Why the Church Needs Youth

The Church Body Needs Every Member, Including Youth

The point of these verses in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26, as the Apostle Paul discusses spiritual gifts and how Christians function within the church, is that the church needs youth. Every single Christian has a function and a role to play within the church. Youth specifically are addressed here, especially since they often get a bad rap—seen as lazy, with nothing to contribute, just needing to grow up.

Scripture doesn't recognize adolescence as a category. You're either a child or an adult. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." There's no awkward middle stage; psychology invented that to extend childhood.

In many youth groups, you're not seen as having something valuable to contribute. Sometimes that's due to irresponsibility toward parents, schoolwork, or jobs, giving a poor testimony. Paul had to tell Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12, "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." Even at around 30, Timothy faced this. Paul corrects the misperception: every Christian, including youth, is an essential part of the body of Christ.

Paul draws this out after discussing spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit sovereignly empowers gifts in every believer according to His will, for God's glorification, the salvation of the elect, and the sanctification of believers. It's the Holy Spirit's right to direct Christians to function in the body. Every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and has gifts, but the Spirit exercises them. No one earns them; it's entirely the Spirit's work.

Each individual doesn't possess every gift—some may have only one—but for the benefit of the entire body. If you're not performing your role, you're hindering the church. It's not just pastors, deacons, or those with titles; every member, including kids in Corinth's church (a normal, multi-age body), contributes. The Corinthian church had individuals of all ages.

1. We All Have the Same Reason for Salvation

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. 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.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

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. 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.

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? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Paul lays a foundation like he did with the Spirit's sovereignty in salvation. The unifying principle amid diverse functions is our shared salvation. We're to be unified as a church—no division. Pride like "I am of Paul" or "I am of Cephas" destroys unity. We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body, regardless of background.

Every Christian has the same testimony: the same gospel, Christ's death nailing our sins, the Spirit's regeneration, inward call, enabling faith—the same conversion. As Peter says, we receive "a faith of the same kind" (2 Peter 1:1). No superior origin. Testimonies aren't about dramatic stories; they're about the gospel preached, conviction, response. God sovereignly arranges members in the body as He chose (v. 18).

2. We All Have the Same Right to Serve

No one can say, "I have no need of you" (v. 21). If you think, "I don't belong because I'm not a hand," that doesn't make it true. Don't excuse yourself with lack of degree, training, or ability. Ministry isn't passed to pastors or professionals; that's not biblical. Pastors aren't the head—Jesus is. We're like cells in the body.

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it.

Weaker parts are indispensable. If you feel unequipped, you're essential—we can't do without you. Body parts don't need classes to function; they just do. Christians discover gifts by being connected, not apathetic attendees. God arranged you as He chose (v. 18). If everyone were a pastor, where would the body be? Heritage is dysfunctional without you serving.

Modesty protects weaker parts—covering sins, caring in weakness. Public figures like pastors get spotlight, but apply that care to everyone. Don't love pastors less; let love for them illustrate love for others.

3. We All Rejoice and Suffer Together

That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

God composes the body to level treatment—no division, same care. Weaker get more honor. The church truly offers equality the world craves: no Jew/Greek, slave/free, male/female in salvation (Galatians 3:28). Live it so the world envies us.

Suffer together: rally around the hurting—parents dying, cancer, job loss. Be present, sympathetic, like Job's friends initially sitting in silence. You don't need every verse or counseling skills; just be there, legitimizing pain via the Spirit. Grieving isn't quick; contribute ongoingly.

Rejoice together: celebrate others' honor without jealousy. Unity makes their good yours, like marriage (Ephesians 5)—nourish as your own body. What happens to one affects all. Hurt with the hurt; rejoice with the honored. ```