Summary of Biblical Principles: Building Up the Body of Christ Oak Lake Berean Church

Introduction When a church is healthy, it will grow. But, what is a healthy church, and what’s “growth” look like?

Proper Church health is possible only when we conform to God’s idea

of what the Church IS and what the Church Does.

Of the 114 occurrences of ekklesia in the New Testament, it has two major

applications to assemblies of Christians....

Invisible : the whole community of redeemed in this present age of which

Christ said, A I will build my Church,@ which is His body (Eph.1:22; 5:23)

Visible: visible gathering of professed believers in Christ

(Acts 20:20; I Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:13; I Thess. 1:1)

There are over eighty images or figures of the church (salt, light, sheep, a bride,

a spiritual temple, a household, members of Christ’s body, branches in the vine, athletes,

etc.) All these pictures never suggest that the church is a physical building. It’s people!

One Purpose: Glorify God ! The great purpose of the church is to be to the praise of God’s glory and grace (Eph. 1:6,

12). What does it mean for us to glorify God? We cannot add to His glory, for He is

already perfectly and infinitely glorious. Rather, for us to glorify God means for us to

\ascribe to Him the worthiness due His name. When we give God glory we essentially are

saying: He gets the credit. He is the only One worthy to receive credit. Everything we do,

we do it so He gets the glory.

How does the Church Glorify God? God has established certain objectives in order for the church to bring glory

to Him. The Church glorifies God by intensely pursuing His objectives for

the church. But we must know what they are and be committed to carrying

them out.

What the Church is to DO

What the Church IS

To fulfill these God-given purposes,

the church must follow the mandate of our Lord.

All other commands (go, teach, win the lost, baptize, feed the hungry,

etc.) are subordinate to Jesus’ main command: Make Disciples !

What kind? His command is expanded in 2 Tim. 2:2, and Eph. 4:11-17

Discipleship is the process in which a believer in Christ is becoming

more like Christ increasing in the knowledge of Christ and able to

minister to others who will be able to do the same thing.

The process of discipleship involves a relationship where a mature

believer uses the Word of God to teach reprove, correct and train another disciple in order that he/she becomes

increasingly more like Christ.

When it comes to God’s 3-fold Purpose for the Church, it’s not a question of which one is most important. God

hasn’t given us a choice. We must exalt Him, edify the Body, and evangelize the lost. When it comes to the

reason for the Church’s existence, it’s to exalt Him. When it comes to why the Church exists in the world—it’s

to evangelize. When it comes to the reason the church exists as a gathered community, it’s to edify, build one

another up to Christ-like maturity.

The focus of this study is on “Edification”: the inward focus of God’s purposes for the church

But we need to be clear about what the Bible teaches about edification….

Pg.2

The word used

The Greek noun translated edification is oikodome

This is a compound word made up of

Oikos---a house or building

Dome---to build

To the church at Corinth Paul wrote

"Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Cor. 14: 26).

The chapter has several references to the building up of those present (vs. 4, 5, 9, 12).

What, then, is “edification” ?

The Definition of Edification

If the idea of the word “edification” is “building”, or “constructing”… what kind

of building is it referring to? It has to do with the process whereby we help

disciples grow in their Christian life (being disciples).

Becoming a disciple is by grace through faith alone in Christ alone. But, being a

disciple is costly… and involves a process. The believer is positionally new in

Christ, standing righteous before the Father (Rom. 5:1-5), but following

conversion, the believer is involved in a process (2 Cor. 3:18).

Edification is the lifelong process whereby disciples come alongside other Disciples of Christ, helping them grow to be Christ-like disciple-makers.

A common structure in local churches has been to have a “Christian Education

Department.” The focus of such a department has been on ministries such as

Sunday school, teacher training, and special programs that “inform” and “educate”

Christians in Bible doctrine. It has often then been subdivided into various other

“departments” in the church (children’s ministry, teen, adult, seniors, etc.).

That model and term (“Christian education”) sometimes has tended to see the

purpose of “edification” as simply informing, rather than functioning in light of the

meaning of the word “edification” - helping disciples be Disciples of Christ,

building them to be Christ-like disciple-makers. That includes teaching believers

Biblical truth, but it is edification is more than dispensing Biblical information.

While evangelism focuses primarily on “reaching and winning,”---

edification focuses on building up believers to Christ-like maturity (Eph. 4:11-16).

The church has both the opportunity and the responsibility to help believers grow as disciples.

The word comes from the idea of

construction or constructing a building

What Edification IS

Pg.3

When people become disciples of Christ, they are immediately positionally linked to other

believers. (Eph. 2:11-22). Since believers are connected to one another that means that

edification happens in the context of relationships and the local church.

Edification happens in the context of relationships with other believers

Misconception:

Can’t I be a Christian without going to church? Yes!

Can you grow as a Christ-like disciplemaker without connecting with other

believers? No !

At the moment of salvation, believers are joined to other believers (Eph.2:11-22).

But, the early church modeled the fact that believers are not only “linked

spiritually” to other believers….they GATHERED with other believers for the

purpose of mutual edification!

Another misconception:

Isn’t it important that believers get involved in Church activities? Yes and No.

If you mean activities in which believers are building one another up to Christ-like

maturity... yes! BUT, if edification doesn’t happen, then the activities themselves

are inadequate.

It is popular in our culture to market the church and expect numerical growth as a

result of programs and activities. And, it is reasoned, “if we have enough attractive

activities, people will knock down the doors to join us…If we just advertise, they’ll

come.” Further, we reason that if believers are involved in enough activities,

they’ll grow in Christ.

Willow Creek Community Church has been one of the most influential churches in

America over the last thirty years. It has promoted a vision of church that is big,

programmatic, and comprehensive.

Not long ago Willow released its findings from a multiple year qualitative study of

its ministry. Basically, they wanted to know what programs and activities of the

church were actually helping people mature spiritually and which were not.

The results were published in a book, Reveal: Where Are You?, co-authored by

Greg Hawkins, executive pastor of Willow Creek. Hybels called the findings “earth

shaking,” “ground breaking,” and “mind blowing.” Hawkins says, “Participation is

a big deal. We believe the more people participating in these sets of activities, with

higher levels of frequency; it will produce disciples of Christ.” Willow’s

philosophy of ministry is that increased involvement produces spiritually mature

believers.”

BUT….The research revealed that “increasing levels of participation in these sets

of activities does NOT predict whether someone’s becoming a reproducing

disciple of Christ.”!

Edification: Where does it happen ?

The Bible teaches…

There’s no such thing as

a “loner” Christian!

So…. is “edification” getting people to participate in

Christian activities?

The point: Spiritual growth doesn’t happen best by becoming dependent on elaborate church programs, but in

the context of relationships that foster disciplemaking.

Pg.4

Edification does not simply happen in a local church building, but the local church must be in kept in focus in the discipling process

Can you be a believer and not be involved in a local church? Yes.

Can you be a believer and mature properly as God intended without being involved in a local church? NO!

The word for “church” in the New Testament (koinonia) is used to refer to an invisible AND visible: assembly of believers in Christ ( Acts 20:20; I Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:13; I Thess. 1:1)

In the book of Acts we find that, immediately following conversion,

believers were gathering together with other believers.

They saw themselves not simply as part of an “invisible” church,

but they visibly gathered as the Church in local churches.

The Early Church met together

We don’t find the Church simply having “meetings” (a “meeting”- a noun, an event).

But we find the Church meeting (a verb… something you do) (focus on the function).

Notice how the following texts indicate that the early church met together, and were actually commanded to do so:

Hebrews 10:25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up

meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as

you see the Day approaching.’

Acts 20:7 And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began

talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 11:18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you;

1 Corinthians 14:26-40 When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching….

Let all things be done for edification.

The Visible Gathering of the local church in the New Testament

(See Notes on Exaltation, pages 10-12 for a detailed description)

The early church gathered for corporate worship and mutual edification.

Orderly Worship (1 Cor. 14:26,33)

Giving Praise and Thanksgiving (Heb. 13:15; Col. 1:12; 3:15-17)

Singing and Making Melody (Eph. 5:19)

Observing the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-24)

Prayer (Acts 2:42, 46)

Teaching/preaching (Acts 20:20; Col. 1:28; 2 Tim. 4:1-3).)

Discipline (Matt. 18:15, 20; Gal. 6:1- 4; 1 Cor. 5.

Baptizing (Matt. 28:19; 1 Pet. 3:21

Giving money to God (1 Cor. 16:1-4)

Since discipleship happens in the context of relationships, it is evident that the early church was taught, and understood the importance gathering with other believers to worship corporately and build one another up in Christ-like maturity.

Pg.5

Today there’s great misunderstanding about who’s responsible for edification. Cultural expectations that have

developed over the years make it even more imperative that we have clear biblical understanding of who’s

responsible for edification.

God has given clear principles that should dictate how we function as a healthy church body…..

1. All Believers in the Body are Equally Important

The Church is not an organization, but an organism

The church is described as a “body”, just like a human body.

Like a human body, though organized, it is not an organization—it is living organism.

The “Body of Christ” is made up of many parts, all equally important

Col. 1:18

Eph. 1:22,23 4:4,12,16; 5:30

1 Cor. 12:12-31

Rom. 12:5

2. All Members in the Body have a function

All believers are ministers (Eph. 4:11-17)

All believers are gifted (1 Cor. 12)

All members can lead by example (1 Thess. 1:7)

3. Some members in the Body lead Some mature Christians can lead in the sense of restoring, exhorting, helping weaker brothers and sisters

Gal. 6:1-Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch

yourself, or you also may be tempted.

1 Thess. 5:22 -Now, we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, encourage the fainthearted

Rom. 15:1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

4. Some have the gift of leadership Rom. 12:8 -If it (a believer’s gift) is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;

8 if it is -

encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is

leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully

5. The New Testament indicates that some leaders OVERSEE local church ministry 1 Thess. 5:12- And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you,

and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you….

Heb. 13:17 - Obey them (plural) that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they (plural) watch

for your souls, as they (plural)that must give account, that they (plural) may do it with joy, and not with

grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

The role of leaders The leaders of the church are referred to as “elders” (presbuteroi, Acts 20:17; 1 Tim. 5:17), “overseers” (episkopoi, Acts

20:28; Phil. 1:1), “leaders” (proistamenoi, Rom. 12:8; 1 Thess. 5:12), and “pastor/teachers” (poimenas-didaskalous,

Eph. 4:11; cf. also Acts 20:28 and 1 Pet. 5:2 with 1 Tim. 3:2, “able to teach,” 5:17b, and Tit. 1:9). Though each of these

terms may describe the different aspects of leadership, they seem to be used interchangeably to designate the same

office. Above all, as Ephesians 4:11f makes clear, they are equippers whose agenda (priorities, allotment of time, and

duties) are to be ordered by the Word of God, not by the agendas of people following their cultural expectations set by

the traditions of men.

The role of all believers The people of the church are ministers who are to be trained for the kind of growth in the Word that results in changed

lives and ministry. Pastors/elders are to be gifted, trained, and skilled believers whom God has called to lead a group of

fellow priests or ministers, not a minister who leads a group of lay spectators.

(See notes Church Structure and Leadership, Session 2 – pages 8-10)

Whose Job is it ?

Pg.6

Instruction in the Word

Preaching (Ezra 6:14; Neh. 8:8; 2 Tim. 4:1-3). The Word of God must be faithfully preached: (a) inductively, (b)

exegetically, and (c) expositionally.

Teaching (Ezra 7:10; Acts 20:20; Col. 1:28). The Word of God must also be taught in both large and small group

settings. This involves questions and answers, and practical dialogue together around the Word with practical

applications that hit people where they live.

Training (2 Tim. 2:2-4). Believers must be trained in such practical aspects as how to study their Bibles, how to

pray, how to witness, how to walk in the power of the Spirit, etc., that they may, in turn, be able to train others.

Exhorting (Col. 1:28; 3:16). The church must be exhorted to positive decisions for Christ that promote

commitment and Christ-like values and living.

Fellowship

Encouraging (Heb. 10:24-25). Believers must be challenged to encourage one another in the practical areas of the

Christian life. A key part of this could be small groups which provide for individual sharing, encouragement, and

accountability.

Counseling (Rom. 16:14; 1 Thess. 5:14). As believers within the body are built up in the Word, trained for ministry,

and exercise their gifts, they should naturally be able to meet many of the counseling needs within the church.

Sharing, Giving (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8-9; Gal. 6:7; 1 John 3:16-17). The church must be taught the prin-

ciples of grace giving, eternal priorities, and encouraged to sacrificially meet the needs of the ministry of the church

and others through words, deeds, and gifts of love.

Laboring Together as a Team (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 14f; Phil. 1:27; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). Recognizing the body concept and

learning to work together as a team with every believer knowing and using their gift(s) is critical for the proper and

effective functioning of the body of Christ.

Helping (Rom. 15:1-3; 16:2; Phil. 2:4; 4:3; 1 Thess. 5:14; Tit. 2:14; 3:1, 8, 14). As members of the body of Christ, we

need one another and we must learn to care for one another. Another dimension of a healthy church is taking interest

in those who need help, being zealous and ready for every good deed in order to meet pressing needs.

Disciplining (Matt. 18:15-20; Gal. 6:1-4).

Because of the clear mandates of Scripture, church discipline is not an option. It is vital for the purity, power, progress, and

purpose of the church. Without this restorative ministry, conditions continue which defile, weaken, hinder, and divert the

church from its holy calling. However, discipline must be carried out with biblical attitudes, motives, and goals.

Prayer

Confession (1 Cor. 11:28; 1 John 1:9; Ps. 66:18; Prov. 28:13). Believers should be encouraged to keep short accounts

with God in order to keep a conscience void of offense and stay in fellowship for the purpose of God’s glory, effective

prayer, meaningful worship, biblical understanding and growth, and effective ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Adoration (Eph. 3:20-21). Believers need to be challenged to make every aspect of their life an act of worship to God by

which they count and act on the glories of God’s person and grace. Unless this is true, the Sunday worship service becomes

mere lip service, an exercise of self-worship by which people seek to satisfy selfish ends while they manage to keep their

hearts from God (Isa. 29:13).

Intercession and Petition (Eph. 6:18-19; Col. 4:2-3, 12; Phil. 4:6-7; 2 Tim. 2:1f). Effectual prayer for others, for oneself

and family, for the nation and its leaders, and for the ministry of the church is crucial to all that the church is and does.

How does edification happen?

Pg.7

Two Models of the Church Compared and Their Products 1

CATEGORY OR ISSUE TRADITIONAL MODEL BIBLICAL MODEL

Concept of Church Organization Organism

Believers “Members” (as in a club) Disciples of Jesus Christ (members

of the Body)

Involvement Spectators (observing action) Participants in the action, ministers

Head The people Jesus Christ

Authority Constitution plus “proof texts” The Whole Word of God

Government Democracy (of and by the people) Theocracy (of God via Word and

H.S.)

Selection of Leadership Election Appointment (depending on God to

raise up gifted men and cause us to

recognize them as leaders)

Basic Ministry Conducting services Equipping, meeting needs

Place of Ministry Church building (at stated times) Anywhere (all the time)

Primary Concern Programs, things, buildings, etc. God’s glory, people

Objective Build up the local church (club) Build up the Body

Determining Factor What the people WANT (peace at

any price)

What the people NEED (according to

the Word)

Great Commission Get converts (addition) Make disciples (multiplication)

Field Our own area The world

Purpose of Assembling Entertainment, evangelism in the

service

Stimulate to love and good deeds;

encourage and equip the saints

Emphasis Meetings, setting and breaking

records

God, individuals, families, quality

plus quantity

Pastor-Teacher Administrator, speaker, visitor,

employee (belongs exclusively to this

church)

Teacher, counselor, shepherd,

equipper (belongs to body, works

primarily with this assembly)

Attitude toward Pastor-Teacher The “minister” (professional) One of “many” ministers

Board Administrators, decision makers,

occupied with facilities, etc.

Multiplicity of leadership; unified;

working together to equip the saints

for ministry.

Resources Human ingenuity, available funds,

etc.

Word, prayer, H.S., spiritual gifts,

and ministries

Methodology What we’re used to, feel comfortable

with

Whatever the situation demands as

long as it is true to God’s Word and

honors the Lord

Procedures Beg, plead, cajole, etc. for workers Trust God to raise gifted individuals

(if HE isn’t interested; WE won’t be)

Leadership given to Anyone willing Faithful, available, teachable people

Finances Needs dealt with only with available

funds

Determine needs, then TRUST GOD

to work through His people

Staff Hired employees who carry out the

policies set by the people through the

Board

Associates for full-time involvement;

a TEAM to assist in functioning of

the Body

Salaries Determined by “what I make” or

“what I think” (staff viewed as

employees hired by men)

Determined by biblical principles

(e.g., 1 Tim. 5:17-18). Staff viewed

as those sent by God to whom the

assembly bears responsibility

Attitudes Conditional acceptance Unconditional acceptance

Ultimate Concern Our church; what others think Exalting Christ; what God says

Result Rev. 3:1b Like the church at Sardis:

you are alive, but you are dead

Eph. 4:11-16 Body built up to

maturity functioning as God intends

1 This was taken from material prepared by M. C. Harman, Barcroft Bible Church, Arlington, Virginia.

Pg.8

While a local church must yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit, doing so means that we follow His guidelines for how

the church operates. Those guidelines are revealed in the Scriptures! The voice we hear from the Spirit must be

consistent with what He has revealed in the Word of God…. or we are not hearing the Spirit!

What has God revealed in His Word about how the Church functions? He’s established certain objectives in order for

the church to bring Him glory. The Church glorifies God by intensely pursuing His objectives for the church.

We must exalt Him, edify the Body, and evangelize the lost. When it comes to the reason for the Church’s

existence, it’s to exalt Him. When it comes to why the Church exists in the world—it’s to evangelize. When it

comes to the reason the church exists as a gathered community, it’s to edify, build one another up to Christ-like

maturity.

While evangelism focuses primarily on “reaching and winning,”---edification focuses on building up believers to

Christ-like maturity. The church has both the opportunity and the responsibility to reach and win lost people to Christ,

and help believers grow as disciples. Both are involved in making disciples.

Discipleship is the process in which a believer in Christ is becoming more like Christ increasing in the knowledge of

Christ and able to minister to others who will be able to do the same thing. The process of discipleship involves a

relationship where a spiritually minded person uses the Word of God to teach reprove, correct and train a learner in

Christ in order that he/she becomes increasingly more like Christ. When a believer is Christ-like, he/she will be a

reproducing disciple!

The words of Al Mohler are very appropriate:

“One of the fundamental issues of misunderstanding that leads to corrupt churchmanship in our generation is the

failure to distinguish between a crowd and a church. The failure to distinguish between a crowd and a church is . . . to

misunderstand everything about preaching, everything about ministry, and everything about our task. If we think our

business is to build a crowd, frankly any of us can do it. There’s a way to bring and draw and attract a crowd. . . .

Let us never mistake a crowd for a church [or] think our business is to draw a crowd.”

The local church is called to make disciples who are disciplemakers. Discipleship is a process, not a three month

course, a sermon series, a bible study, or a seminar. These may be part of the process, but they are not in themselves

“discipleship”.

Edification is the lifelong process whereby disciples come alongside other Disciples of Christ, helping them grow to be Christ-like disciple-makers.

© Copyright 2012, G. Simms

Pg.9

Conclusion