June 7 AM
"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Alternatives To The Resurrection (28:11-15)
INTRODUCTION
1. There are certain facts of history that no one can deny...
a. Many people testified they saw Jesus raised from the dead
b. These same people suffered greatly because of their testimony
Such facts support the actual resurrection of Jesus from the dead
2. From the beginning, there have been alternative theories to explain
the empty tomb...
a. Matthew records the earliest theory: the disciples stole the body
- Mt 28:11-15
b. Other theories have been raised as well
3. Because of the significance of the resurrection (described in a
previous lesson)...
a. Those opposed to the gospel know this event must be discredited
b. We who believe in Jesus must always be ready to provide a defense
- 1Pe 3:15
1) Not only why we accept the testimony of the witnesses (see
previous lesson)
2) But why we find alternative explanations impossible to accept
I. THE DISCIPLES STOLE THE BODY
A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
1. The disciples stole the body, then claimed He rose from the
dead
2. This was the "official" theory offered from the very beginning
- Mt 28:11-15
B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
1. The explanation defies logic
a. If the soldiers were asleep...
1) How did they know it was the disciples who took the
body?
2) How could the large stone guarding the entrance be
rolled away without awakening the soldiers?
b. The soldiers guarding the tomb were Romans - Mt 27:62-66
1) They were professional soldiers
2) Charged to guard the tomb with their lives
3) The punishment for falling asleep on duty was death
2. This would make those who testified they saw Jesus liars and
frauds
a. As we saw in the previous lesson, they claimed empirical
evidence
b. Suppose just a few disciples stole the body, unbeknown by
others...
1) Such as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, or the women
2) Others still say they saw Jesus, ate and drank with Him
c. You have to explain why they were willing to lie and die
knowing it was a lie
II. THEY WENT TO THE WRONG TOMB
A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
1. The women went to the wrong tomb, and found it empty
2. They erroneously concluded that Jesus had risen, and their
story spread
B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
1. The women had been to the tomb before - Mt 27:61
2. The religious and political leaders could have easily silenced
the apostles' claim
a. If the women went to the wrong tomb, then the right tomb
was still sealed and guarded by the Roman soldiers
b. When the apostles' created an uproar with their story of
the resurrection of Jesus (cf. Ac 4:1-2; 5:27-33), the
Jewish leaders could have directed people to the right tomb
and presented the body of Jesus!
3. You still have the testimony of the apostles to contend with
III. JESUS SWOONED AND LATER REVIVED
A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
1. Jesus did not actually die on the cross, He only swooned
a. Suffering from shock, pain, and loss of blood, He fainted
(swooned) from exhaustion
b. Thinking that He was dead, the Roman soldiers took Him down
and buried Him in the tomb
2. In the coolness of the tomb, Jesus revived
a. Somehow He left the tomb
b. Appeared to His disciples, then lived in obscurity to die
years later
B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
1. Jesus would have had to revive sufficiently enough to:
a. Break through the burial garments that bound Him, including
a hundred pounds of spices used in preparing His body for
burial - Jn 19:38-40
b. Role away the large stone that sealed the tomb
c. Fight off the Roman guards protecting the tomb
d. Walk the seven miles to Emmaus where He was seen by the two
disciples
e. Walk back to Jerusalem where He was seen by the apostles
All within the same day!
2. Every effort was made to prove He was dead
a. The Roman soldiers at the cross pierced His side - Jn 19:
31-34
1) Out of which flowed blood and water
2) An indication He was already dead, having died of a
ruptured heart
b. Pilate made sure He was dead - Mk 15:43-45
1) When Joseph of Arimathea wanted the body
2) The Roman centurion confirmed that Jesus was dead
3. Not only would this make the apostles liars and frauds, but
Jesus also for allowing a lie to spread for years!
IV. THE DISCIPLES HAD HALLUCINATIONS OR VISIONS
A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
1. All of Christ's post-resurrection appearances were only
supposed appearances
2. Those who claimed to see Jesus had hallucinations
B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
1. Remember that the appearances were not just to individuals,
one at a time
a. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus claimed to see Him
- Lk 24:13-35
b. Ten apostles claimed to see Him - Jn 20:19-25
c. He appeared to over 500 people at once - 1Co 15:6
2. The hallucination theory contradicts laws and principles which
psychiatrists say are essential to hallucinations:
a. Only certain kinds of people have hallucinations
1) These are usually high-strung, highly imaginative, and
very nervous people
2) Usually only paranoid or schizophrenic individuals have
hallucinations
3) The appearances were not restricted to people of any
particular psychological make up
b. Hallucinations are linked in an individual's subconscious
1) An individual may have an hallucination
2) But hallucinations do not appear to groups of people
c. They occur in people when there is a spirit of anticipation
or hopeful expectation
1) The disciples had no such anticipation - Lk 24:13-21
2) They were prone to disbelieve even after they were told
of the resurrection - Jn 20:24-25
V. SOMEONE IMPERSONATED JESUS
A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
1. The appearances were not really Christ at all, but someone
impersonating Him
2. This is evident because in some cases they did not recognize
Him at first
B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
1. The disciples were reluctant to believe in the resurrection
a. Some were doubtful, such as Thomas - Jn 20:24-25
b. It would have been hard to convince them unless it was
really Him
2. It would have been impossible to impersonate Christ's wounds
a. This was Christ's proof it was really Him - Jn 20:26-27
b. Which convinced doubting Thomas - Jn 20:28-29
3. The apostles traveled with Jesus for three years
a. It is incredible that anyone could have gotten away with an
impersonation
b. Which is why the apostles were witnesses of the
resurrection - Ac 10:39-41
4. The one claiming to be Jesus performed miracles
a. Suddenly appearing in locked rooms - Jn 20:19
b. Directing them how to catch fish - Jn 21:1-7
VI. SOMEONE WAS MISTAKEN FOR JESUS
A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
1. The disciples simply mistook for Jesus someone who looked like
Him
2. For example, the women mistook the gardener for Jesus - Jn 20:
14-15
B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
1. The same problems as with the impersonation theory
a. Disciples reluctant to believe in the resurrection
b. Impossible to recreate the wounds of Jesus
c. Ample time with Jesus to verify His identity
2. While Mary may have mistaken Jesus for the gardener, she was
able to look through her grief and recognize who He was
VII. IT WAS ONLY A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION
A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
1. Christ's resurrection was not a real physical resurrection
2. Christ's body remained in the grave and His real resurrection
was spiritual in nature
3. It was only told this way to illustrate the truth of spiritual
resurrection
B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
1. If it was only a spiritual resurrection, what happened to the
body?
a. The enemies of Christ were never able to produce a body
b. Which they would have gladly done to discredit the apostles
2. Again, the nature of the apostles' testimony is empirical:
they ate and drank with Him, touched Him - Lk 24:36-43; Ac 10:
39-41; 1Jn 1:1-2
3. Paul argued a bodily resurrection of Jesus as evidence for our
own bodily resurrection - 1Co 15:12-58
CONCLUSION
1. The resurrection of Jesus has been variously interpreted as...
a. A great hoax (the resurrection is false)
b. Mythology (the resurrection is fiction)
Therefore various alternatives have been proposed to explain the
empty tomb
2. But there is only one interpretation worth accepting...
a. It is the supreme event of history (the resurrection is fact)
b. Supported by empirical testimony provided by reliable witnesses
c. With implications of great significance for both unbeliever and
believer alike
When you consider the strength of the apostles' testimony, and contrast
it with the weakness of the alternative explanations that have been
proposed, it leads an honest person in only one direction: to faith in
Jesus Christ as the Son of God...
"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His
disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are
written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
(Jn 20:30-31)
Are you willing to believe in Jesus, that you might have life in His
name? Then heed the words of the apostle Peter proclaimed in the first
gospel sermon:
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said
to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what
shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every
one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to
all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
(Ac 2:36-39)
June 14 AM
"OUR LIFE TOGETHER"
A Call To Fellowship
INTRODUCTION
1. In Ac 2:42, we have this account of the early church:
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
2. Today, many churches place great importance to being true to the
Word of God, observing the Lord's Supper, and being fervent in
prayer
3. These things are certainly important, but what of "fellowship"?
a. Do we properly understand this facet of the Lord's church?
b. Are we practicing it in a way consistent with the example of the
early church?
4. Beginning with this lesson...
a. I want to examine the subject of "fellowship" in the light of the
Scriptures
b. With the objective in mind of ensuring a proper understanding and
application of this Biblical subject
I. THE PROBLEM OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS
A. AS OFTEN MANIFESTED IN A LOCAL CONGREGATION...
1. What if an observer came to make a careful analysis of the
church's life in reference to fellowship?
a. Someone who was a specialist in studying how groups work
together
b. Who intended to compare us with other groups that have some
sort of interaction among its members (like civic clubs,
garden clubs, etc.)
c. Who would examine such things like:
1) How we relate to one another when we assemble for
worship
2) How we interact with each other away from our assemblies
3) Our group loyalties
4) Our willingness to support each other in time of need
5) The amount of time we spend in the company of others in
the church
d. I.e., seeking to learn how well those who sit by each other
during the assembly Sunday after Sunday really know each
other
What would we expect him to discover?
2. Several years ago, some churches allowed themselves to be
analyzed in this way; here is what was discovered:
a. The great majority of members knew a very small percentage
of the people
b. Those who gathered for worship were mostly an anonymous
group of worshippers
c. They were not a genuine community of souls prepared to bear
one another's burdens
d. They expressed little interest in becoming more involved in
each other's lives
e. I.e., they came to worship only for the sake of their own
spiritual life and personal salvation!
"Many go to church as they would go to the movie theater"
3. The bottom line was this:
a. The churches that were analyzed consisted of members who
were "self-centered"
b. Therefore, very little fellowship of any sort was taking
place!
B. SOME REASONS FOR "SELF-CENTEREDNESS" IN CHURCHES...
1. Most of us lived through the "Me Decade"
a. The 1970's, viewed as being distinguished by self-centered
attitudes and self-indulgent behavior
b. A time in which there was...
1) A rapid rise of crime against others - rape, theft,
assault, murder
2) An increased use of drugs and alcohol as a way of escape
3) A turn to philosophies and religions which involve
preoccupation with SELF:
a) "Looking Out For #1"
b) Transcendental Meditation (TM) and Yoga
4) An emphasis on consumerism and materialistic gain
c. A decade followed by the "Greed Decade" (the 1980's)
Such cultural trends have produced many self-centered
people!
2. We live in a highly mobile society
a. New families move in, and others move away
b. Many live great distances from the place of worship and
from each other
c. These facts do not prevent us from having proper
fellowship, they just make it easier to become isolated
from the fellowship unintentionally
3. Technology designed to bring us closer together, can easily
move us apart
a. Phones, email, etc., greatly increase our ability to
communicate
b. But we can become stretched out so thin through such
technology that we do not develop any meaningful
relationships
4. A failure to appreciate the Biblical teaching about "Our Life
Together"
II. THE CHURCH: A FELLOWSHIP FREE FROM SELF-CENTEREDNESS
A. THIS TRUTH IS "EMPHASIZED" IN THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE...
1. We are to be hospitable to one another - 1Pe 4:9
2. We are to have a care for one another - 1Co 12:26
3. We are to pray for one another - Jm 5:16
4. We are to restore one another - Jm 5:19-20
5. We are to teach and admonish one another - Col 3:16
6. We are to serve one another in love - Ga 5:13
B. THIS TRUTH WAS "EXEMPLIFIED" IN THE EARLY CHURCH...
1. By the church in Jerusalem - Ac 2:42-46
2. By the church in Antioch - Ac 11:27-30
3. By the churches in Macedonia - 2Co 8:1-5
4. By the churches in Achaia - Ro 15:26
C. SUCH FELLOWSHIP IS A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF THE TEACHING OF
CHRIST...
1. The kingdom consists of those who love both God and their
brethren - Mk 12:28-34
2. Thus the fellowship we are to enjoy in the church is both
"vertical" and "horizontal"
a. With God...
1) We enjoy a "vertical" relationship - cf. 2Co 5:20
2) An overemphasis on this aspect can cause insensitivity
to the needs of others
b. With fellow Christians...
1) We enjoy a "horizontal" relationship - cf. Ep 2:14-16
2) Of course, an undue emphasis on this aspect may cause
one to neglect God
CONCLUSION
1. Lessons to follow will define further...
a. The fellowship that is to be enjoyed by those in the church
b. The spiritual activities designed to nurture fellowship in the
body of Christ
c. Elements necessary to preserve our fellowship
d. Biblical limitations on the extent of our fellowship
2. But in this lesson I have sought to stress...
a. The importance of fellowship in the local church
b. The danger of allowing "self-centeredness" to disrupt our
fellowship
3. For now, here are some practical suggestions that will enhance our
ability to provide the proper fellowship:
a. Learn the names of EVERY member (make use of the church
directory!)
b. Take notice of the cares and the joys of fellow Christians
(listen to the announcements!)
c. Pray for those with special needs, mentioning them by name in
your private prayers
d. Allow yourself to have...
1) An "approachable personality" (where people feel comfortable
in your presence)
2) A "transparent lifestyle" (where you are not afraid to let
others know the "real you")
June 21 AM
"OUR LIFE TOGETHER"
An Intimate Household
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous lesson, we...
a. Brought up the question as to whether churches today are engaged
in the type of fellowship practiced by churches in the NT
b. Asked questions as to whether churches today:
1) Are communities of believers expressing a sense of concern for
one another
2) Or if they are simply groups of "anonymous" worshippers
c. Considered:
1) Factors in our society which tempt us to be self-centered
2) How an attitude of self-centeredness is foreign to the very
basics of Christ's teachings
2. In this lesson, I wish to examine more carefully...
a. The teaching of Christ concerning the nature of the church He
said He would build
b. And how His teaching ought to shape the type of fellowship He
wanted the members of His church to experience
I. DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE CHURCH
A. HOW MODERN MAN TENDS TO VIEW THE CHURCH...
1. As an "institution", as an "organization"
2. Terms which are analogies of some business or corporation
3. Thus we find terms frequently used like:
a. "Associate Minister"
b. "Superintendent Of Education"
c. "Director Of Music"
While the church was divinely instituted by God, and does have
some organization, it seems that many have molded the local
church into a business-like structure
B. JESUS VIEWED THE CHURCH DIFFERENTLY...
1. He viewed it as a "family" who would be doing the will of His
Father in heaven - Mt 12:46-50; cf. 7:21
2. Indeed, both Jesus and His apostles often used the "family"
motif in speaking of the church
a. Jesus would speak of...
1) God as His Father - Jn 2:16
2) His followers as family relatives
-- And teach His disciples to address God as our "Father"
- Mt 6:9
b. The apostles referred to the church...
1) As a "brotherhood" - 1Pe 2:17
2) As the "house (family) of God" - 1Ti 3:15; 2Co 6:17-18
II. HOW FAMILY INTIMACY IS TO PERMEATE CHURCH LIFE
A. IN OUR "RELATIONSHIP" WITH EACH OTHER...
1. We are to be like little children - Mt 18:1-4
2. Not striving for dominance over each other
a. But with humility, showing submissiveness
b. And with dependence upon one another
B. IN OUR "CONCERN" FOR EACH OTHER...
1. Concerned with protecting the members of our family from harm
(esp. spiritual harm) - Mt 18:5-7
2. As concerned with the one who strays, as we are with the one
who continues in the fellowship - Mt 18:10-14
C. IN OUR "DISCIPLINE" OF ONE ANOTHER...
1. We are to remember that we are "brethren"
a. Follow a procedure that utilizes to the full advantage our
relationship as a family - cf. Mt 18:15-17
b. Treat the one disciplined as a brother - 2Th 3:6-15
2. If the brother in error is not responsive...
a. We are to take advantage of the family relationship which
we have enjoyed
b. By depriving the erring brother of it!
3. Indeed, the failure of much discipline is due to the lack of
proper fellowship to begin with!
D. IN "FORGIVING" EACH OTHER...
1. Realizing the value of this intimate, family relationship...
a. Forgiveness is to be automatic upon repentance - Mt 18:
21-22
b. We are not to keep a tally of our offenses, for such would
hinder our relationship as family
2. We are to keep in mind...
a. How our Father has forgiven us
b. That our forgiveness by God is contingent on our
forgiveness of our brethren! - cf. Mt 18:23-35
E. IN "SERVICE" TO ONE ANOTHER...
1. Our "older brother" came to serve - Mt 20:25-28
2. So we are to serve one another as we would in our physical
family (as the saying goes, "He ain't heavy, he's my
brother!")
III. THE CHURCH: OUR TRUE HOME
A. THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP CAN BE GREAT...
1. For some, it may even mean forsaking their earthly family
2. Cf. Mt 10:34-39
B. CHRIST INTENDS FOR HIS CHURCH TO MAKE UP FOR ANY COST...
1. Whether it be:
a. The cost of putting Christ before family
b. The cost of leaving family to serve Christ (e.g., going to
missionary fields)
2. Christ has promised a hundredfold in replacement - cf. Mk 10:
28-30
C. THE CHURCH CAN BE A HOME (FAMILY) FOR ALL...
1. Especially for those away from home (e.g., college students)
2. Especially for those who never had a family at all, or an
incomplete one (e.g., orphans, or those with single parents)
3. Especially for those from a "dysfunctional" family (e.g.,
those abused, neglected)
IV. BUILDING FAMILY INTIMACY IN THE CHURCH
A. WE MAY NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH EACH OTHER...
1. For some, it may mean being more faithful about attending the
services ("mealtimes") of the church
2. For others, it may mean widening our circle of fellowship to
include others
3. For all of us, it means...
a. Being less self-centered!
b. Being more willing to become involved with the concerns of
others!
B. WE MAY NEED TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF THE "CHURCH
FAMILY"...
1. For our task is not just to create some sort of "social club"
2. But a "family of believers" who are active in doing the will
of their Father in heaven, including...
a. Saving souls
b. Restoring the erring
c. Edifying the saved
-- Indeed, reconciling all with the Father and His family!
3. So we need to provide the appropriate service, which in turn
builds intimacy:
a. Preaching and teaching
b. Exhorting and restoring
c. Ministering to the needs of the family, both spiritual and
physical
CONCLUSION
1. What are we doing to see that the church is fulfilling its design to
be "An Intimate Household"?
2. If we are doing nothing, or if we are depriving others from trying
to become close to us...
a. Then we are depriving ourselves of one of the greatest blessings
found in Christ!
b. And, we are also giving the impression that we may be false
disciples of Christ! - cf. Jn 13:35
Brethren, let's all work harder at being the kind of family God would
have us to be! If becoming a child of God is your need today, consider
what Paul wrote about how we become sons of God - cf. Ga 3:26-27...
June 28 AM
"OUR LIFE TOGETHER"
No Life Beyond The Body
INTRODUCTION
1. So far in this study on "Our Life Together"...
a. We have seen that fellowship in the church is both:
1) A "vertical" relationship with God
2) A "horizontal" relationship with fellow Christians
b. We also noticed that the fellowship in Christ's church:
1) Was to be similar to the intimacy found in a family
2) For the church is indeed the "family of God"
2. In this lesson, we shall consider how the church in its fellowship
is like a "body"...
a. With Christ as its head
b. And its members dependent upon the head and each other
...that it can be truly said there is "No Life Beyond The Body"!
I. THE CHURCH AS THE "BODY OF CHRIST"
A. THAT THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST...
1. Is evident from Paul's statement to the Colossians - Col 1:18
2. Is stated very clearly in Ep 1:22-23
B. AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH...
1. Is "SAVED" by Christ - Ep 5:23
a. He saved it out of love, and by giving Himself for it - Ep 5:25
b. He did so that He might make it a "glorious" church - Ep 5:
26-27
1) By sanctifying and cleansing it
2) So it might be holy and without blemish
2. Is "NOURISHED" and "CHERISHED" by Christ - Ep 5:29
a. Even as husbands do for the wives they love
b. This suggests that the work of Christ in behalf of His
church goes beyond just dying on the cross, but continues
on in some way
II. HOW CHRIST PROVIDES LIFE TO THOSE IN THE BODY
A. DIRECTLY, FROM THE HEAD TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY...
1. As He suggested by the figure of the vine and branches - cf.
Jn 15:5
2. As illustrated in the statement of Paul - Php 4:13
3. So the direct and individual relationship we have with Christ
is one avenue of the "life" (i.e., nourishment, strength)
B. INDIRECTLY, BY THE PROPER WORKING OF EACH MEMBER...
1. Each member has been given some ability by the grace of God
- cf. Ro 12:4-8
2. We are expected to "minister it to one another", i.e., use it
to the benefit of others - cf. 1Pe 4:9
3. When each member is doing its part, the body is capable of
building itself up in love - Ep 4:15-16
C. THUS WE RECEIVE "LIFE" (STRENGTH) FROM TWO SOURCES...
1. Directly from Christ (through our individual association with
Him)
2. Indirectly from Christ (through our association or fellowship
with the members of His body, the church)
3. An EXAMPLE of this:
a. We can receive "comfort" directly from God in Christ - 2 Co 1:3-4a,5 (e.g., through prayer - Php 4:6-7)
b. Yet we pass this "comfort" along to others - 2Co 1:4b
c. For that is how God often provides "comfort" to us
indirectly - cf. 2Co 7:6-7
III. THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE BODY
A. EVERY MEMBER IS NEEDED FOR THE BODY TO FUNCTION WELL...
1. No one can say they are not important - cf. 1Co 12:14-19
2. No one can say others are not needed - cf. 1Co 12:20-25
B. SO "INTERDEPENDENT" ARE THE MEMBERS, THAT WHAT AFFECTS ONE
AFFECTS ALL!
1. As Paul taught in 1Co 12:26-27
2. So when a member begins to reason within himself...
a. "I am not needed"
b. "I won't be missed"
c. "There's nothing that I can do that is important"
...and by such reasoning remains an inactive member, the whole
body suffers!
3. In such cases, the body (church) becomes "handicapped"!
a. The church is not working at its full potential
b. Because there is not what Paul described as "the effective
working by which every part does it share" - Ep 4:16
4. And when the body (church) is "handicapped"...
a. Christ is unable to provide the full extent of His life and
nourishment!
b. For as we have seen, the body (church) is one means by
which He does so
c. The end result is that "growth of the body for the edifying
of itself in love" does not occur!
CONCLUSION
1. When we understand that the church is the "body of Christ" and
functions like a body which needs the working of every member...
a. We see the need for becoming more involved
b. We see the need for doing what we can to improve the fellowship
among those who make up the body
2. From a negative perspective, we might ask "How long will Christ
endure members who do not perform their function?"
a. Not long, from what Jesus taught His disciples in Jn 15:2,6
b. Understandably so, for a member of the body that does not
function is often better removed lest it become a hindrance to
the working of other members!
c. And since Christ is always adding "new" members to His body...
1) For He is adding daily those who are being saved - Ac 2:47
2) He can always replace non-functioning members with those
willing to serve!
a) Cf. Mordecai's words to Esther - Es 4:14
b) Just as Judas Iscariot was replaced by Matthias - Ac 1:
15-26
3. But from a more positive perspective, let me ask...
a. "Why deprive OURSELVES of the nourishment Christ provides through
the members of His body?"
For that is what we are doing when we don't have much
fellowship with others in the body!
b. "Why deprive OTHERS of the nourishment Christ provides through
the members of His body?"
For that is what we are doing when we fail to add what we can
do to the fellowship of the body!
Let's all work at being more productive members of the body of Christ,
so that we may all benefit by the mutual strength and edification we
have in Christ!
"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as
good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone
ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies,
that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to
whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
- 1Pe 4:10-11
