Directives for Cultivating the Corporate Ministry of the Body to Itself
1. The Scriptural mandate for this duty
Eph. 4:7-16
Geoffrey B. Wilson, New Testament Commentaries, vol. 1, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2005), pp. 636 & 637.
Geoffrey B. Wilson, New Testament Commentaries, vol. 1, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2005), pp. 639 & 640.
Heb. 6:10
1 Pet. 4:10-11
Gal. 5:13-14
2. Some guidelines for the implementation of this duty
1. By constantly inculcating the Scriptural concepts of the church which undergird this duty
Col. 3:8-10
Rom. 6:1ff
1 Cor. 8:11-12
Eph. 4:25
a. We are brethren in the same family.
Philemon 15-16
2 Thes. 3:14-15
Mt. 25:40, Mt. 25:45
1 Thes. 4:9-10
1 Pet. 2:17
b. We are members of the same body.
Eph. 4:3-4, Eph. 4:12
Eph. 4:25
1 Cor. 12:12
Rom. 12:3-8
Eph. 4:11-16
Acts 9:1, Acts 9:4
c. We are living stones in the same spiritual temple.
1 Cor. 3:16-17
Eph. 2:21-22
1 Pet. 2:4ff
d. We are all Spirit endowed and “gifted” members of the New Covenant community.
Acts 2:14-18
1 Cor. 12:12-13
Eph. 4:7
1 Pet. 4:10
See Appendix #5: D. Macleod’s The Spirit of Promise, pp. 39-48, Christian Focus
2. By constantly encouraging the Scriptural attitudes essential to the performance of this duty.
Mt. 20:27-28
Jn. 13:34-35
Rom. 12:10; Rom. 13:8-10
1 Cor. 13
Eph. 4:1-2, Eph. 4:32
Phil. 2:2-4
Col. 3:12-14
1 Pet. 3:8-9; 1 Pet. 5:8
1 Jn. 4:7-8
Mt. 18:21-22
1 Thes. 4:9-10
3. By constantly directing the members of the church to the Scriptural activities by which they perform this duty.
a. Spiritual
1) Prayer for one another
Eph. 6:18
1 Jn. 2:6
Heb. 7:25
Rom. 1:9
Phil. 1:3
2 Tim. 1:3
Mt. 5:44
Jas. 5:16
See D. Carson’s A Call to Spiritual Reformation, Pub. InterVarsity Press
2) Mutual encouragement and exhortation
1 Thes. 4:18; 1 Thes. 5:11, 1 Thes. 5:14
Col. 3:16, Col. 3:17
Eph. 4:29
Heb. 3:13; Heb. 10:24
3) Mutual reproof and admonition
Rom. 15:14
Gal. 6:1
Mt. 18:15
Lk. 17:3
4) Mutual forgiveness and forbearance
1 Pet. 5:8
Eph. 4:1-2; Eph. 4:31-32
Mt. 6:14-15
Lk. 17:3-4
5) Mutual instruction and teaching
Heb. 5:12-14
Titus 2:3-5
Col. 3:16
b. Social
1) Verbal and physical confirmation of their mutual love and goodwill
1 Jn. 3:18 (an absolute for the relative)
– Jesus as our pattern
Jn. 13:34, Jn. 15:9, Jn. 15:12; Jn. 16:27
-The Apostle Paul is our pattern
1 Cor 16:24
2 Cor. 2:4, 2 Cor. 2:8; 2 Cor. 12:15
Col. 1:7-8
-The repeated command to greet on another with expressions of affection
Rom. 16:16
1 Cor. 16:20
2 Cor. 13:11-12
1 Thes. 5:26
1 Pet. 5:14
Demonstrate how obedience to this directive touches both the inward and the outward life of the believer.
2) Aggressiveness in hospitality
1 Pet. 4:8-9
Heb. 13:2
Rom. 12:13
Acts 2:46
1 Tim. 3:2
3) Sympathetic identity with each others joys and sorrows
Rom. 12:15
Job 30:25
Heb. 13:3
c. Physical and material
Prov. 3:27-28
Mt. 25:34-40
Rom. 12:13
2 Cor. 8:9
1 Jn. 3:16-9
Acts 4:32-5
3. Some Concluding Warnings and Cautions in the Light of Our Current Situation
1. Do not fall into the notion that the Biblical doctrine of the primacy of preaching equals an unbiblical doctrine of the exclusiveness of preaching as God’s appointed means of edification.
Eph. 4:11-16
2. Do not be bullied into an unbiblical and unrealistic notion that your Biblical body life must be immediately visible in your stated meetings.
1 Cor. 14:25
Acts 2:42 with Acts 2:46
Mt. 18:15
Gal. 6:1
Mt. 6:1ff
3. Do not weary of reminding your people again and again of their duties in this area of Christian experience.
Jn. 13:35
John’s constant emphasis in I, II, III John
2 Pet. 1:12-13
Phil. 3:1