There is a mantra pervasive in the world today and it has found its way into many of our lives. Here it is:

To maximize your life, keep your options open.

It’s the idea that if whatever you’re doing no longer serves your interests, jump into something else…there are so many other options. It’s the belief that the fastest way to limit your freedom is to make serious commitments with your life. So, avoid that at all costs!

If you live by the mantra keep your options open, here’s what that means for your dating relationships. You’ll like the person you’re dating because you think they’re at least better than you being lonely, but you will jump ship quick if a better candidate comes along.

When it comes to where you work, you like your company right now. The stock is moving in the right direction, they have a good insurance plan, and they let you work remote a couple days a week. But if they dare tell you to come to the office 5 days a week or if the stock heads the other direction, you’re on to the next thing.

What does keeping your options open look like in a church community? You’re willing to be a part of it as long as you get everything you want out of it. You’ll stay as long as it remains convenient for you and never demands anything from you.

Keeping your options open means you always have an exit plan. But what if genuine freedom comes from making the right commitments rather than keeping all of your options open?

“When we commit ourselves to someone, we’re no longer the only ones in charge. Our time and our heart are no longer our own. Commitment builds an invisible fence around us, and we freely choose to honor its restrictions on our freedom. Once we’ve made a commitment, we’re no longer just me, myself, I; we’ve become part of a we…Of course, commitment makers and keepers experience a kind of freedom that commitment avoiders will never know.” John Ortberg, I’d Like You More, If You Were More Like Me

I’m guessing that a number of you haven’t placed your faith and trust in Jesus yet, in case something better comes along. I believe you’ll discover that a commitment to following Jesus brings greater freedom than keeping your options open. And if you are already a follower of Jesus, I want you to know this:

You cannot be a healthy or mature Christian without strong commitments to Jesus and His church.

This is what I want to talk about today in a message I’m calling, “You Are Part of the Whole”.

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 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. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Paul is writing to these Christians in Corinth and he’s telling them this. If you’re a Christian who has genuine faith in Jesus, you are part of the body of Christ. And I want to say the same thing to us today – if you have faith in Jesus, you are part of the body of Christ. This doesn’t mean you have to be part of this church. There are so many great churches in San Francisco you can be part of; but know that you are created to be part of a local body of Christ.

Now if Epic is your church community, you are designed to be a part of it in a way that looks like commitment. The vision is to link your future with our future. Discipleship is about belonging to Jesus and belonging to His church. You have something to give here and you have something to receive. This church doesn’t exist just so you can consume what you need. Nor does this church exist only so you can help all of us with our needs. You are intended to be a receiver and a giver within this Epic community. But you can’t do either of these well until you’re committed to others in this community.

If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. To make sure the metaphor is clear, here is what Paul is saying – just because you say you aren’t part of the church, you will not for that reason stop being part of the church. Why is the foot comparing itself to the hand? Why do you compare yourself to people who play different parts in this community than you play? I’ve heard it said that comparison kills contentment and it’s true. But here is what’s also true:

Comparison kills community.

God isn’t asking me to be you or you to be me. If we were all the same, that would be boring and it would severely limit the impact that can be made in this church and through this church.

There is something I need that you have. There is something you need that I have.

A couple ways this plays out here. Even before groups sign ups begin later this month, I want to encourage you to make a commitment to be part of one. God puts us in groups to get something from others and to contribute to others.

Generosity at Epic works the same way. When we give financially to the mission of Epic, we are contributing to this community and beyond it. We give to the mission and we receive from the mission.

Have you ever had a moment where you think, “How did we all get here?” I mean, think about where your life began. How many of you honestly thought you would end up in San Francisco in 2026? How is it even possible we are all here at the same time? Paul tells us.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

Why am I here? Because God wants me to be. Why are you here? Because God wants you to be. The vision of Christian community is for there to be no division. Diversity? Yes. Let me tell you a little about this Epic community. We are multi-generational. We come from 70+ nations. We work in every industry. We live in every neighborhood in San Francisco and other cities around the Bay. We are so different from each other. And yet we have the same vision – to orient our entire lives around one Lord – Jesus. And you have a part in this body. The only question is this:

If God has placed you here, are you doing what He placed you here to do?

I’m not asking you to play my part and I cannot play our part; only you can do that. Will you? What does it look like? Commit yourself. Receive from us. Give of yourself here. Invest your resources in this community. Invest your spiritual gifts in this community. Invest in other people as you serve in a way that fits with your divine design.

Paul writes that there should be no division. Look at how many times the word ONE is used in this text. One body. One Spirit. Jesus echoed this in his prayer in John 17:

John 17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.

Satan attacks at the place of unity. Marriages. Families. Friendships. Church Community.

Titus 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.

This sounds strong, because it is. Why? Because it’s better for the sake of the whole church for a divisive person to no longer be in that community. Because it goes against what God has designed the church to be. Our leaders here at Epic take seriously our call from God to shepherd the people who call this church home. Let me explain it through a parenting analogy.

When my four kids were younger, I was called to provide for them and to protect them. If one of them came at the other three, I couldn’t let that happen for the sake of our entire family. The same is true when it comes to protecting our entire church family.

We are called to have equal concern for each other. The same care. We enter into each other’s suffering and we enter into each other’s rejoicing. This means we can’t just be in this for what we can get out of it.

The best things in life are found on the other side of deep commitments.

Marriage. Parenting. Friendship. Christian Community. Jesus.

Will you make a fresh commitment to play your part in this Epic Church community?

Jesus. Community. Serve. Give. Pray.

It’s what’s best for you and it’s what’s best for all of us.

Commit to Jesus.

Commit to Epic community.