Vanishing Beggar's Gold 20

You may have spent years looking for a church where you are at home. One thing I wish I understood long ago was the liberating truth of Romans 12:3-8. Here Paul pokes his finger on some nerves that are tender in every church. But he also helps us to question whether or not it my be our own personal assessment of what church should be that is hindering us from being joyfully committed to a local body of believers.
Haven't we all had occasion to be offended by something in a local church that we don't like? Haven't we all been faced with people in the church whose only aim it is to rule with unquestioned authority? Haven't we all known what it is like to function in such a small way in the church that you wonder if your little gift (if you have one at all) is of any universal value at all.
If you have been subject to these influences, you should be warned and encouraged by this message. The church, when she functions in the way God has designed her to function, is a beautiful body. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus, you are already a part of the true body of Christ. Here is how you can contribute to her glory!