The Church:

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The Church

• They are like deep sea divers,
  encased in suits for many fathoms deep, marching
  bravely forth to pull plugs out of bathtubs.
  Peter Marshall

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The Reception--of Spiritual Gifts
What gifts have we been given?
v. 10--Each one should use whatever gift he has
received to serve others, faithfully
administering Gods grace in its various forms.

• All good and perfect gifts--James 117.
• The gift of eternal life--John 316.
• The gift of the Scriptures - the word of
  truth--James 118.
• All things that pertain to life and to
  godliness--II Peter 13.
• Every spiritual blessing in Christ
  --Ephesians
  13-14.
• All spiritual gifts--Romans 121-8 I Peter 410
  Ephesians 47-16 I Cor. 12-14.

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• Ephesians 47--But to each one of us grace has
  been given as Christ apportioned it.
• 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles,
  some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and
  some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare
  God's people for works of service, so that the
  body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all
  reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of
  the Son of God and become mature, attaining to
  the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
  (conformity) 14 Then we will no longer be
  infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and
  blown here and there by every wind of teaching
  and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their
  deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the
  truth in love, we will in all things grow up into
  him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From
  him the whole body, joined and held together by
  every supporting ligament, grows and builds
  itself up in love, as each part does its work.

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Shipwrecked faith
1Timothy 119-- Some have rejected these and so
have shipwrecked their faith.
Why? immaturity, instability and gullibility.
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Psalm 23

• 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in
  want. 2 He makes me lie down in green
  pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3
  he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of
  righteousness for his name's sake.
• 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the
  shadow of death, Or through the darkest valley
  I will fear no evil, for you are with me your
  rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You
  prepare a table before me in the presence of my
  enemies. You anoint my head with oil my cup
  overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will
  follow me all the days of my life, and I will
  dwell in the house of the LORD forever.