Zac Poonen teaches that the Body of Christ is a unified fellowship like a family, where believers love one another genuinely and serve together with diverse gifts. This sermon emphasizes the importance of loving one another and growing in fellowship within the church. It challenges the common belief that people will know we are disciples of Jesus by how we love them, instead highlighting Jesus' words that true disciples are recognized by their love for one another. The speaker shares personal insights on building strong relationships within the church, moving away from a consumer mentality towards a family-oriented approach where members belong to one another.
Full Transcript
Where we love one another and grow. We're not, we're trying our best not to seek our own, but seek the good of the other. That's why Jesus said, you know that wonderful verse John chapter 13 and verse 34 and 35? All men will know you're my disciples when you love them.
No, when you love one another. It's an amazing verse. It doesn't fit with my logic.
My logic, and what a lot of Christians also think like that, is people will know that you are disciples of Jesus when you love them. Doesn't that sound more right? God says my ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts.
As the heavens are high above the earth, so are the my ways above your ways. All men will know you're my disciples when you love one another. I accept the word of Jesus and not the teaching of psychology that people will know you're Christians when you love them.
That'll come, but I go by Jesus words. Love one another means I'm built in a fellowship with one another. A church, this is the church that Jesus is building, and for myself I have come to see that this is the way I know I'm growing.
I spoke of humility and thanksgiving, but then my fellowship with my fellow believers is getting better and better and better and better. That I'm getting more integrated with the local church God's put me as a part of. I'm not like a butterfly going from this flower to that flower to the other flower to the other flower.
Where can I get some honey now? Which church, which preacher is coming here and which preacher is coming there? This is like butterflies going from flower to flower to flower, or like people go from restaurant to restaurant, Thai restaurant. Oh no, I think I better go for Chinese now, or Indian food. This is how a lot of people go to churches to suit their tastes, but what about a family? You better eat what mama's made, whether it's Chinese or Thai or nothing.
That's a family. We're not going according to taste. We belong to one another.
We love one another. We're not just listening to great sermons. We're building fellowship.
Don't think the best church is the one that's got the best preacher. It's not true. It's a restaurant in a family.
So you belong to a family. See, preaching is a matter of gift, and God doesn't give it to everybody. I've seen that.
I know God gave me this gift when I was 23 years old. It's just like that. I know more than anybody else, it's not something I could produce.
You can't produce something when you're 23. I'd been baptized only two years before that. God chose me for a particular task, gave me that gift, and I don't expect anybody to have my gift, and I don't think you should expect anybody else to have a gift God's given to someone, because if preaching was the most important thing that God saw to be in the body of Christ, do you know that God could have just as easily given the gift he gave me to hundreds and thousands of other people? All of you would have been able to preach, just like me, without a problem, but God says, no, this is what I give him, this is what I give this other person, and all of us are needed.
Like the Bible says, if everything was a tongue, what sort of body would that be? Just tongues everywhere, all over the place, or eyes everywhere, or little fingers everywhere? No, that's not the body.
Sermon Outline
I. The Command to Love One Another
Jesus' teaching in John 13:34-35 on love as the mark of discipleship
Love one another as the foundation of Christian fellowship
God's ways surpass human logic and psychology
II. The Church as a Family, Not a Marketplace
Belonging to one local church as a family
Rejecting the consumer mindset of church hopping
Commitment to the fellowship regardless of personal tastes
III. Diversity of Gifts in the Body of Christ
Preaching as a gift given by God to some, not all
The necessity of different gifts for a healthy body
Unity in diversity within the church body
Key Quotes
“All men will know you're my disciples when you love one another.” — Zac Poonen
“We're not like butterflies going from flower to flower; we belong to one another like a family.” — Zac Poonen
“If everything was a tongue, what sort of body would that be? Just tongues everywhere, all over the place.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
Commit to one local church family and cultivate genuine love and fellowship with its members.
Recognize and appreciate the diverse spiritual gifts God has given to different believers.
Grow spiritually by practicing humility, thanksgiving, and deeper integration within your church community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to love one another in the church?
It means seeking the good of others above ourselves and building genuine fellowship within the local church family.
Why should Christians avoid 'church hopping'?
Because the church is like a family where commitment and belonging are more important than personal preferences or tastes.
Are all believers expected to have the gift of preaching?
No, God distributes different spiritual gifts to different members of the body for the church to function properly.
How can we know if we are growing spiritually?
One sign is increasing humility, thanksgiving, and deeper fellowship with fellow believers in your local church.
(Clip) The Body of Christ is a Fellowship like a Family
Zac Poonen
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3:51
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