After the first disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples began to rapidly multiply. The church grew from around 150 disciples to thousands as God moved and added to their numbers everyday. Thousands of new believers were baptized in the ceremonial mikvah pools (ritual baths) located near the Jerusalem Temple. 

The Book of Acts records the growth of the early church as the Gospel spreads from Jerusalem, to Judea, Samaria, then up to Antioch. Eventually churches are established throughout the Roman Empire in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey, Ephesus, Smyrna), Ancient Greece (Thessaloniki, Berea, Athens, Corinth), and onto Rome.  

How were the churches organized, who led them, and how did they function? Most of the New Testament letters known as the Epistles of Paul and the General Epistles provide us with the answers to those questions. One of those letter is 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Paul describes a local church as a body with many parts but only one head. 

This Sunday, we will consider how the church as the body of Christ is to function in the healthiest way. How important are you as part of the body of Christ? Do you have any idea what your purpose is and part of Christ's body and are you fulfilling it?