All Things New | Shared Purpose

This past Sunday at Friends Church, we were grateful to hear from our guest speaker and friend, Kevin Zimmerman from Friends Church Orange, as he walked us through Paul’s powerful metaphor of the church as a body from 1 Corinthians 12. It was a timely reminder that the church is not an audience or an organization, but rather it is a living body where every person plays a vital role.

Just as the human body is made up of many parts with different functions, so too is the church. No part is unnecessary. No role is insignificant. And no one is meant to exist in isolation. When one part suffers, the whole body feels it. When one part thrives, the whole body is strengthened.

Kevin reminded us that God has intentionally placed each person within the body for the good of the whole. We need one another, not just to function, but to flourish!

This kind of shared life requires more than attendance. It calls us to contribute, to bear with one another in love, and to stay committed even when relationships are messy or inconvenient. It means choosing love, humility, and mutual care so that Christ’s body can reflect Him clearly to the world.

And the vision extends beyond our walls. When the church lives as one healthy, unified body, it becomes a powerful witness. A community shaped by love, interdependence, and faithfulness has the potential to make a real impact, not only in our neighborhoods, but across all of Northern California.

The invitation from this message is simple but profound:

Don’t settle for spectatorship when God has called you to participation.

Don’t underestimate the role you play in the life of the church.

Because when every part does its work, the body grows and the city is changed.