I sometimes use a broom as an object lesson to teach children about the importance of co-operation and unity.  I pull a strand from the broom and ask if a person could sweep a floor, remove a spider's web, or persuade the dog to move using just the single strand.  The children all agree that the flimsy straw cannot do any of those things.  Then I point to the strength of many strands bound together by a cord.  The strength of the combined bristles makes the broom capable of all of the tasks listed above.

 

The church likewise consists of many members bound together by the strong bond of the indwelling Holy Spirit and our love for the Lord Jesus Christ.  By living in unity and serving the Lord cooperatively, we can be used of God to accomplish great things.  The apostle Paul used the analogy of the body to remind Christians that each individual believer is an important part of the body of Christ and that every member is to work in unity with all other members for strength and effectiveness.