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against itself. That is how most churches are destroyed because the members of the body lose sight of their commitment to unity.That means occasionally those who would disrupt the unity of the body need to be confronted, gently, lovingly, and in a spirit of peace. But the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace is important enough that Paul said, \In summary, we've got to learn to think Biblically about what it means to have membership in a body. How do you do that personally on your level? Look at the conclusion, two thoughts as we close.1.Assess your own involvementWhat kind of membership are you holding? Organization or organism? Body or club? Have you substituted something comfortable for something Biblical? How healthy would a church be if everybody practiced your form of membership? One of the things I've noted as I looked through Paul's illustration about the church as the body of Christ with hands, feet, a head, ears, and eyes. He even talks about ligaments, but he never says anything about fat. The Holy Spirit wants it strong and lean and not just hanging around. Now I know there are some of you who are hurting, and you desire to be healed. You need to be healed but there comes a time when as you are healed by the body and the blood that flows through it, that you then take your role as a healer. You don't just stay hanging around doing nothing.2.Assume initiative.Don't just wait until somebody asks you to do something. Bodies don't just get in shape sitting around, do they? You don't sit on that couch and just suddenly get in shape. It takes discipline; it takes work. It's the same thing in the Body of Christ. It starts with a regular checkup. Examine yourself and ask, \apply?\If you are not a Christian, and you want to be a member of that kind of body, then understand what God desires. Put your trust and faith in Him, confess your belief that Jesus is God who came to earth in the flesh to be the atoning sacrifice for your sin, turn from your sinful ways and die to them. Be buried with Him in baptism, allow Him to raise you to a new creation and add you to His Body, His Church. That's the body Christ is going to take with Him to heaven one day.Maybe you need to come back to the Lord, be restored from spiritual sickness and get His blood pumping through again so you become an active, vital, and dependent part of the body. We want you to be that. Amazing Grace #1308, Steve Flatt, April 6, 1997