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but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head,
even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies,
according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building
up of itself in love.
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| Eph 4:15-16 |
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What is the work of the church?
There is a purpose for the body of Christ, for it is in God's eternal purpose that it should reveal the Gospel to all mankind,
even unto pricipalities and powers.
| ...so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:10-11)
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There is no earthly organization of that universal kingdom to which all the saved of all time are added. But we also read of
a local body, the local church. It is organized with elders overseeing the flock and deacons assisting in the duties.
Each local church is independent of another and no work of one congregation was ever under the oversight of any one
else from another congregation as seen by examining scriptures and reading of the organization of the church that Jesus built.
(Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:8-13)
The work of the church was even misunderstood by some early Christians. Our brethren in Corinth were attempting to
make a common meal of the Lord's Supper. They were attempting to bring in social recreation, an earthly concern, into a
spiritual body. Paul let them know that this need can be fulfilled in the home. That was not the work of the church.
(1 Cor 11:17-34)
So, what is the work of the church?
We see the church that Jesus built in the New Testament to be primarily
concerned with spreading the Gospel of Eternal Salvation.
(view scriptures)
The church also was benevolent and gave aid to the needy saints.
(view scriptures)
The church also focused on the building up (Spiritually) of one another. To build up your brethren spiritually
is called edification or edifying.
(view scriptures)
Can you find in the scriptures where the church that Jesus built engaged in social recreation? Can you find a bible example
of the church entertaining its membership? Campaigning for a politician? Having a headquarters? Running a business?
Engaging in Sports?
Can anyone really believe that our Lord left his home in heaven, fulfilled thousands of years of prophecy, and hung
on a cruel cross suspended between heaven and earth for six hours... so we can have basketball courts?
The church that we read about in the New Testament was a spiritual church. It was a working church focused on
doing God's work. The spiritual work that it does has eternal impact.
Why not work like that church?
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