Experiencing Life to Live the Proper Church Life

 

Experiencing Life to Live the Proper Church Life

 

1 Corinthians 3:10-12 "According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—"

2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

 

Aspect	Description	Reason	Explanation	Example	Related Scripture
Life Experience	Need for genuine life experience	Proper church life is built on life experiences	Life experiences enable believers to grow spiritually and serve	Like Paul, able to beget and nourish spiritual children	Ephesians 2:19
Spiritual Parents	Elders becoming spiritual parents	To establish proper family life	Impart life and nourish believers	Beget spiritual children and produce spiritual milk to nourish them	1 Corinthians 4:15
Roles of New Testament Ministers	Become sowers, planters, waterers, begetters, nourishers, and builders	To promote believers' growth in Christ	Help believers grow and transform through various roles	Paul calls himself a "wise master builder"	1 Corinthians 3:10-12
Transformation of Believers	Believers are transformed through growth	To become materials for building God's house	Transition from plant metaphor to precious building materials	Become gold, silver, precious stones	2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:2, Revelation 21:2-3, 11, 18-22
Work of the Triune God	Gold, silver, precious stones represent the work of the Triune God	Reflect God's complete salvation	God's nature, Christ's redemption, Spirit's transformation	Believers constituted as transformed materials	(No specific verses provided)
Life Supply	Need for life suppliers rather than just teachers	Life supply is more precious than mere teaching	Impart life rather than just giving instruction	Contrast between fathers and tutors	1 Corinthians 4:15
Enjoying the Lord	Enjoy the Lord by calling on His name	Enables believers to become building materials and builders	Eat, drink, and breathe in the Lord	Enjoy the Lord in all local churches	1 Corinthians 12:3
Ultimate Goal	Become God's organic building	Realize proper church life	Believers become precious materials for God's dwelling	Built into God's magnificent temple	(No specific verses provided)

 

This table presenting the key aspects of proper church life, including life experiences, roles of spiritual parents, functions of New Testament ministers, believers' transformation process, the work of the Triune God, life supply, enjoyment of the Lord, and the ultimate goal of building God's dwelling place.

 

*Please refer to the 2024 Memorial Day Conference - The Christian Life, Week 5: Enjoying the Flow of Life with the Supply of Life, out of and for God's House of Rest, to Live the Christian Life