18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:18-27 (NLT)
WHY YOU MATTER
If you attend a local church, this Scripture in 1 Corinthians applies to you: you are a part of the body. And Paul takes it a step further—he says you and I are integral parts of this body, whether we realize it or not.
Can you imagine arriving at church on a Sunday morning and finding no volunteers? No one directing traffic in the parking lots. No one opening doors for guests. No one teaching children about Jesus. No musicians on stage using their talents to lead worship.
If you’re a parent, you know just how meaningful it is to have those special people who serve in classrooms on Sunday mornings, pouring into young lives. Both of my sons came to know Jesus at age seven. Sure, they were being raised by a mom and dad who love Jesus, but they also learned Bible stories, made crafts, sang songs, and attended VBS and countless other events—where adults made it a priority to give their time to invest in their spiritual growth.
In fact, two volunteers—Miss Lynn and Miss Camellia—served in the first-grade classroom and continued to follow my boys’ lives even through high school graduation. They each sent them cards and a gift! They understood the meaning of influence, and they took it seriously.
Another volunteer, Mr. Rick, taught both of my boys in third grade at NorthStar. Many years later, his company generously sponsored their youth baseball teams. And Mr. Daniel was a mentor and group leader for one of my sons in high school. Every time I see him at church, he still asks how Chandler is doing. That’s influence.
You probably have your own examples—men and women who made a lasting impression on your life, or your kids’ lives. They’re precious. And we couldn’t “do church” without them.
How about you? Have you found your place? Whether it’s at NorthStar Church or another local church, there’s someone who needs you.
Maybe you’ve never considered yourself valuable enough to positively influence another life. But that’s not God’s voice telling you that. He wants you to know that just like Miss Lynn, Miss Camellia, Mr. Rick, and Mr. Daniel—you have something incredible to offer… if you’re willing to give it a try.
C.A. Phillips serves as Communications Pastor and Director of Men’s Groups at NorthStar Church. He is a graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, and he loves the Dawgs and the Atlanta Braves. He has two (grown) boys and lives in Kennesaw with his wife, Amy, and their German Shepherd, Abby.
