The Church - His Body
The church must function according to apostolic instruction and the Holy Spirit's order, with spiritual gifts expressing the perfect love of Christ.
G.W. North emphasizes that the Apostle Paul provided the correct forms of Church worship and function, which must be adhered to for a church to be both biblical and spiritual. He asserts that the Church should be a true expression of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit's outlined order in Scripture. North highlights the importance of spiritual gifts as essential for the Church to function effectively, as they are meant to express Christ's love. He stresses that these gifts, when used properly, represent the highest form of worship and service. Ultimately, the Church is called to embody the love of Christ through its actions and ministry.
Text
We may be sure then that Paul delivered to us the correct forms of Church worship and gathering and function. Whatever may be assumed otherwise is neither of inspiration nor of apostolic instruction. Therefore to be both biblical and spiritual a church must function according to the form of gathering, worship and ministry outlined in chapter 14. In any locality the church, whenever it gathers, must be a true expression, if not the fullest replica, of the person of Christ. It is precisely for this reason that the Holy Spirit has outlined this order for us.
Christ still wishes to function in His Body the Church on earth in this same gloriously simple way, but this is totally impossible except by means of the gifts faithfully recorded by Paul for our information in chapter 12.
There can be no doubt that the Lord intends every one of these gifts to operate today. The same perfect love in which He ever abode and worked among men still fills His heart. It is no surprise then that in chapter 13 He majors upon this love, for the gifts are meant to be the expression of that love. Being properly held and used, they are the highest form of worship, the greatest means of service and the most patent expression of self-sacrifice of which the Church is capable, apart from martyrdom.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Biblical Church Function
- The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Church
- The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts in the Church
- The Expression of Self-Sacrifice in the Church
- The gifts are the highest form of worship
- The gifts are the greatest means of service
- The gifts are the most patent expression of self-sacrifice
- Apart from martyrdom, the Church is capable of self-sacrifice through the gifts
Key Quotes
“Christ still wishes to function in His Body the Church on earth in this same gloriously simple way” — G.W. North
“The gifts are meant to be the expression of that love” — G.W. North
“Being properly held and used, they are the highest form of worship, the greatest means of service and the most patent expression of self-sacrifice of which the Church is capable, apart from martyrdom” — G.W. North
Application Points
- The church must prioritize biblical function and the expression of love through spiritual gifts.
- Spiritual gifts are a means of worship, service, and self-sacrifice in the church.
- The Holy Spirit still fills the heart of Christ and guides the church in its function.