Consider the following passages. 1. 1 Peter 5:5 reads, Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. In the same vein, Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands in…
Our discussion will primarily revolve around a study of 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. It describes the work of the ekklesia that points to individual obligation. This, too, has been usurped by the corporate church organization, where the collection of monies or supplies is stored for those in need and/or the support of preachers. Members of the…
One thing immediately stands out in illustrating Christians as enthusiasts. As children of God, we should all have a common interest to tell others of Christ. No one is exempt and all are expected to have grown to a point to be teachers (Hebrews 5:12). This is unlike certain individuals who are in a company…
The title of this blog is very relevant to my message, today. You will notice that I did not write, “The work of the church.” We will be distinguishing the work of the local church organization from the work of individual saints. As already noted, our work is measured by what we do as individuals,…
I was asked this question last week, and it occurred to me to write a blog in response to it. The first thing that is critical to realize is that as we read the Bible, we are reading other people’s mail. I’m not advocating that the Bible is not relevant, as many principles of truth…
The body of Christ, the called out (Greek, ekklesia) had its beginning in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3, Luke 24:47) because the gospel was first preached there. When one referenced “the called-out”, it was only the called-out living at Jerusalem for a time because that is where the seed of the kingdom had been sown. It was…
Even though the phrase “local church” is not found in Scripture, there is a sense in which we may speak of it. We will continue to make distinctions that present two opposing views of the church institution and the people of God (ekklesia). I have found that it is best if I not use the…
The presence of a church in any community is seen when individual saints are hard at work being the light and salt in a world lost in sin. When the world sees the consistent and harmonious pattern of Christians in their unity, love for one another, and their life-style of faith, they are seeing the…