Jim Bradshaw gives reasons why he loves the church of Christ in a multi-part sermon. He argues that the church is the body of Christ based on numerous biblical passages. Christ is the head of the body and the church consists of many members, though they form a single body. All members, regardless of apparent honor or function, are indispensable parts of the body. The church experiences suffering and rejoicing as one united body under Christ.

1. Why I Love the church of Christ, Part 1
Lesson Text: 1 Cor. 12:12-27
Maud church of Christ
By Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Evening, October 26, 2014

2. It is Not about the
building Act 20:28 ESV Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock,
in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church
of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Eph 5:25-33 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her, (26) that he might sanctify her, having
cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) so that he might
present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any
such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (28) In the same
way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his
wife loves himself. (29) For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes
and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, (30) because we are
members of his body. (31) "Therefore a man shall leave his father and
mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." (32)
This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the
church. (33) However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let
the wife see that she respects her husband.

3. I Love the church of Christ
Because It is the Body of Christ
Col 1:18 ESV And he is the head of the body,
the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in everything he might be
preeminent.
Eph 1:20-23 ESV that he worked in Christ when
he raised him from the dead and seated him at
his right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far
above all rule and authority and power and
dominion, and above every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
(22) And he put all things under his feet and
gave him as head over all things to the church,
(23) which is his body, the fullness of him
who fills all in all.

4. I Love the church of Christ
Because It is the Body of Christ
1Co 12:12-16 ESV For just as the body is one
and has many members, and all the members of the
body, though many, are one body, so it is with
Christ. (13) For in one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and
all were made to drink of one Spirit. (14) For the
body does not consist of one member but of many.
(15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a
hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not
make it any less a part of the body. (16) And if
the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do
not belong to the body," that would not make it
any less a part of the body.

5. I Love the church of Christ
Because It is the Body of Christ
1Co 12:17-22 ESV If the whole body were an
eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the
whole body were an ear, where would be the
sense of smell? (18) But as it is, God arranged
the members in the body, each one of them, as
he chose. (19) If all were a single member,
where would the body be? (20) As it is, there
are many parts, yet one body. (21) The eye
cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you,"
nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of
you." (22) On the contrary, the parts of the
body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

6. I Love the church of Christ
Because It is the Body of Christ
1Co 12:23-27 ESV and on those parts of the
body that we think less honorable we bestow the
greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are
treated with greater modesty, (24) which our
more presentable parts do not require. But God
has so composed the body, giving greater honor
to the part that lacked it, (25) that there may be
no division in the body, but that the members
may have the same care for one another. (26) If
one member suffers, all suffer together; if one
member is honored, all rejoice together. (27)
Now you are the body of Christ and
individually members of it.

7. I Love the church of Christ
Because It is the Body of Christ
1Co 12:12-16 ESV For just as the church is one
and has many members, and all the members of
the church, though many, are one church, so it is
with Christ. (13) For in one Spirit we were all
baptized into one church --Jews or Greeks, slaves
or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
(14) For the church does not consist of one
member but of many. (15) If the foot should say,
"Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the
church," that would not make it any less a part of
the church. (16) And if the ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the
church," that would not make it any less a part of
the church.

8. I Love the church of Christ
Because It is the Body of Christ
1Co 12:17-22 ESV If the whole church were an
eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the
whole church were an ear, where would be the
sense of smell? (18) But as it is, God arranged
the members in the church, each one of them, as
he chose. (19) If all were a single member,
where would the church be? (20) As it is, there
are many parts, yet one church. (21) The eye
cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you,"
nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of
you." (22) On the contrary, the parts of the
church that seem to be weaker are
indispensable,

9. I Love the church of Christ
Because It is the Body of Christ
1Co 12:23-27 ESV and on those parts of the
church that we think less honorable we bestow
the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are
treated with greater modesty, (24) which our
more presentable parts do not require. But God
has so composed the church, giving greater
honor to the part that lacked it, (25) that there
may be no division in the church, but that the
members may have the same care for one
another. (26) If one member suffers, all suffer
together; if one member is honored, all rejoice
together. (27) Now you are the church of
Christ and individually members of it.

10. I Love the church of Christ
Because It is the Body of Christ
Gal 3:27 ESV For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Eph 4:4-6 ESV There is one body and one
Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope
that belongs to your call-- (5) one Lord, one
faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father
of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Rom 16:16 ESV Greet one another with a holy
kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.