Why is the Church called the Body of Christ?

A Daily Podcast brought to you by Anglican Futures designed to help you pray. Just confession, catechism, creed and collects. Short and simple. If you want to discover what else Anglican Futures offers – blogs, events and practical support - please visit our website www.anglicanfutures.org   TRANSCRIPT Hello and welcome to “In All Our Doings” – brought to you daily by Anglican Futures. For those who are unfamiliar with our podcast, it is simply confession, catechism, creed and collects, and we pray you will be encouraged by all you hear.   We begin with Confession Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Today’s question from the Anglican Catechism, To Be a Christian is Why is the Church called the Body of Christ? To which the answer is given The Church is called the Body of Christ because all who belong to the Church are united to Christ as their Head and source of life, and are united to one another in Christ for mutual love and service to him. (Romans 12:4–5; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:25–30) And so our bible reading is from 1 Corinthians chapter 12 beginning at verse 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.   The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen Let us pray Our Father in Heaven Hallowed be your name Your kingdom come Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven Give us today our daily bread And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from the evil one For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever Amen   Today’s Collects O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Go before us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favour, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, through your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Final Words May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.   If you have found this episode of “In All Our Doings helpful – why not like it, share it with friends and family or subscribe to the podcast?  If you have any thoughts or questions about today’s episode, please leave a comment or contact us through our website www.anglicanfutures.org .  Bible readings are taken from the English Standard Version with permission from Crossway.  The liturgy comes from the ACNA Book of Common Prayer 2019. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language