Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · The Church
The church is not optional for the Christian: it is the family and body of Christ, the place where the Spirit works through word and sacrament, where gifts serve the whole, and where believers are built up and sent out. Lone Christianity is not biblical Christianity.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/why-do-i-need-the-church · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Hebrews 10:19-25
As you read: Encourage one another, and all the more as the day approaches.
19Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21and having a great priest over God’s house,
22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
23let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.
24Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
25not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
Ephesians 4:11-16
As you read: Each part working, the whole body builds itself up in love.
11He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
12for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
15but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;
16from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
Acts 2:42-47
As you read: Devoted to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
43Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44All who believed were together, and had all things in common.
45They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
47praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
As you read: You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
12For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
14For the body is not one member, but many.
15If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body.
16If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.
17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
18But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.
19If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20But now they are many members, but one body.
21The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.”
22No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety;
24whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,
25that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
You are the body of Christ, and members individually. We who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. The church is not a building or a meeting; it is the people in whom Christ dwells by His Spirit.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”1 Corinthians 12:27
“For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”Romans 12:4-5
“He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”Ephesians 1:22-23
The whole body grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching. Growth is communal.
“but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.”Ephesians 4:15-16
“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.”Hebrews 10:24-25
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Your gift was given to build the body, not to sit unused.
“As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.”1 Peter 4:10
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.”1 Corinthians 12:7
“for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;”Ephesians 4:12
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer. And the Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved. The new life is lived together.
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.”Acts 2:42
“Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.”Acts 2:46-47
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.”Colossians 3:16