person that we ought to be. Help us to bear one another's burdens, to strengthen each other

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in the weaknesses that we possess. We pray not only for ourselves individually, we would pray for every family in our church and we would not stop there but we would ask that you would bless the whole human family, those who constitute the people that claim to know you in the pardon of their sins, as well as those

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those who are outside the arc of safety. Oh Lord, have mercy upon us and bless us. We pray for our church, pray for our community, for this city, this nation, and for the entire world.

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Be in this service and help each one of us as we face the challenges of a new week to go forth with determination to serve you. You know every one of us.

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Some of us have come with heavy hearts. Some come facing perplexing decisions. But whatever the condition may be, you take it and use it and direct us in the way

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that we can live courageously and victoriously for you. Oh, bless us this day and use us until you call us from this scene to our heavenly reward to sing your eternal praises in a world without end

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is our prayer in Jesus' name, amen. (gentle music) (soft music) (gentle music)

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(soft music) [MUSIC PLAYING] [music] [Music]

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(soft music) (soft music) (bells ringing) (soft music)

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(gentle music) [music] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[ Music ] On Psalm 150, Dr. Bula Agnes Curry-Jones is ill. Mr. Frederick Chapman will be doing the solo. [ Music ]

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♪ Praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise God in his sanctuary ♪ ♪ Praise God in his sanctuary ♪

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Praise Him, praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him, praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him for His mighty acts. Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

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Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him, praise Him for His mighty eye. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him for glory, truth, wisdom, truth, greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise him, praise him, praise him with the sound of the trumpet.

00:18:18.400 - 00:18:41.400

Praise him, praise him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise him, praise him, praise him with the sound of the trumpet. Praise him, praise him with the soterie and hymn. ♪ And praise him, praise him, praise him with the tambourine and all ♪

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♪ Praise him with the timbrel and dance ♪ ♪ Praise him with the timbrel and dance ♪ ♪ Praise him with the timbrel and dance ♪ ♪ Praise him, praise him with string instruments ♪

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♪ Which brings excitement and joy here ♪ ♪ Raise him upon the loud cymbals ♪ ♪ Raise him upon the loud cymbals ♪ ♪ Raise him upon the high-sounding cymbals ♪

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♪ Raise him upon the loud cymbals ♪ ♪ Let everything that hath ♪ ♪ Raised him in prayer by prayer ♪ ♪ Let praise be the Lord ♪

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♪ Praise ye, praise ye, praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise ye, praise ye the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise Him, O Lord ♪ - Amen. - Amen.

00:20:04.820 - 00:20:15.940

- Amen. This is our time of worshiping and the sharing of our gifts. Let every one of us give

00:20:15.940 - 00:20:34.120

according to how we have purposed in our heart. The Lord loves the cheerful giver. [Ambient noise] We are moving now into the last part of our fiscal church year,

00:20:34.120 - 00:20:48.680

and it is imperative that we not only [Ambient noise] raise our budget, but that we go over it because we have gone over it in our [Ambient noise]

00:20:48.680 - 00:20:59.160

spending of the budget in meeting certain needs, particularly in the repairs, and we have other things that still must be done in the course of this church year.

00:20:59.160 - 00:21:12.580

So let every one of us give liberally and sacrificially, let us pray. We bless your name, oh God, and ask that your spirit might possess us

00:21:12.580 - 00:21:52.580

as we share of our self and substance in Jesus' name, amen. Amen. [ Background Sounds ] [Bell ringing]

00:21:52.580 - 00:22:16.140

We have a special announcement that will be made at this time by Brother Leroy Davis. Good morning. If you notice in your bulletin, there's a special announcement about the musical extravaganza to feature the entire Ebenezer musical family, which will be held next Sunday at 6 o'clock p.m.

00:22:16.140 - 00:22:25.580

At this time, I am extending a personal invitation to each and every one of you who are here today in hopes that you will come and join us in this great celebration.

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We're gonna do a wide array of musical selections, anthems, spirituals, and gospel, and I think we'll have something for each and every one of you.

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So please include on your itinerary of things to do next week the music extravaganza to feature the entire musical department at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Thank you.

00:22:52.800 - 00:23:12.760

You will notice in the bulletin that there is a retreat that is scheduled this week on Thursday and Friday at Buda. And those of you who went to the workshop a few weeks ago with the Industrial Area Foundation having to do with

00:23:12.760 - 00:23:27.940

this retreat, you're aware of it and if you plan to go you might see me and we can work out those arrangements. The fee is $20 and that you I think you have to bring your linen

00:23:28.380 - 00:23:46.360

and the other things that are cared for as far as your food and so on from noon Thursday to noon on Friday in Buda, Texas. Now on Saturday of this week Senator Lloyd Doggett will be governor for a day.

00:23:46.360 - 00:24:05.720

You are invited, I got a call yesterday extending a special invitation to our church to witness that day's experience at the Capitol at noon. The swearing-in ceremony will be at noon at the Capitol and to participate in that you

00:24:05.720 - 00:24:20.660

invited. At two o'clock there will be activities all during the day, music and the like, festivities. Our children's choir and band will sing and play

00:24:20.660 - 00:24:41.900

for 15 minutes from 2 to 2.15. So keep that in mind on Saturday. Now, the church revival will begin on Monday, September the 26th, Monday through Friday with

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Reverend F.W. McElveen who's pastor of the Fifth Ward Baptist Church in Houston, serving as our evangelist. So we want every one of you to come and to participate and to witness and let's be active in seeking to evangelize for Jesus Christ in connection with these

00:25:03.820 - 00:25:30.820

efforts. There will be a band rehearsal on Friday, September 23rd at 6 30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. All band members are asked to be present and on time. You will notice also an announcement regarding the Lifetime Learning Institute that appears in your

00:25:30.820 - 00:25:43.360

bulletin Now there is a another announcement. I don't see it here regarding tutoring classes

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that Should be in this bulletin regarding tutoring classes brother Chapman

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brother Isaac Chapman and Brother Yancy and brother Dotson and sister Bernie's heart I believe are those names that I remember as working in that

00:26:07.820 - 00:26:21.160

program It is for high school students and Elementary school students too that need help in

00:26:21.160 - 00:26:32.640

in math in English and in reading now, I just don't want you in that program - you're gonna help in that program. So

00:26:32.640 - 00:26:49.200

all of these persons as I recall are retired and they are volunteering their services and We need a secretary They're going to be here on Certain nights brother Chapman

00:26:49.200 - 00:27:08.800

you'll come around here if somebody who knows those that scheduled because I wrote it out and I don't know whether the secretary didn't have room for it or what but We had that on the announcement. I can't recall those days and it's not in the bulletin. Could you say when? At what time?

00:27:08.800 - 00:27:30.620

Mondays Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 So if you have if need help their students that you have in your family that need help They can come Monday Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 and if you're willing to work in this program We would ask that you would let us know that because they will need a secretary

00:27:30.620 - 00:27:49.040

Someone will be calling during those times and Someone needs to answer the phone and Set up other little things the logistics that will have to do with that It's necessary to have some secretarial help. So if you can give some time in this program

00:27:49.040 - 00:28:05.800

We'd appreciate they already have it underway. In fact Thursday night. I think it was there was a young lady that was here and I'm sure that There are others because when we had this for a short time before there was a great need and so we have far more people

00:28:05.800 - 00:28:35.400

now who can work on a consistent basis in this program and so we ask that you will keep that in mind. So these are very important things for you to remember as we think about the opportunities that are before us this week and the days ahead. Now there are one or two other things here that I want to call your

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attention to. We had a very wonderful experience in connection with our Mary Hill Davis offering. We had possibly around a little over $800 and that's going to be used for our home mission work and if you haven't made your contribution it's still not too late for you to make it because we I think we had

00:29:04.540 - 00:29:35.660

a thousand dollars last year and we certainly want to do as well if not better in the year that is set before us. Now there is another matter that I want to share with you so that you can have the facts from your pastor because if you have not heard it I'm sure you will hear it. More than two years ago one of

00:29:35.660 - 00:29:52.020

the members of our church had us over to the house and told us, my wife and myself, that they wanted us to have their house. That they had no close relatives, she had no close relatives.

00:29:52.020 - 00:30:08.440

His brother had written and told him that he didn't want anything that he had. And she said in his presence that we want you and your wife, brother pastor, to have this house.

00:30:08.440 - 00:30:33.500

Well, we listened, we didn't say anything, she died several months later and he asked me to carry on and do various things for him which I did. After some time, this is two years later, he called me and told me he wanted to deed me the house. Well I hesitated about that

00:30:33.500 - 00:30:46.820

and he told several other people who were here in the congregation now and and discussed it with him that he wanted to do that. I still hesitated and one of the members of the church called me and said, "Brother Pastor, you just as well do it. That's what he wants to do."

00:30:46.820 - 00:31:08.000

So I said, "Well, all right." So I did what he told me and the lawyer came by and the lawyer talked with him. He told the lawyer the same thing and after some time he worked on the matter. matter the lawyer had took some three months before he did it because it had

00:31:08.000 - 00:31:30.280

to go through the courts and all of that in probating his estate over three months he called the lawyer tried to hurry him up and all of that and then after sometime he was able to get someone to come live with him and this person called and asked the lawyer what he had done and then he had a change of

00:31:30.280 - 00:31:56.320

heart felt that he had done the wrong thing, didn't remember what he had done. Well all of the people involved know that he did remember but that's a matter that created more of a burden for me than a help and this is something that I wanted you to know as to exactly how it happened because it's

00:31:56.320 - 00:32:16.680

It's not something that I need or my family needs and that's not something that we want to keep if somebody doesn't want us to have it. But so often when people do things like this, they change when someone else comes by and talks with them and tells them that they should not have done this, that they were foolish

00:32:16.680 - 00:32:30.760

to do this. And particularly those persons in many instances want to get those things for themselves because they point out to them that they're doing far more for them to keep them going than the other person.

00:32:30.760 - 00:32:54.920

So I wanted you to get this sort of straight from the horse's mouth rather than for some rumor that was going about as to exactly how it happened. And there's another matter regarding the use of the scout hut over there. had a brother over there for some time who is a member of this church and it's

00:32:54.920 - 00:33:14.400

not really been up to standard we've been trying to get him out for some time we finally got him out and it looks like we have a dump yard over there that has been left but the trustees weren't able to get him out but I finally got him out he cursed out the chairman of the trustees when he went over there to get

00:33:14.400 - 00:33:42.960

him out but we got him out and we're gonna probably need to tear that down because the Scout Hut doesn't add anything to our church. Now we want our guests to stand as your name is called and remain standing until you're greeted. I think it's Jocelyn Waller who is of Allen Chapel AME Church

00:33:42.960 - 00:34:04.960

who's the guest here of Sister V. Coleman, Sister Vanna Coleman and and Winsome Jean who is of the Antioch Church recently moved here from Houston. Are there others who are worshiping with us who are not members of this church? We are glad to have you share with us in our services and we extend to you a warm

00:34:04.960 - 00:34:55.000

welcome. We hope that the service will be a source of strength and blessing. This sister Verna Coleman's guest is that right? All right thank you very much for being here. [ Background noise ] [ Music ]

00:34:55.000 - 00:35:47.000

I am the builder of castle and wall, and I lay the stone in the temple wall. I made the stone, and I raised the tower, and wise the glory of strength and power. For I am the beager of Indy's field, The song of the sledge as its echoes ring.

00:35:47.000 - 00:36:22.980

I am the beager who walks with thee, the glory of the city of great Chelsea. At last, I'll rise to the arch of the skies, For I am the builder of love within.

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I am the builder of forest and grove. I am the hand that has young and man, the peak of the mountain, the pet of the sea. I am the maker of worlds that be.

00:37:07.940 - 00:37:40.920

Yes, I am the builder of suns and seas, the master of human destiny. I am the builder who walks with me. The glory of souls is known, shall see.

00:37:40.920 - 00:38:09.900

And I build with a soul that is free and bold, For I am the builder and walk with me. [music] Amen.

00:38:09.900 - 00:38:39.580

Hear this word which is found in 1 Corinthians 12, chapter 12-14. For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many are one body, so also is Christ. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,

00:38:39.580 - 00:38:51.440

whether we be bond or free, and have all been baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free,

00:38:51.440 - 00:39:13.340

and have all been made to drink into one spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. The subject of the message, when the body praises God.

00:39:13.340 - 00:39:47.520

When the body praises God. Ours is a time when much emphasis is placed on body building. Considerable care is given to physical exercise. We run, jog, walk,

00:39:47.520 - 00:40:14.560

engage in gymnastics as a part of building up the body, keeping the body in good condition so that the body is healthy and strong. Paul uses the image of bodybuilding and referring to the church as the body of Christ.

00:40:14.560 - 00:40:47.960

It's most appropriate that we should consider this word because it helps us to understand the nature and function of the Church, our relationship to one another as people of God. This particular word is part of a letter written by the Apostle to the First Baptist Church of Corinth.

00:40:47.960 - 00:41:21.760

The Church is located in a sprawling metropolis, beautifully and strategically situated in Mediterranean Sea. It is a port city bristling and sparkling with commercial activity. Corinth is the stopping point for sea captains and merchants. Corinth is the wealthiest and most important city in Greece.

00:41:24.720 - 00:41:41.560

Corriff was more heavily populated than any other city. It was a cosmopolitan city inhabited by people of many races, classes.

00:41:41.560 - 00:42:10.640

But with all of its advantages, Corriff had its drawbacks. It was a hotbed of immorality and idle worship. In Caryth was the great temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. 1,000 sacred prostitutes served as priestesses

00:42:10.640 - 00:42:29.960

under cover of darkness. These ladies of the evening practice their trade upon the streets of this wicked city. Paul

00:42:29.960 - 00:42:55.440

establishes a church in Corinth and he remains there for a year and six months longer than he stayed at any other place in the course of his pastoral ministry save Ephesus. But as we look in upon the church at the writing of this epistle

00:42:55.440 - 00:43:17.000

the people of God in Carith are confronting many difficulties. The church is in trouble. The church in Carith is a problem church. It is besieged by a sea of troubles

00:43:17.000 - 00:43:54.120

There is the problem of marriage, whether to live a single life, whether to be a bachelor, a bachelorette, or whether to just shack up. There is a problem as to whether Christians should live outside or should marry rather outside of their faith. There is the problem of diet, what to eat and what not to eat. There is the problem of incest, marrying members

00:43:54.120 - 00:44:21.400

that are blood kin. Then there is the problem of worship involving various expressions of freedom and disorders at the Lord's table. Then there was also the theological problem of the denial of the resurrection, whether this body will really rise again.

00:44:21.400 - 00:44:43.040

No question about it. Here is a church buffeted about by tempestuous winds and angry waves. First of all, the Church of Corinth is torn by internal strife and plagued by demonic divisions.

00:44:43.040 - 00:44:58.840

They are divided over preachers. Some preferred Peter. They liked his evangelistic preaching style. They like some members of the black community who have a preference for preachers who are

00:44:58.840 - 00:45:29.620

called hoopers. Some preferred the preaching of Apollos, an orator who tickled their fancy with beautiful words and phrases skillfully arranged and delivered with melodious sounds. Others preferred Paul, a dull speaker but a profound and systematic theologian. So the church body is split over

00:45:29.620 - 00:45:55.940

personalities, divided over pastors. They're not only divided over leaders, they are confused over their servanthood, jealous and envious of each other. And so it is to this particular situation that Paul addresses his letter in which he says that the church is one body. Although it has many members, the church

00:45:55.940 - 00:46:23.100

is one body. Now Greeks glorified the body. They placed a great deal of emphasis upon the body. They gave it serious attention and care. So the analogy of the body is meaningful to the Greek world. It also shows how Christ interacts with culture. Listen again to Paul's body language, "For as the body is

00:46:23.100 - 00:46:58.180

one and hath many members and all the members of that body being many are one body so also is Christ." E pluribus unum, many in one, is a Latin motto that we have on our money. It expresses the fact that while America is made up of many peoples from various backgrounds that it is one country. Yes, many individuals with

00:46:58.180 - 00:47:30.380

different experiences but one nation. So it is with the church, one body. This expresses the unity of the Church, for the body is a mysterious and magnificent expression of the unity of the people of God. Soldiers of the cross engaged in the march towards Celestial City joyfully saying, "We are not divided. All one body

00:47:30.380 - 00:47:59.620

we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity. It's often said that the church is not an organization but an organism for the church is a the living body of Christ. So the life of the church is evident in oneness, in commonality, in community. This was true from the very beginning at Pentecost it is said of the

00:47:59.620 - 00:48:36.740

church they were all in one accord and after Pentecost it is said that they had all things in common that they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in the breaking of bread and in prayers and that they were all together. And so you see when the body praises God the church shares a common

00:48:36.740 - 00:49:07.540

life and though we have different lifestyles we share life in Christ together. The strength of the body is in its unity for the body has many members The smallest member of the body is as important as the largest member. In the church there is no such thing as the big I and the little you. For the eye, the ear,

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the hand, each individual member of the body has a particular function and the The body can only function properly when each member fulfills his or her duty. There are many individuals in the church. Everyone's different.

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You see there is a diversity. We don't all look alike and thank God for that. We don't all act alike. Thank God for that.

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We are all different. We are individuals. Each of us is surrounded by a peculiar set of circumstances, yet this diversity gives birth to a marvelous expression of unity.

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We are different, yet we are the same in that we are members of the same family. We are many but one. We are members of the same body and the same blood moves in that body and affects all of the members of that body for it is that blood that keeps the body alive, the same air that

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is breathed that keeps the body alive. Different, yes, but all members of one body, many but one. The many members of the church have various functions, but working together they constitute Christ's body.

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He has no hands but our hands to do his work today. He has no feet but our feet to lead men in his way. He has no voice but our voice to tell men how he died. He has no help but our help to lead them to his side.

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side. At the head of the body Paul puts the Apostles. You see these are the authority figures. The Apostles experienced the presence of Jesus and lived in close contact with him. The person who lives in the body of Christ has apostolic authority. The body is sent to the world. Jesus says as the Father

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has sent me so send I you. And as the body of Christ the church has apostolic authority in the world because the church is made up of persons who live in the presence of Jesus Christ and who have been authorized by him who have been empowered by him to serve for him and with him in his world. Every church

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must have a pastor as everybody must have a head and nobody has several heads. I remember when I went to the fair in Dallas when I was just a boy back in the 30s and one of the scenes there was a calf that had two heads and whenever you find anything that has several heads it's a monstrosity. There are prophets,

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teachers, administrators, others may be added to the list, deacons, trustees, choir members, ushers, on and on the list goes. All are members of one body. The body praises God when church auxiliaries, officers, and members are not striving against each other but working together harmoniously for the common good. Members

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of the same body need not be jealous of each other. The head need not be jealous of the hand. The eye need not be jealous of the ear. Each exists for the mutual benefit of the other. The pastor should not be jealous of the deacons nor should the deacons be jealous of the pastor. Trustees and deacons should not be

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jealous of each other, each has a job to do, each needs the other, members of the body of Christ share their life together. Now when church members are rightly related to one another as the body of Christ then God is praised. Fellowship is shared together and you know it is in coming to the Lord's table that we have

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a concrete expression of this fellowship. It's the fellowship that we share around the Lord's table. It's an expression of the ties that bind us together. The community, the oneness, the relationship shared in Christ's body is not something created by our own efforts we can only help build it up because it already

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exists we become members you see of the community through baptism we share the blessed hope in Christ we share in his baptism we covenant to live his life in the world so you see the body of Christ just does not exist for itself no church exists just for itself. When the church is the church, the church exists

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primarily to serve others. So the body is called and sent to the world to serve. So Jesus in the days of his flesh went about on this earth doing good and just what the body of Christ was doing when the body of Christ walked this earth years ago is what the body of Christ is represented in the church is to be doing

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today. Jesus went about teaching and preaching, healing and casting out all manner of diseases and casting out demons, healing all manner of diseases and casting out demons. The church as the body of Christ is endowed with peculiar body language. The body of Christ has something to say to the world

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and that body must say it. The destiny of the human family depends upon response to what the body says. For God has entrusted the church with the Word of Life. The body praises God by being faithful to the proclamation of the good news of God's rule. It's good news to know that God rules this world. Christ

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has called people of all nations, of all kindred and tongue, Jew and Gentile, learned and unlearned, rich and poor, to be part of his body. And when the church is obedient to the Father's will, God is praised. And we are obedient to the Father's will when we are busy working for freedom, working for the liberation

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of those who are in bondage, in bondage to sin, working for freedom that they might be liberated from the dungeons from the dark prison house of sin, working for justice in the world. So much injustice and yet the people of God are to be praised when they are busy working that people might have justice

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that justice may roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream and the people of God are to be praised the body is to be praised when the body is busy working for peace blessed are you when you are called peacemakers for peacemakers shall be called the children of God." So the fellowship of the body is

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evident I say at the Lord's table. It's here that the body is provided food that is necessary for the body's strength. It's here that the body remembers for the body looks back to that life, to that work, and to that sacrifice, that suffering, that death, and that resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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And then we look forward to that day when we shall be at the table, that great banquet in the kingdom of God when we shall all sit at the welcome table. And so it's at the table of the Lord that we have a fellowship and we hear the words of our Lord saying that those who are busy and working with him and doing his

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will, he says this is my body, this is my body. And you see that body has certain marks. You see it has the mark of suffering, it has the mark of persecution. Paul says, "My body, I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Nail scarred hands, a wound in the side, nail pierced feet, that body bears the marks of our Lord

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Jesus Christ. And so he reminds us at his table, "This is my body." We are to suffer, We're to sacrifice for him and we also hear him as he comes back following the resurrection as that body you see was crucified as it was dead and buried it's resurrected and he says to the witnesses of the resurrection this is my body.

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Look Thomas, look at my nails scarred hands, look at the marks that are there, this is my body. yes I was crucified I was dead but I am risen now I'm alive forevermore this is my body and members of Christ's body we hear the word addressed to us by Paul be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your

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minds so the church is Christ's body. That's the body that Christ has in the world to go into the highways and hedges and so Christ walks with us. He's our eternal contemporary. This is the body that is with us when we pass through the darkest valley. We can fight the most difficult battles. We can carry the

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heaviest burden. We can experience the most agonizing sorrow. This is my body, caring, loving, serving. When the body does this, Christ cries out, "This is my body." When you read that passage, "Many but One," how does this really happen? Well, the way it really happens is through the Spirit. It's the gift of the Spirit. It's a mystery.

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it. But it-- [BLANK_AUDIO]