No Small Parts: Why Your Role Matters in the Church
A few years ago, I hiked a 14er. I summited the mountain with no issues, but on the descent one of my trek poles slipped and my ankle got rolled. I instantly knew it was sprained.
My only choice was to tighten my boots and continue down the mountain. I had to walk three very rocky miles on a bum ankle. I was miserable; each step was a sharp reminder of how crucial every part of the body is to the whole. Because one part of my body wasn’t working properly my whole body suffered.
In 1 Corinthians 12:12–14, Paul wrote:
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (NIV)
Paul is saying that just as our body has many parts, so does the church, the “body of Christ.” This means that if we are following Jesus we are part of his body and the role we each play is critical. We are interconnected; each of us contributes to the mission through our unique gifts, talents, and purposes. So, the eye can't tell the hand, "I don't need you," nor can the head dismiss the foot as unnecessary. Every part, big or small, visible or hidden, plays a vital role.
When I sprained my ankle, it didn’t just affect my foot; it impacted my whole body. My pace slowed, my balance shifted, and other muscles had to compensate—which resulted in them becoming strained and fatigued. Similarly, when one of us isn't fully engaged or operating in our gifts, the entire community feels the impact. We move slower, our balance is thrown off, and other parts of the body bear a heavier load.
Paul’s words challenge us to stop thinking of faith as only an individual pursuit and start seeing ourselves as part of something bigger. Here’s what that means for you:
Your Role Is Crucial — Your part in the church matters. Don’t underestimate the significance of your contribution.
Our Mission Is Important — The implications of what we do will echo through eternity. Every person’s role advances the gospel and changes lives.
We’re In This Together — We are stronger, healthier, and more effective together. You never journey alone.
Are you fully stepping into your role within the body of Christ? Is there an area where you’ve been holding back, hesitating, or feeling disconnected?
The church becomes healthier, stronger, and more effective when every member embraces their unique purpose. When each of us fully engages we become a clear reflection of Jesus to the world around us.
Let's commit together to fully engaging our gifts, supporting each other, and reflecting Christ to a world in need. What step can you take today to ensure you’re living fully as part of his body?