Joshua 1:8
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Proverbs 25
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Proverbs 24
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Paul's vision for the church
Viewpoint by T. M. Moore
We cannot read the epistles of Paul without realizing he harbored a clear vision of the local church. He considered that Christ had raised him up in order to lay out the blueprint for His Church-building agenda (cf.Matt. 16:18; Eph. 3:8-10, 4:11-16). Paul saw the church as a community in which the Word of God was firmly planted, had taken deep root, and was beginning to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God (Rom. 14:17, 18). Since we are all members of the Body of Christ, it is our duty and calling to contribute to this community of the Word of God. As the living Word of God dwells richly in us, we must contribute to the enrichment of our local church by bearing the fruit of the living Word with our fellow church members.
What particular forms should we expect that to take?
Teaching and admonishing
First, Paul commands us to express to one another what God is impressing on our souls by His Word. The words “teaching and admonishing” cover a wide range of activities, both formal teaching and informal conversations, simple exposition and earnest warnings, individual and corporate settings. We have a duty to one another, in encouraging one another for wisdom and for love and good works (Heb. 10:24), to take an active part in the instruction and discipleship of those who are fellow members with us in the Body of Christ.
The Lord has placed pastors and teachers in each congregation, and the greater burden of instruction falls on them. But each member in whom the Word of Christ dwells richly must also take responsibility for teaching and admonishing others, so that together the Body of Christ can attain increasingly to the maturity of Christ.
Worship
A second way the indwelling Word leads us to contribute to our local church is by our active and lively participation in the worship of God. Worship is not a spectator sport. We are worshiping God as He prescribes when we are actively adoring Him, attending to Him, and assisting our fellow worshipers to do the same. Paul says the fruit of the indwelling Word will be manifest as we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord, and as we give Him heartfelt thanks together for all His abundant goodness.
Such worship begins in our hearts, where we daily respond to the Lord’s kindness, and it continues as an ongoing celebration of the Lord whenever we are together with His people as the Body of Christ.Everything in Jesus’ name
Finally, the members of Christ’s Body will represent Him to the watching world as they go out from their times of instruction and worship to live for Christ in every area of life. Local churches should have a vision for how they can impact their communities for the Lord. They must equip their members to receive the indwelling Word and to let it live through them in lives of service, witness, and social and cultural engagement for the glory of Jesus Christ.
When Jesus came into a community, everything changed. This should be the same wherever His Body is living out the living Word together. A community of the Word of God will make a Kingdom impact on the larger community as it follows the example of Christ and the vision of Paul to turn the world upside down for Jesus Christ.
Each of us in whom the Word is beginning to dwell richly must make every effort to contribute to the health and growth of our local church, for it is as a community of the Word that the church becomes a true agent for the Kingdom of God, spreading righteousness, peace, and joy throughout its community in the name and for the glory of Jesus Christ.