“Even though we are many individuals, Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other.” Rom.  12:5 (GW)

4 METAPHORS

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SPIRITUALLY CONNECTED

1.  IT’S LIKE BEING __________________________________­­_

“In Christ you are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” Eph.  2:22 (NRSV)

 
“You are a like a building that was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets as its foundation, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.  In him the whole structure is welded together and rises into a sacred temple in the Lord, and in him you are yourselves built into this to form a dwelling for God.” Eph.  2:20-22 (Moffat)

      In BUILDINGS, a disconnected frame ____________________

2.   IT’S LIKE BEING ___________________________________

      “… In Christ's Body we're all connected to each other.  When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.” Eph. 4:25 (Mes)

       “Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ's

       Body.  We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make

       it complete, for we each have different work to do.  So we belong

       to each other, and each of us needs all the others.”

       Romans 12:4-5(LB)

      “They are not connected to Christ, the head of the Body.  But we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.” Col. 2:19 (NLT)

      In a BODY, a disconnected part _________________________

3.   IT’S LIKE BEING __________________________________

      Jesus “Live in me, and I will live in you.  A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself.  It has to stay attached to the vine.  In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me:” John 15:4 (GW)

      “God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are

       God's children.”   Rom. 8:16 (TEV)

      ON PLANTS, a disconnected branch _____________________

4.  IT’S LIKE BEING __­­_________________________________

      “I want you to know how people who are members of God's family must live.  God's family is the church…” 1 Tim. 3:15 (GW)

      “You will all be joined together, and you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.” Rom. 15:6-7 (NCV)

       In a FAMILY, a disconnected member____________________

      “I beg you, brothers and sisters...  to be completely joined together     by having the same kind of thinking and the same PURPOSE.” 1 Cor. 1:10 (NCV)