日期：1/20/08
經文：哥林多前書12：12-27
題目：無分軒輊
主旨：既然神看每個人都是寶貴，那麼在神家並沒無名小卒

引言：
今天是“生命尊嚴”主日。在這一天，全國各地的教會將紀念生命的聖潔和尊嚴。由于這是一個關于生命的主題，讓我們來簡單回顧一下生物學的基礎知識。
幾個星期以前我向大家提到過，我的高中同學們在闊別四十五年之后再次重新連絡。我們彼此發送大家的照片，有一張是在1962年照的，另一張則是最近剛拍的。大家立刻注意到頭髮數量和身材體態的變化，我想每個人幾乎是每一年長一磅左右。
既然提到了頭頭髮，就讓我再多說幾句。每個人的頭部有大約十萬個毛囊。在人的一生中，每個毛囊會長出二十根頭髮。有些人可能已經用完了這二十根頭髮的“配額”。
人的大腦又怎樣呢？人類通過大腦進行藝術創造、語言溝通，判斷是非和理性思考。大腦還決定了人的性格、記憶、運動和對世界的感應。所有這一切都是來自于大腦中一塊大約三磅（一點四公斤）左右的脂肪和蛋白質的膠狀混合體。那是人體最大的器官，由一千億個神經元細胞組成，不僅影響人類的思維和協調身體的動作，還控制著無意識的生理過程，比如消化和呼吸。
再來說說心臟吧。心臟是身體的引擎，負責通過六萬英里（九萬七千公里）長的血管為人體輸送生命的血液。心臟的工作從不停歇，每分鐘收縮和舒張大約七十到八十次，一天十萬次，一年就達到四千萬次，一生總計大約三十億次。它確保身體得到新鮮的氧氣和營養物，同時清理體內有害的物質。
來看看皮膚。皮膚是人體的最外層器官，一個成人的皮膚大約重八磅（三點六公斤），面積達二十二平方英尺（二平方米）左右。皮膚的作用遠不止給我們一個“外形”；事實上，沒有皮膚的話，肉體就會蒸發消失。皮膚是人體的防水層和絕緣層，為我們抵擋高溫、日曬和有害化學物質。皮膚能夠分泌抵抗細菌的物質防止肉體受到感染，它能制造維他命D，將鈣物質轉化成健康的骨骼。皮膚是一個由神經元組成的身體感應器，大腦是通過皮膚和外界保持“接觸”。同時，皮膚還能令我們行動自如，這表明它是一個不可思議的“多面手”器官。
讓我們回到頭髮。假設你還有十萬根頭髮。如果我拔掉一根，僅僅是十萬根中的一根，你會有什么感覺？其實就算是拔掉十萬根中的一根，你也會感到疼。如果大腦中的一兩個細胞停止工作，心跳的速度變得稍快或稍慢，某個表皮細胞的分裂速度加快，都將引起災難。大家都知道舌頭上如果長了潰瘍是什么感覺：疼痛，影響食欲，令人感覺糟糕。牙疼怎么樣？僅僅是一顆小小的牙齒能產生鉆心的疼，令人無法吃喝，日常生活受到嚴重影響。我記得曾經有一段時間在等著為一顆前牙加牙套。臨時用的那個壞了。在那段等候的日子里，我說話和發笑的時候都要捂著嘴。有人可能會說：那只不過是一個小小的前牙。但是，就是缺少了這小小的一部分，整個身體的功能受到了影響. 如果我有一個“塌鼻子”，它會影響我的外表，甚至令人自慚形穢。
人體里沒有哪個部分是不重要的，所有的器官都是不可或缺的。如果某一個地方出了問題，整個身體都會受到影响；當問題被解決以后，身體又會恢复健康。
這就是我們剛才所讀的經文的意義所在。在這一章里，保羅把教會比作人的身體。12節“正如身體是一個，卻有許多肢體，而且肢體雖然很多，身體仍是一個；基督也是這樣。。”他提出：教會就像人的身體，由許多肢體組成。肢體之間互不相同，但是每一個都是重要的。在這個社團里的每一個成員雖然互不相同，但是每一位都是重要的。有些人有才华,天赋和多樣恩賜，有些人則普通和平凡；有些人經濟上寬裕，有些人則囊中羞羞澀。在身體和情感上，有些人堅強和健康；有些人則軟弱和無力。
雖然在基督徒的社團里具有多樣性，保羅提醒我們：是神把我們招聚到一起。18節“但現在　神按照自己的意思，把肢體一一放在身體上。”因為是神把我們聚集在一起，所以我們人不能够決定哪個肢體是有用的，哪個肢體是多余的。21節“眼睛不能對手說：“我不需要你。”頭也不能對腳說：“我不需要你們。”神把軟弱的放在剛强的边上，把貧窮的放在富足的邊上。
這段經文清楚地向我們傳遞一個真理：因為神把我們招聚到一起，所以，在這個被救赎的團體里，沒有一個人是不重要的，也沒有任何“小人物”。因為我們是按照神的形象被造的，每一個人都带着神的形象，所以在神的眼里，人人都是重要和宝贵的。在這個社團里，就好象人的身體一樣，各個肢體彼此需要，互相依赖。26節“如果一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦；如果一個肢體得榮耀，所有的肢體就一同快樂。”
這對于我們有什么意義？我們對這段經文所阐述的真理非常熟悉。當討論属灵恩赐的時候，我們會提到這段經文；當討論在教會里的服事時，我們也會提到這段經文。今天早上，我想在生命的尊嚴方面，從這段經文里引申几個应用。

I. 我們要接納每一位神帶來這個被救贖的群體
讓我們再來看看第21節的經文“眼睛不能對手說：“我不需要你。”頭也不能對腳說：“我不需要你們。”在人體里，這是無法想象的。 如果我們失去了一条腿，可以按一個假肢；如果沒有头发，可以戴假发。但是，基督的身體怎么办？保羅之所以写這封信是因為在當時的哥林多教會，有一些信徒的言行舉止之間，透露出他們的一個心態：有些人是無足轻重的，所以教會不需要他們。我們可能會說“這是個什么樣的教會啊？”或者“你期待哥林多教會能给你什么？”不過，在我們指责别人的時候，是否应该先對自己有一個剖析？
在不同的教會里，我听說過一些這樣的言论：
“我們都是高級知識分子，無法和那些沒有什么教育程度的人談話。”
“他/她的衣着風格跟我們格格不入，跟我們在一起他/她會不舒服。”
“我們實在無法再接待離異或者單親的家庭了，他們占据了我們小組太多的資源。”
“這個单身小組不符合我們教會的事工目標，所以我們不能再继续照顧這個小組。”
“我們小組不能為那些遭受虐待的人士提供幫助，他們和我們生活在完全不同的世界里。”
“我們沒有場地和資源去服事有特殊需要的人士。”
我們都或多或少听過這樣的言论，或許自己就說過這樣的话。我們當然不是萬能的，但是在這些话语的背后有什么共同的心態呢？我們這里真的不需要你，請去其他地方吧。是不是就是因為這個原因，許多人离开了教會，再也沒有回來？
有時候，教會领袖，包括我們這些牧師，會花很多時間在一些我們觉得對教會有重要影响的人士身上。他們更有天赋和恩赐；為這里的事工出力最多。他們是重要人物；所以，我們要在他們身上多花時間．　我還記得剛出來牧會時，　有一位會友對我說，“身為牧師，大概你需要有很多的時間與教會的長老執事一起，來幫助他們與你配合。”這幾年當我越想這句話時，我們在傳遞一個怎樣的信息給會眾？這給人的印象就是其他人都不重要。如果有人說“我對你來說不重要，所以我不想占用你的時間“，我會感到很傷心。這表明我們的工作做得不對。不錯耶稣用不少時間和十二使徒在一起，但是他的大部分公开宣教的時間也是花在穷人和弱者身上，花在一些被社會认為是無用的人身上。
經文明确告诉我們: 18節“但現在　神按照自己的意思，把肢體一一放在身體上。”24節“…但　神卻這樣把身體組成了…”在神的眼里，每個人都是很宝贵的，　是沒有小人物的。神把我們每一個人招放聚在這里。只有神決定誰在那一個教會。
我們的责任是接納神所带领进入我們教會的每一位。要记住神把贫穷的放在富有的身边，把軟弱的放在剛强的身边，聰明能幹的放在不怎聰明的身旁，果斷的放在優柔寡斷的身旁，好讓我們得以服事他們。如果你比别人拥有的多一些，那么就应该去幫助那些缺乏的人。那些不太聰明和果斷的人可幫助別人更有耐性．　我們是互相的幫助與倚靠．這就是耶稣說的：“你若行在那最小的身上，就是行在我的身上了。”
我很高兴看到我們教會开始关注并且向那些有特殊需要的人群提供幫助。我們向身體和感情軟弱的人伸出我們的手。有些人長途跋涉來到休斯顿就医，神给了我們机會來关心他們，幫助他們經历生命最重大的医治：和神的关系得到和好。

II．我們要照顧那些軟弱的人和支援那些無助的人

神將不同的人帶進這個身體．唯有祂決定誰在這教會．我們不能決定我們需要誰或不需要誰。但是，在我們的社會里，却經常在這個問題上做裁決。我們時常听到這樣一些声音：
“我們現在实在负担不起生養小孩。我們还沒有存夠錢买房子。在財务上，我們还沒有准备好。”
“我們現在正处在事业的上升期，沒有時間來照顾孩子。”
“現在這個時候生小孩实在是不方便。”
“我們為什么要鼓勵別人生下不想要的孩子呢？我們應該允許人們在懷孕期間，隨時有權墜胎。”
“照料沒人要的孩子對社會是一個负担。”
“一個女人应该有权決定如何处置腹中的婴儿。”
“照料一個残疾的婴儿负担太重了。另外，這個小孩将來的生活怎么办？”
“你怎么承受得了生产四胞胎時要受的痛苦？你应该考虑有选择性的减少。”
“既然你自己沒有办法作出正确的決定，那么就讓社會來為你做決定把。”
“那些過了一定歲數的人生活已經毫無質量，對社會沒有貢獻，只是別人的負擔。安樂死有什么不可以呢？”
最近的家庭雜誌有這樣的一個報導．在瑞士，如有人有在精神上無法承擔的痛苦，可以合法地向醫生尋求幫助來結束自己的生命．Robert and Jennifer Stokes 3 年前在瑞士因吞食大量至死的藥而死亡．５９歲的ｓ先生患有羊廎瘋病，５３歲的夫人患有糖尿病和背部的毛病．　但兩人都不是患絕症和臨死的人。在奧利岡州，臨終的病人可向醫生要取致死的藥物．另有幾個州也正朝這方向在走．
知不知道是怎麼一回事？我們，和這個社會已經常在裁決誰有用、誰沒有用。我們要留下有用的，除去對社會無貢獻的人。
當我們听到在非洲的某些地區，人們的生活極度貧困，艾滋疫情泛滥時，却依然無动于衷。這就等同于說“我們不在乎你，你對我們沒有甚麼用處。我們不需要你。你不適合在迢世上生存。”
聖經清楚地教導我們：26節“如果一個肢體受苦，所有的肢體就一同受苦；如果一個肢體得榮耀，所有的肢體就一同快樂。”他們不是這社團的一份子，但是許多人都是神普世教會里的肢體；他們現在还不是基督徒，但是不少人以后會回应神的呼召，成為基督里的肢體。神把他們安排在我們身邊，僅僅是十六個小時的飛行距离。為什么呢？好使我們能感受到他們所受的苦，也和他們一起受苦。我們不單要感受到他們的痛，我們向他們伸出我們的手．我們要替那些無聲的人說話，幫助那些無助的人．包括了沒生下來的胎兒，年長的，身體和精神上有障礙的人．　
我們很多人都聽聞有關Joni Eraeckson　的故事．在１９６７年，一次游泳的意外，造成了她從頸部以下全部 癱瘓．在過去４０年，她就在輪椅上度日。目前她在一個機構裡服事，專幫助年長與障礙的人處理醫療的問題．
去年，我們教會長執會表決通過一個決議：我們要投入幫助非洲地區窮人和艾滋病危機的行動中。在接下來的几個月里，你們將听到有關這個事工的消息。我向神禱告：愿我們的教會能尽我們的所能，幫助在本地與那些大洋彼岸的弱小的肢體。
我們要幫助那弱小與貧困的人．我們可以奉獻金錢與時間給那些專服事被社會遺忘之人群的機構．我們可以參與監獄的義工．　我心中十分得到鼓勵，因我們開始幫助那些有特殊需要的孩童與成人．我們也有人作義工幫助危機懷孕的婦女和家庭暴力的受害者．也有人在幫助各樣病人，特別是患有癌症者．
當我們幫助這些軟弱的人，當我們使他們剛強時，我們就在使這些肢體得榮耀．當他們得榮耀時，我們就能一起的歡樂．　

結論：
教會就像人的身體，由各個部分組成，每一個部分都是不可或缺的。神把這些不同的肢體放在一起，有些剛強和健康，有些有恩赐，才能，有財富；还有一些軟弱和贫困。我們在一起組成了基督在本地的身體。在基督這個身體裡，沒有一位是小人物，每一位都是重要的。
在這教會，包括了牧師們，長老與執事，都要記住，不要將人當作一樣物件來對待，是我們可以隨意使用，用後又可丟掉。　我們對弟兄姊妹們的心意不是你們對教會有何貢獻，也不是你們如何使這教會更多的增長。　我們必須看視每一位都有那內在的價值，我們要以尊嚴來對待每一個人。我們愛你和關心你，因為你是萬分的寶貴，因在你裡面有神的形象。　

Date:   1/20/08

Text:   1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Title:   No Little People

Theme: Since every person is precious to God, there are no little people in the body of Christ

Introduction:

  Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday. On this day, churches across this country are reminded of the sanctity and dignity of life. Since its about life, lets take a brief review of Biology 101.

  I mentioned to you earlier that my high school class is getting reconnected after 45 years. We have been sending pictures of ourselves to each other. We sent one picture taken in 1962 and another one taken recently. Immediately we notice the little amount of hair still remaining and our body size. I guess we gained an average of 1lb per year.

Since we're on the subject of hair, let's take a look at this. There are about 100,000 hair follicles on a person's head. Each follicle can grow 20 hairs in a person's life time. Some of us have already used up that 20.

How about our brain? It is that part of the body that gives us the capacity for art, language, moral judgments, and rational thought. It's also responsible for each individual's personality, memories, movements, and how we sense the world. All this comes from a jellylike mass of fat and protein weighing about 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). It is, nevertheless, one of the body's biggest organs, consisting of some 100 billion nerve cells that not only put together thoughts and highly coordinated physical actions but regulate our unconscious body processes, such as digestion and breathing.

  Take the heart. The heart is the body's engine room, responsible for pumping life-sustaining blood via a 60,000-mile-long (97,000-kilometer-long) network of vessels. The organ works ceaselessly, contracts and relaxes between 70 and 80 times per minute, about 100,000 times a day, 40 million times a year—in total clocking up three billion heartbeats over an average lifetime. It keeps the body freshly supplied with oxygen and nutrients, while clearing away harmful waste matter.

  Take the skin. The skin is our largest organ—adults carry some 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) and 22 square feet (2 square meters) of it. This fleshy covering does a lot more than make us look presentable. In fact, without it, we'd literally evaporate. The skin acts as a waterproof, insulating shield, guarding the body against extremes of temperature, damaging sunlight, and harmful chemicals. It also exudes antibacterial substances that prevent infection and manufactures vitamin D for converting calcium into healthy bones. The skin, additionally, is a huge sensor packed with nerves for keeping the brain in touch with the outside world. At the same time, the skin allows us free movement, proving it an amazingly versatile organ.

Let's come back to the hair. Assuming you still have 100,000 of them. If I am to pluck one hair, just one out of 100,000, will you feel it? Of course, it hurts to pluck even one out of 100,000. Or if one or two cells in the brain stop working, or the heart cells decide to beat faster or slower, or one skin cell decides to divide faster, disaster will happen, right? You know what it's like to have one tiny canker sore on your tongue. It hurts, it affects your appetite and makes you feel real miserable. Or how about a toothache? Just that little tooth, can cause excruciating pain and unable to eat, drink and perform daily functions. I also remember a time when I was waiting to put on a crown over one of my front tooth. The temporary one was broken. During those waiting days, I would cover my mouth when I talked or laughed. One would say, oh, it's just a small front tooth. But when part of it is missing, it affects the whole body; or the joy and confidence once it was restored. If I had a crooked nose, it will affect how I look and could even affect my self-image.

You see, there is not one part of the body that is unimportant or insignificant. Every part is vital. And when one part of the body is not right, or hurting, the whole body will be affected. When the broken or hurting part is restored, the whole body is healthy again.

This is the meaning of the passage we read earlier. In this chapter Paul used the human body as an analogy to the church. Vs.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.” He brought out the point that the church is like a human body, made up of many parts. Each part of the body is critical and different from the other. Each member, believer, in this community is also important and different from each other. Some are very talented and gifted, others are not. Some have much financial resources while others have little. Physically and emotionally, some are strong and healthy; others are weak and sick.

In the midst of such diversity, Paul reminded us that it was God who brought each one of us here. Vs.18, “ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” And because it is God who brought us together, therefore no one can decide who is useful or not useful. Vs.21, “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” God is the one who puts the weak next to the strong, the have not's to those who have.

The truth that is evident in this passage is: since God brings us together, therefore in this community of the redeemed, there is no insignificant people, there is no little people. Because we are made in his image; we're his image bearers; therefore everyone is very important and precious in God's sight.. In this body, like the human body, we also need each other and are interdependent of each other. Vs.26, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

What does this mean to us today? The truth in this chapter is quite familiar to us. When we discuss spiritual gifts, we turn to it. When we discuss ministry in a local church, we turn to this passage. This morning we want to draw several applications from it in the context of the Sanctity of life.

I •  We are to reach out to every one that God brings into the community of the redeemed.

Let's first take another look at vs.21, “ “The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” In the human body, this is unthinkable, right? If the leg is missing, we put on an artificial leg. If the hair is missing, we put on a wig or a toupee. But how about the body of Christ? The reason Paul wrote this was the fact that in the Corinthian church, some believers either spoke out or acted out that certain individuals were not important and therefore the church had no need of them. We probably say, ‘what kind of church is that?' or ‘ what do you expect from the Corinthian church.' But wait, before we point our fingers at others, should we also take a look at ourselves?

These are some of the statements I heard in this and other churches:

“We're all highly educated here, we really can't relate to those without or with little education.”

“The way he/she dresses is so different from us, it seems to make him/her feel uncomfortable among us.”

“We really cannot handle any more divorcees or single parents. They are draining too much of our small group's resources.”

“This single's group does not fit into our church's vision and objectives, therefore we can't continue to provide supervision to them.”

“Our group cannot relate to or help those victims of abuse, their world is so different from ours.”

“We don't have the facility or resource to minister to children and adults with special needs.”

I think we have all heard such remarks somewhere and sometime. They may even have come from our mouths. Yes, we cannot do everything, but what is the sentiment behind these statements? We don't really need you here, go somewhere else. Isn't this one reason many have left the church not wanting to return again?

There are times for the church leaders, including us pastors, spending much time with those whom we feel are important to our ministry. They are the more gifted and talented ones. They are the ones that carry out most of the ministries. They are the important ones; therefore we need to spend more time with them. I remember many years ago, a church member said to me, “I guess, being the pastor here, you will have to spend more time with the elders and deacons.” There is a certain element of truth in this. But the more I think of this, especially in recent years, I wonder what kind of messages are we sending to the congregation. This creates the impression that other people are not as important. From time to time I hear comments like, “I am not important to you, therefore I don't want to take up your time”; it hurts. It reflects that we are not doing our job right. Yes, Jesus spent time with the 12 disciples. But isn't it also true most of his public ministry was among the poor, the weak and the sick? The ones society had no use for?

The scripture clearly tells us that vs.18, “But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” Vs.24, “……But God has so composed the body,….” Each person is very precious in God's sight. There is no little people in his church. He puts each one of us here. He decides who he wants in this and other churches.

Our responsibility is to reach out, to care for those whom God has brought to us. It's good to remember that God puts the have not's next to the have's; the weak next to the strong. He places the smart ones next to the not so smart ones; the quick thinkers next to the slow thinkers; the decisive ones next to the indecisive ones. He does this so we can minister to one another. If you have more, you are to help those who have little. Those who are not so smart or quick in thinking can help others to slow down a little and learn to be patient with each other. We need each other and we are interdependent of each other. This is what Jesus said, “When you do this to the littlest one among you, you do it undo me.”

I am so glad to see our church begin to pay attention and do our best to serve those with special needs. We are reaching out to those physically and emotionally weak. Some had travelled great distances to come to Houston for medical treatment, and God gave us the opportunity to care for them and help them to experience the ultimate healing: to be reconciled with the creator God.”

II •  We are to care for the weak and speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.

God is the one who brings different people to this body. He alone decides who is to be here and who is not. We don't decide who is useful and not useful. Yet, in our society, we are constantly making decisions on this matter. We hear voices such as:

“We can't really afford a child now. We still have not saved enough money to buy that house. Financially we are not ready.”

“We are in the midst of our career climb, there is no time for us to devote to the child.”

“It is too inconvenient at this time of life to have a child.”

“Why should we encourage anyone to bring an unwanted child into the world? We should make abortion available anytime throughout the entire pregnancy period.”

“It is a burden to the society to take care of an unwanted child.”

“It is a woman's right to choose what she wants to do with what is in her body.”

“It's too much of a burden to care for a handicapped child. Besides, what quality of life is there for this child?”

“How can you afford to give birth to quadruplets? You should consider selective reduction.”

“Since you cannot make the right choice, then let society decide for you.”

“Those who pass a certain age, really have no quality of life, no contribution to the society, and a burden to all. What's wrong with euthanasia?”

In the recent issue of Focus on the family magazine, it was reported that in Switzerland , people suffering unbearable psychiatric condition is able to seek a doctor's help in killing themselves. Robert and Jennifer Stokes died in Switzerland 3 years ago by swallowing lethal doses of drugs. Mr. Stokes, 59, reportedly had epilepsy while Mrs. Stokes, 53, had diabetes and back problems. Neither was terminally ill. In Oregon state, it is legal for physicians to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill people. Similar efforts are going on in other states.

Do we see what is happening here? We, and the society are constantly making the decision who is useful and not useful.

When we hear about the tragedy of extreme poverty and AIDS epidemic in certain parts of Africa and we do nothing about it. This is the same as saying we don't care, we have no use of you. We don't need you. You are not fit to live in this world.

The scripture clearly teaches us in vs.26, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” Yes, they are not one of this local body, but many of them are part of God's universal church. They are now not part of the body of Christ, but many of them will respond to the gospel and become part of the body of Christ. God puts them next to us, only about 16 hours of flight away from us. Why? So we can feel their pain, and we too suffer with them. We not only suffer with them, we also reach to speak out for them. We are to speak for those who are voiceless, to defend for those who are defenseless. They are the unborn, the elderly, the sick and the physically or mentally challenged individuals.

Most of us have heard of Toni Eareckson Tada. In 1967, as a result of a diving accident, she was paralyzed from the neck down. She was wheel chair bond for the last 40 years. Now she is working with the Christian Institute on Disability. She helps people with disabilities and the elderly face complex health care issues.

Last year, our church council voted to be involved in an effort to help relieve the poverty and AIDS crisis in Africa . In the next several months, you will be hearing more about this ministry. It is my prayer that this church, with its resources will not forget the sick and weak in this neighborhood and city. We will also reach across the ocean to help the weaker members of the body.

We want to help the weak and the poor. We want to donate our finance and time to organizations that reach out to those forgotten by the society. We can volunteer in various kinds of prison ministry. I am so glad to see how we've began to help those with special needs, both children and adult. Some of us have volunteered to help those with crisis pregnancy or the victims of domestic violence. Others are also actively involved in helping those who are sick, especially the may cancer patients God has brought to our attention.

You see, when we make the weak strong, we are honoring them. And when they are honored, the entire body will rejoice.

Conclusion:

  The church is like the human body. It is made up of many parts and each part is important. It is God who put these different parts together in this church. Some are strong and healthy, gifted and talented with plenty of resources. Others are weak and have little. Together we make up this local body of Christ. In this body of Christ, there are no little people, everyone is important.

  As a church, including us pastors, elders and deacons, we are to remember that we will not treat people as things we can use and discard. Our interest in you is not what you can contribute to this church, how you can help this church to grow. We must treat each person as individuals with intrinsic worth and dignity. We love and care for you because you are very precious. You are God's image bearers.

.