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THE BODY OF CHRIST

Lecture Objectives:

God made the human body with many external and internal members that work together in nine major systems, all encoded on the DNA molecule with 3 1/2 billion words of genetic information. The "Body/Member Concept" enables us to see how God organized the church of the first century under the headship of Christ, each member having an important function.

References:

Colossians 1.18; Ephesians 4.4-6; 1 Corinthians 12.12-31; Mark 3.13-15; Matthew 28.18-20; John 14.26; 16.12-13; 1 Corinthians 13.8-10.

Questions for Focus:

1. Who is the head of the Body, the Church as it exists in the world today?

2. Since the Church is made up of many members, how can they function in harmony with one another?

3. What part does the Holy Spirit have in the function of the Body?

4. What kind of organization does God intend for the Church to operate under today?

5. How is each member of the Body used by God to cause the growth of the Body?

1. THE HEAD OF THE BODY
   1. Every "body" needs a head.
      1. Question: What part of the human body orders or directs the other members of the body?
      2. Read Colossians 1.18 and answers questions.
         1. What is the church called in verse 18?
         2. Who is the church's head and deserves preeminence in all things in the church?
   2. How many heads did the church of the first century have?
      1. Read Ephesians 4.4-6 and answer questions.
         1. How many bodies (churches) did Christ plan?
         2. How many Lords does the church have?
      2. Visual Aid: Two-headed body or one-headed body? Question: Which picture fits New Testament teaching?
2. THE BODY OF CHRIST - Read 1 Corinthians 12.12-31 and answer questions.
   1. There are many members in one body (vs. 12-13).
   2. Each member is important (vs. 14-26).
   3. Members have different functions (vs.27-30).
      1. How did God unite many nationalities into one body in the church?
      2. Why is each member important?
      3. Do all members have the same function?
      4. What three classes of members in verses 27-30 taught Christ's will to the church?
3. MIRACULOUSLY ENDOWED MEMBERS OF THE BODY
   1. How were the apostles chosen and trained?
      1. Read Mark 3.13-15 and answer above question.
      2. Definition: "Apostle" means "one sent out with authority to accomplish a mission for another."
   2. What were the three main responsibilities of the apostles?
      1. Read Matthew 28.18-20 and answer above question.
         1.  
         2.  
         3.  
         4. How many of Christ's commands were the apostles to teach?
   3. How did the apostles accurately transmit Christ's will? Read the verses and answer the questions below.
      1. John 14.26 - Whom did Jesus send to remind the apostles of all that He taught them?
      2. John 16.12-13 - Did Jesus teach the apostles all of His will while on earth? Into how much of Christ's truth was the Spirit to guide them?
   4. How did apostles prove their message was true? Read Mark 16.20 and another answers above question: Other reference: Hebrews 2.3-4
   5. How did churches without an apostles learn Christ's will? The apostles prayed and laid hands on certain members and transmitted to them spiritual gifts of prophecy, knowledge and miracles. These prophets and teachers instructed the local church and confirmed the teaching with miraculous signs (Acts 8.5-25; 19.1-7; 1 Corinthians 12.1-11; 2 Timothy 1.6; 2 Peter 1.19-21).
4. CESSATION OF MIRACULOUSLY ENDOWED MEMBERS OF THE BODY - Read 1 Corinthians 13.8-10 and answer questions.

    

   1. What did Paul predict about miraculous gifts of prophecy, knowledge, and miracles in contrast to love?
   2. When were these miraculous gifts to cease?
   3. What was perfect or complete in contrast to that which prophecy revealed only a part? See Romans 12.2 and James 1.25 to know "what is perfect."
   4. The apostles and prophets recorded all of Christ's will in the New Testament. Read and answer questions.
      1. 1 Corinthians 14.37 - Whose commands did the apostle write?
      2. 2 Peter 1.3 - How much knowledge of Christ's will did the apostles reveal that a Christian needs?
      3. 2 Peter 3.1-2 - How did Peter remind the church what he taught them orally?
      4. 2 Timothy 3.16-17 - Did the Scriptures contain sufficient information to do all of the will of Christ?
      5. Jude 3 - The "faith" was recorded once for
      6. Galatians 1.6-9 - Could anyone change or add to the apostolic message?
   5. Proof that apostles and prophets ceased in first century
      1. Historically, no one except a few false prophets have dared to add new revelations to the first century New Testament.
5. PERMANENT ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL CONGREGATION
   1. Supervisors of local churches: Elders:
      1. Acts 14.23 - Who were appointed in every church?
      2. Acts 20.17-28 - What were two other names use to describe the elders?
         1.  
         2.  
      3. Visual Aid: definitions of these three words
   2. Evangelists, Teachers, Deacons
      1. Ephesians 4.11; Philippians 1.1; 1 Timothy 3.8-13; 2 Timothy 4.5
   3. Each member has a different gift or function
      1. Read Romans 12.4-8 and name seven functions of members:
         1.  
         2.  
         3.  
         4.  
         5.  
         6.  
         7.  
      2. Each student tells a fellow student which gift he or she prefers and writes here:
6. CONCLUSION
   1. Other Information
      1. DEFINITION OF GREEK WORDS
      2. ELDER (PRESBUTEROS) - "Older man"- Age: Wisdom
      3. BISHOP (EPISCOPOS) - "Overseer" - Authority:Supervisor
      4. PASTOR (POIMEIN) - "Shepherd" - Work: Care for sheep

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Last modified: December 07, 2005