CONFERENCE IN COLUMBUS OHIO


	CONFERENCE IN COLUMBUS OHIO JANUARY 28 - 29, 2006 THE BODY OF CHRIST Message Two: The Expression of the Body of Christ - The Local Churches I. Every local church is the expression of the Body of Christ in that locality as Paul declared to the saints in the church in Corinth, "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually." (1 Cor. 12:27) II. The local expression of the Body comes to reality through the servants of the Lord. A. In position - these servants are the prisoners of Christ Jesus who have received the stewardship for a local church. "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you, the Gentiles--If indeed you have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God which was given to me for you," (Eph. 3:1-2) B. In content - they know the mystery of Christ. "That by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I have written previously in brief," (Eph. 3:3) C. In labor - they are ministers participating in the operation of His power to announce the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel. "Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God which was given to me according to the operation of His power. To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel" (Eph. 3:7-8) D. In effectiveness - that the saints are strengthened with power through His Spirit into the inner man and that they may be filled unto all the fullness of God. "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit into the inner man,……And to know the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God." (Eph. 3:16, 19) III. In the local church life all the saints are diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace. "Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace: One Body and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism; One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph. 4:3-6) A. One BODY (His expression), one Spirit (the executor with His essence), one hope of calling (one stand and living) B. One LORD (the creator with His substance), one faith (germinating all the positive things of Christ), one baptism (terminating all things not of Christ) C. One GOD and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. IV. Every local church needs to grow and be built up in love. "……causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love." (Eph.4:16c) A. Through the operation of some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as shepherds and teachers in the Body. "And He Himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as shepherds and teachers," (Eph. 4:11) B. Through the perfecting of the saints unto the work of ministry. "For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ," (Eph. 4:12) C. Until we all arrive at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. "Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ," (Eph. 4:13) D. With the saints holding to truth in love: "But holding to truth in love,……" (Eph. 4:15a) 1. That they may grow up into Him in all things who is the Head, Christ. "……we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ," (Eph. 4:15b) 2. That they may be joined together and knit together. "Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together……" (Eph. 4:16a) 3. This comes from every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part. "……through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part,……" (Eph. 4:16b)