THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH.
The church which is ecclesia ( the assembly of God's elect), made up of people saved by grace, is built up through the undiluted word of God. We are products of what we hear.
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. - Romans 10:13-17 NIV.
Just as someone is a product of the food he eats, so are we product of the word we hear.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." - 1 Peter 2:2-6 NIV.
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The quality of the word we hear determines the quality of Christian we become. To build the church therefore involves using sound word of God to mold lives. Not all preaching has the ability to grow some body. The preacher and teachers have to be very careful the kind of message they preach.
We are not all preachers. Whatever service we render in the church contribute to the growth of other members. Therefore, the way we render the service is important. May God help us to apply Godly means to do the work of God.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. - Romans 12:4-8 NIV.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://giftedwords.timeets.xyz/2018/07/27/the-building-of-the-church/