Building the Church

Mo. 4/29/13: Eph. 4:11–12            What did Christ give the Church?

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ

What did Christ give the Church? Christ gave men to each church to build the body.

Tu. 4/30/13: Eph.4:16            What edifies the body?

Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

What edifies the body? Do your share: don’t worry if another does not.

We. 5/1/13: Eph.4:29            What should each member say?

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

What should each member say? Nothing corrupt, only words that build up. Do we speak in this way?

Th. 5/2/13: Eph.4:31            What should each member put away?

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

What should each member put away? Bitterness, anger, etc. should be put away.

Fr. 5/3/13: Eph.4:32            What should each member practice?

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

What should each member practice? Each is to be kind and forgiving towards the other.

Temples: Old and New

Mo. 4/22/13: 2 Chronicles 6:18            Can God live with men?

¹⁸“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

Can God live with men? Solomon recognized that God is greater than the atmosphere and the universe.

Tu. 4/23/13: 2 Chronicles 7:1-2            Why could none enter the temple?

¹When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. ²And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.

Why could none enter the temple? The glory of the Lord filled the entire temple, not just the holiest place.

We. 4/24/13: Ezra 6:15-16            Which temple was this?

¹⁵Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. ¹⁶Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

Which temple was this? This was the second temple.

Th. 4/25/13: Ezekiel 10:18            What occurred because of idolatry?

¹⁸Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.

What occurred because of idolatry? The shekina glory departed the temple forever.

Fr. 4/26/13: 1 Corinthians 12:16-17            Does a third temple exist?

¹⁶Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Does a third temple exist? Yes, it does, in every believer.

Faith, Hope and Love

Mo. 4/15/13: 1 Cor. 11:13            What does ‘abide’ mean?

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

What does ‘abide’ mean? Abide means stay. The verse has always intrigued me: why is it worded so?

Tu. 4/16/13: 1 Cor. 11:11            What does ‘put away’ imply?

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

What does ‘put away’ imply? Putting away has finality to it. A point of no return; like Santa Claus, it’s gone.

We. 4/17/13: 1 Cor. 11:12            Is a mirror really dim?

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Is a mirror really dim? When the words were written, flat, polished metal reflected an imperfect image.

Th. 4/18/13: 1 Cor. 11:10            When will perfection come?

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When will perfection come? Like adulthood, this is what will become of us in our incorruptible, heavenly bodies.

Fr. 4/19/13: 1 Cor. 11:8-9            Back again: what is ‘abide’?

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

Back again: what is ‘abide’? Love will last eternally. Speech, prophecies and knowledge will evaporate!

Humility: Lowliness of Mind

Mo. 4/8/13: Act 20:17 - 19                               Who witnessed Paul’s service to the Lord?

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews

Who witnessed Paul’s service to the Lord? The Ephesian elders themselves were witnesses to Paul’s service to his Lord with humility of mind.

Tu. 4/9/13: Ephesians 4:1 - 3             How were the Ephesians asked to live?

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

How were the Ephesians asked to live? They were to walk worthy of their calling with lowliness and meekness.

We. 4/10/13: Philippians 2:3 - 4       What warning and solution did Paul give? 

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

What warning and solution did Paul give? Paul asked that each esteem the other better in lowliness of mind.

Th. 4/11/13: 1Peter 5:5                      Is Peter demanding submission?     

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Is Peter demanding submission? No: rather, Peter asks the younger to voluntarily submit to the elder.

Fr. 4/12/13: Colossians 2:20 - 23     Does false humility exist?

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Does false humility exist? Yes: men ‘discover’ commandments not in the Bible and demand humility and submission to rules such as, ‘Do not handle this.’