Building a solid foundation on the Word of God
Aiming for Koinonia
•~Edification~•
Determining our Direction and Purpose
Ephesians 4:11-29 & Selected Scriptures
Hebrews 4:12-13 – For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Characteristics of the Word of God.
Inerrancy: There are no errors contained in The Bible.
Inspiration:. 2 Peter 1:21 – men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Clarity: If we could not understand it, it wouldn’t be very helpful.
Authority: God Himself is it’s author. So it speaks with His Authority. The Bible does not merely contain the Words of God - it IS the Word of God.
Infallibility: God’s Word will do all that it claims it will do.
Sufficiency:. God’s Word is sufficient. We don’t need clever marketing schemes to lure people here. We need God’s Word. For it is God’s Word that they need.
Luke 16:19-31 – The Rich Man and Lazarus.
The point of this story is this: they had the Bible, but clearly weren’t interested in its message. They hadn’t believed it. They hadn’t followed it. They had ignored it. And if they won’t listen to what God has spoken through His Word, then even someone who rises from the dead won’t convince them.
If we don’t acknolwedge, recognize, then follow what the Bible teaches, then even Jesus Christ Himself wouldn’t convince us.
In Scripture alone we find everything we need for life and godliness. (Sola Scriptura)
2 Peter 1:3, 2 Timothy 3:16-18 Through the teaching of God’s word, we will be equipped for all that God has planned for us. (Ephesians 2:10).
• The Church:
The church is a body/group of sinners
who have been given:
• repentance from their sins &
• belief in the gospel
Resulting in salvation. It’s all by grace.
The second purpose of the church is:
• Purpose 2: Edification of the Body
The word “edify” is the Greek word oikodome which means – to build. (like a building)
The focus is on the process with an eye toward the goal.
• Edification – growing as individual believers as together we strive to grow as a body.
It is both an activity and a goal - something we do & something we aim toward
The Church is referred to as a spiritual “building” in five places:
1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5
This whole concept and idea permeates the Bible’s teaching on the church.
Acts 20:32 - God’s Word builds us up
Romans 14:19 - pursue peace and edification/mutual upbuilding;
Romans 15:2 - build up your neighbor
1 Corinthians 8:1 love builds us up- ;
1 Corinthians 14:3-5, use spiritual gifts to build up the body
1 Corinthians 14:26 – Let all things be done for building up.
2 Corinthians 10:8 - pastoral authority is for building up
Ephesians 2:21 - the structure grows
Ephesians 4:12 - building up the body of Christ,
Ephesians 4:29 - our speech should build up;
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - encourage and build up
1 Peter 2:5 - built up into a spiritual house
• We must be a church that is about Edification.
Focal passage: Ephesians 4:11-16; 23-25; 29
• Elements of Edification
1. Prayer
• Charles Spurgeon – If a church does not pray, it is dead. Everything will hinge upon prayer in the church.
Ephesians 1:16, Philippians 1:3-4, Colossians 1:9
We pray:
In Thanksgiving to God for One Another
(Romans 1:8; Philemon 1:4; I Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 1:11)
For Our Unity with God (John 17:20-26)
For Our Sanctification (I Thessalonians 3:10)
For Our Love in Discernment (Philippians 1:9-11)
For Our Renewed Fellowship (2 Timothy 1:3)
For Our Boldness in Speaking the Word (Acts 4:31)
For Our Times of Persecution (Acts 12:5)
For Our Spiritual and Physical Health (James 5:13-18)
For Our Effective Evangelism (Ephesians 6:18)
2. Unity & Humility
Philippians 1:27, 2:3-8
Our relationships as believers should have a foundation of humility. The humility that we see in Christ Himself. When we truly have this humility - it will lead to unity. Read through the Ephesians passage again - look for unity and humility (unity of the faith, joined together, members, fullness, true righteousness...)
3. Discipleship
Luke 9:23 – If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me
Jesus demonstrated discipleship. He trained 12 men. Paul continued this pattern in his instructions to Timothy: 2 Timothy 2:2. Women are also mentioned Titus 2:3-5. Everyone is to be involved in the process of discipleship.
A disciple is a follower and the term “walk” is significant - it refers to how we live our lives.
Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:17, Ephesians 5:2, 15
4. Knowledge
• You will never “arrive” when it comes to knowledge of the Bible, of Jesus, of the Gospel....
Knowledge means knowledge of the Bible.
Ephesians 1:17, Philippians 1:9, Colossians 1:9
Ephesians 4:13 – until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
Knowledge relates to personal study and to being taught:
2 Peter 1:5, Titus 1:9
There is a dynamic of learning that should always be present in the life of a believer. And as we are a body of believers, how can there not be a dynamic of learning that dominates what we do as a body?
5. Serving (Spiritual Gifts)
You must serve the church. You must be participating.
Ephesians 4:15-16, 1 Peter 4:10
Every believer is given a spiritual gift - so that they can serve the church. Participating in the Edification of the Body
The church needs every member to serve. Every member needs to serve the church.
The body will only work properly when each part is working properly.
There is no “well, I’ve done my time. I served for many years. Now it’s time for me to just sit back and relax and let others take their turn.
Malachi 3:18: the righteous serve.
• Serving is not an option.
• The Bottom Line: Koinonia
Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship.
The idea behind Koinonia is connectedness.
Here’s Koinonia. 1 John 1:3 – that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ
Koinonia is rooted in fellowship with God. The one who walks with God - walks with His children as well
Koinonia with God leads to Koinonia with His people.
As we look closely at the idea of Koinonia we’ll see four dimensions in a couple of categories.
• Sharing Together
1. It Starts in Relationship
As the church started, they weren’t devoted to an activity. Their fellowship with God logically brought them into fellowship with one another It wasn’t their common goals or common purpose that brought them together. (A community of fishermen or farmers.) It was their common life in Christ.
2. It’s Also a Partnership
It’s a partnership that is formed around an objective. The objective of glorifying God.
Relationship is about community. Partnership is that community in action.
Biblical Community – the idea of an active partnership in the promotion of the gospel in the building up of believers.
• Sharing With
3. Communion with Others
This is communicating intimately, or sharing with one another on a close personal and spiritual level.
Sharing what God has taught you from the Scriptures, the word of encouragement,
If we are to truly experience the NT concept of Koinonia within our community, we must move beyond the generic conversations and really begin to share with each other on a level that will elevate our spiritual lives. That will elevate our spiritual relationships with each other and with God.
4. Sharing material possessions
Romans 12:13, 2 Corinthians 9:11,13, Hebrews 13:16
An important element of Koinonia is a willingness to share our possessions with one another. When we come to understand what edification and Koinonia really are - it should naturally lead us to sharing our material possessions with others.
We are all partners in the Gospel. Members of the same body - sharing together is part of that dynamic.
2 Corinthians 8:14 – your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need... He wasn’t saying, “I’ll buy lunch today - you buy next time...”
He was saying dig deep into your pockets - help meet the needs of believers. Together we share a common life in Christ - and that includes sharing what God has blessed us with financially.
One question:
• Will you be engaged in the Church?
Not merely involved. Not merely showing up, but truly engaged in the church?
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