ARE YOU IN THE BODY?-ARE YOU CONNECTED?

The Body of Christ and the Church: A Call to Connection**

Every church is a member of the body of Christ. Each congregation is a distinct body of its own, yet inseparably connected to the greater body. To be truly joined to Christ, one must also be joined to His church, for the church is His body—the active, moving force within the world.

The question I pose to you today is this: Are you a member of the body? Are you truly in the body of Christ? Are you connected to the body through your local church? 

Without being a part of the local body, you are not fully connected to the greater body. Just as a limb cannot function apart from the body, so too does a believer need to be rooted in the church to fully participate in Christ’s mission.

I see two categories of people: 

1. Those who are members—fully joined in the body of Christ and actively engaged in their local church. 

2. Those who are connected but not yet committed—individuals who have the potential to become full members but have yet to take that step.

Our goal is clear: to take those who are connected and help them become members, fully immersed in the body, growing in faith, and contributing to the work of Christ.

The Body of Christ: A Living, Moving Entity

The body of Christ is not merely an idea or a symbolic representation—it is a living, breathing entity, actively operating in the world today. It is composed of many smaller bodies: local churches of all sizes—small, medium, and large—that stand upon the truth, preach the Acts 2:38 message, and align with the fundamental doctrines of Christ. To be truly connected to Christ, one must be joined to one of these bodies, for to be separated from them is to be disconnected from the body of Christ itself. 

However, connection alone is not enough. To fully become a member of the body, one must experience the transformation that Christ requires—being born of the water and of the Spirit (John 3:5) and committing oneself to a local church. Whether that church is large or small is irrelevant; what matters is the act of being joined, transformed into a living, active member of the body of Christ—the very bride of Christ. 

Within this framework, people fall into two categories. First, there are those who are members of the body—believers who are fully engaged, contributing, supporting, and moving alongside the local church and the body of Christ as a whole. These individuals are not passive observers; they are active participants, walking in faith and working together to fulfill God's purpose in their communities.

The second category consists of those who are connected but not yet fully committed. These are individuals who believe in God, who have faith in Him, and who are drawing closer to His truth—but they have not yet taken the step to become members of the body. They may be surrounded by believers, influenced by the movement of God, and even participate in church activities, yet they remain on the outskirts rather than fully embracing membership.

The mission is clear: to reach those who are connected and guide them into full membership, so they may be transformed into active participants in the body of Christ. It is not enough to simply be near the body; one must be part of it, moving with it, and growing within it. By leading individuals to commitment, we strengthen both the local body and the greater body of Christ, ensuring that His presence continues to thrive and move throughout the world.