The New Testament Church

1
The New Testament Church

• The Work of the Church
• Edification

2
What is edification?

• A word meaning to build up
• ????d?µ?, (oikodome noun) ????d?µ?? (oikodomeo
  verb)
• 39 times in NT
• A constructed building or the act of building a
  structure

3
What is edification?

• A building
• Matthew 241, Luke 1218
• Matthew 724
• Matthew 1618

4
What is edification?

• Spiritually, a building
• 1 Corinthians 39, you are Gods building
• 2 Corinthians 51, we have a building from God.

5
What is edification?

• Spiritually, a building
• Ephesians 221, the whole buildinggrows into a
  holy temple
• 1 Peter 25-7, are being built a spiritual house

6
What is edification?

• Edify, edification
• Romans 1419, edify one another
• Romans 152, leading to edification

7
What is edification?

• Edify, edification
• 1 Cor. 143-4, 12, in the worship he speaks
  edification
• Ephesians 429, let our words lead to edification
• 1 Cor. 81, love edifies

8
What is edification?

• Edify, edification
• AS you study the use of this word you will find
  that it ALWAYS has a spiritual connotation with
  it (not about satisfying material needs)

9
What is edification?

• Fellowship
• ???????a (koinonia - Noun) ???????? (koinoneo
  Verb)
• close association involving mutual interests and
  sharing (BDAG)
• Fellowship, communion, partakers, sharing, etc.
  (about 38 times)

10
What is edification?

• Fellowship
• 1 Cor. 1020 do not have fellowship with demons
• 2 Cor. 614, what fellowship has righteousness
  with lawlessness?
• Acts 242, apostles doctrine and fellowship

11
What is edification?

• Fellowship
• 1 Cor. 19, called into fellowship of His Son
• Phil. 21, any fellowship of the Spirit
• 1 John 13, fellowship with us and the Father

12
What is edification?

• Fellowship
• 1 John 16-7, if we say we have fellowship with
  Him and walk in darknessif we walk in the light
  we have fellowship with one another

13
What is edification?

• Other words -
• Rom. 1213, distributing
• Rom. 1526, contribution
• Gal. 66, 2 John 11, Phil. 415, share
• 1 Pet. 413, 1 Cor. 1018, partake

14
What is edification?

• Fellowship
• AS you study the use of this word in the New
  Testament it is NEVER dealing with social
  gatherings, social reform, etc. but addresses a
  spiritual relationship

15
The work of edification?

• Ephesians 411-16, Leaders given to build up
  the body edifying the body (vs. 12) and when
  every part does its share, the body grows by
  edifying itself in love (vs. 16)

16
The work of edification?

• The church edifies as its leaders look out for
  the souls of its saints
• Ephesians 411-16
• 1 Peter 52
• Hebrews 137, 17
• Acts 2028-31

17
The work of edification?

• The church edifies as worships God
• While worship is primarily about God, we are
  edified when it is done properly
• 1 Cor. 1412, Col. 316

18
The work of edification?

• The church edifies through teaching Gods word
• Eph. 411-16
• Acts 2032
• Colossians 26-7

19
The work of edification?

• The church edifies when we assemble together
• 1 Cor. 1426
• Hebrews 1024-25

20
The work of edification?

• The church edifies as we exhort and encourage one
  another
• Jude 20
• Romans 1419, 152
• Ephesians 429
• 1 Thess. 511
• 1 Cor. 81

21
The work of edification?

• The church edifies as we grow individually
• As members of the body, our strengths are
  reflected in the church
• 2 Tim. 215, 2 Pet. 318, cf. 2 Peter 15-11

22
What is NOT authorized

• In the name of edification, churches engage in
  many unauthorized practices
• Fellowship halls, recreational activities,
  social seminars, counseling, secular education,
  etc.
• They sponsor teams and build human organizations.

23
What is NOT authorized

• Every one of these activities has a place in
  society, and if we can promote godly principles,
  it is good.
• Christians can and SHOULD be involved in such
  things.
• BUT is that what the purpose of the church is?
  WHERE is the authority?

24
What is NOT authorized

• In NT, such activities were NEVER used to
  evangelize
• John 626
• Acts 246, 1 Cor. 1122, they ate from house to
  house and were told to eat at home

25
What is NOT authorized

• Thought If it takes these activities to bring
  some in, what will it take to keep them?

26
What is NOT authorized

• NOTE Christians can and ought to prefer one
  another, and it will result in social occasions
  (apart from the church)In many instances, we
  have taken our personal responsibilities and
  given them to the church. We CANNOT hire the
  church to do our personal works.

27
In the New Testament, edification is about
building us up in the faith

• Let us keep the work of the church as God
  intended!