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Presented, March 11, 2007

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

EDIFICATION

                Today, we want to talk again about what the work of the church is.  Its work can be summarized in 4 categories: Evangelism, Benevolence, Worship and Edification.  In this lesson we want to

I.                     What is Edification

a.        Defined – the word edification is actually a term that means “to build a house.” (Vine’s)
It is often defined that way.
Matthew 7:24 & 25, which speaks of the wise and foolish men building their houses.  The word for build is the same word from which we find the term edify throughout scripture.
Matthew 16:18 when Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build My church…”

b.       However, as used in scripture concerning Christians it has to do with the act of building one up spiritually in the Lord as you would build up a house.  Virtually all lexicons (e.g. Greek-English dictionaries) make this distinction.  Thayer states that the term metaphorically means, “to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness.” (3618)
Consider 1 Peter 2:5 which says, “You also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

c.        In other words edification has to do with those things that bring one closer to Christ, usually working together.

II.                   The Christian and Edification

a.        Christians are expected to grow personally – 1 Peter 2:1-2.  When we are not growing as we ought to there are problems.  We need growth to draw closer to God, resist temptation, teach others, and to reach our fullest potential within the Lord’s body. 
Where do elders, teachers and deacons come from? They come from brethren who have matured (e.g. built themselves up) in the faith.

b.       As Christians we are expected to edify one another.
There are numerous commands directed toward our individual concerns for our brethren.
As we develop individually, we become more helpful toward them. 
Galatians 6:1 speaks of the spiritual (mature) restore those overtaken.
Romans 14:19 – a passage that addresses our need for a proper attitude toward brethren with whom we disagree (over matters of liberty).  We are commanded to pursue things which make for peace and edification.
Romans 15:2 – “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.”
1 Corinthians 10:23 states that while all things might be lawful (obviously speaking of those things that are lawful), yet not all things edify.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 – we are to consider one another and stir up one another…
And multitudes of other passages could be added to these – consider many of the “one another” passages in the New Testament.

III.                 The Church and Edification

a.        As the members of a congregation are built up, so is the congregation. 
Ephesians 4:16 says we are a 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.”  We must never forget our importance in building up the church.
And conversely, promoting spiritual growth among the members is one of the works of the local church.

b.       The church is to edify –
1 Corinthians 14:12, 26 – let all things be done for edification, especially within the church.
Ephesians 4:11-16 – note why leaders are provided – esp. vs. 12 AND 16.

c.        How does the church edify?

                                                   i.      Through Worship – Note again 1 Cor. 14:12.  This is a text dealing with the way we conduct ourselves in worship.
(Note: I have worship as its own category of works for the church.  Some place worship in the category of edification, and this verse certainly confirms that when we worship properly, we will be edified.  BUT, the primary purpose of worship is to glorify God.  That is why it MUST be conducted according to His pattern and examined as more than mere edification.)
We find in the religious world today worship services that are simply designed to entertain the members.  Justification for such is filed under the category of edification.  BUT that is NOT what God has in mind when it comes to worship building us up!
Hebrews 10:25 speaks of the importance of assembling together so that we can exhort one another.  That is a part of building up.
Ephesians 5:19 – an example of how worship also edifies – we teach and admonish one another in our singing.

                                                  ii.      Through faithful teaching – this is the primary way in which the church we read about in the New Testament edified.
Consider again Ephesians 4:11-12 – leaders are to teach which build the members up, which builds the church up.  As we are taught more we not only become more knowledgeable in the word, but more skilled in handling it accurately and to answer false teachers.
Bible classes – are designed to build us up the way God intended for the church to accomplish this work – teaching.

                                                iii.      By keeping the church pure and united – When we strive for unity and purity, we will see growth within the Lord’s body (not just physical, but spiritual and as a family, etc.).
Jesus taught, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:18).  Jesus was speaking of false prophets and telling us that we can know them by their fruits.  The same is true with the church.  IF we are striving for TRUE unity and purity, our fruit will show it.
1 Corinthians 5:1-6 deals with how to deal with a sinning brother.  Vs. 6 warns us that a little leaven will leaven the whole lump.
IF we want the body of Christ to be edified, we have to keep her pure.

                                                iv.      To encourage brethren to faithfulness and good works – in its teaching, the church encourages brethren to grow and be faithful in our living.  WE have emphasized the importance of brethren acting godly (so that the church is not burdened or misused).
Note Titus 3:1-3.  This is instructions Titus was to give to the church in Crete (1:5).

                                                 v.      To encourage godly attitudes -
1 Corinthians 12:24-27 – as Paul describes the church as a body he notes that when all act godly and do there part there will be no schism in the body, but the members will have “the same care for one another” in the body, but the members will have “the same care for one another”
Colossians 3:12-15 – being called into one body, Paul outlines the godly attitude we are to have.

d.       When it comes to cooperation among congregations, there is nothing said about edification.  Thus it is always a very personal and local thing.  
NOTHING is said of the church concerning entertaining the brethren, providing secular education, sponsoring recreational activities, creating family life centers, etc.  It is simply NOT there.
Where the church is concerned, edification always refers to that which is done to build up brethren spiritually.  See Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 11:22, etc.
Sometimes it is argued that the “love feasts” of Jude 12 refer to common meals, but that is not the context.  NOTHING in the text is said about a common meal.  Neither is it implied that this is addressing a work of the church.  To make either surmising is mere speculation.  It is a text warning of the influence of false teachers as they interrupt and impact that which is good in the lives of Christians (which would include the church).  They are also called “clouds without water and late autumn trees.  Are these descriptive of the church and its works?   

IV.                What we see today

a.        In the name of edification, we find churches building and maintaining schools, colleges, family life centers, fellowship halls, kitchens, gymnasiums, youth groups, family outings, social services.

b.       We also find that the worship in many places has deteriorated to full, blown out entertainment with live bands, celebrities, pageants, special events, etc.  All designed to sensationalize their worship.  While such may encourage brethren for a while, in time it will have to be intensified more.

c.        It disturbs me when people looking for a church ask, “What do you have to offer our family?”  They usually are not concerned about the truth, but they activities and social programs that they want are being provided. 

d.      Advertisers frequently send material to churches EXPECTING us to be involved in entertainment, social issues, etc. It is truly sad that such is what society has come to expect of the church as its work.

e.      Again, I repeat, the works of such things are good and when possible, I recommend that Christians carry out these works (Galatians 6:10, etc.), but they simply are NOT the work of the church in ANY way, shape or form!  There is NO passage of scripture that addresses the church and recreation, secular education, social services, etc.

Thus we can see the work of edification within the church.  Real edification deals with how the truth is developed within our lives.  We have also seen how what brethren do impacts the growth of the church AND that as the church does its share, it will cause brethren to grow.  It is a never ending cycle – but one we need to understand.  When it comes to the church we should ask ourselves – who does it REALLY belong to.  Be careful how you answer, because there are consequences.

What we do may not be the popular thing but we can establish its authority with scripture.  Let us edify one another the way God intended for us to accomplish that.