| The Greatest Story Every Told About The Greatest Man That Ever Lived |
This
This
Is
Is
His
His
Story
Story
The Church is made up of believers in Jesus Christ. They are referred to as the body of Christ.
This is the church as referred to in the scriptures. At the time of the apostles, there was no church
as we have today, they used to meet from house to house or gather together wherever they could.
Later churches were built, the one in Corinth being the most active and to which the Apostle Paul
wrote letters of instruction advising them of how to run a church in an orderly fashion. In those
days, there was only one church in each place, but today there are several because the church has
been divided into several denominations, each one having different doctrines. Therefore, you will
find that by reading the scriptures below, very little of this is done in many churches. Each church
takes a portion of the Word of God that they are comfortable with, and uses that part to establish
the doctrine of their church. I remember when I first became a Christian and started fervently
studying my Bible, I read some of these passages, and went to see my pastor to find out why some
of these things were not happening in our church. I still remember how my heart sank when he
told me that their church doctrine did not accept some of those practices. I was very disappointed
because I believed that if it was in the Bible, we should do it. I soon after left that church because I
wanted more than they could give me.
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades will
not overcome it.
Jesus tells the disciple Peter that he will build his church on him. And as we read in the next
passage, Peter was very instrumental in starting the first "church" which was made up of those
that accepted Jesus as their Saviour after Peter preached the message of Jesus on the Day of
Pentecost.
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done
by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet
together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and
sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved
Ephesians 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and
members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to
become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a
dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Paul describes how the church, the body of Christ came to be. When people turned to Jesus, they
became part of the body of Christ and began to fellowship and worship God together with other
Christians.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12: 12-26
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form
one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews
or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up
of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the
body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be
part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole
body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in
the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't
need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are
unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special
treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the
parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have
equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored,
every part rejoices with it.
In the body of Christ, both then and now, there are people from many different backgrounds. Each
person has something of value to contribute. Each one has their strengths and weaknesses. Paul
tells the church in Corinth to recognize that and to use the gifts they each have to build up the
body of Christ. I remember when I first started going to church, I saw it as a "world within a world"
because Christians would come together from so many different walks of life, and yet they were
united in one common purpose, that being to worship God and live in fellowship with him.
Ephesians 4:11-16
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some
to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ
may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and
become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be
infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching
and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth
in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and
builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of
administration and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
Romans 12:4-8
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same
function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it
in proportion to his faith.
If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if
it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern
diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
God has brought many different people together into the body of Christ. Each one has different
gifts and talents. That is how the church was designed to function, with each one contributing
what they had for the benefit of all. And as the body grows in unity, they become like minded with
their focus being on Christ, the head of the body and their talents and gifts being used to build up
the body of Christ.
1 Timothy 3:1-13
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble
task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate,
self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but
gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that
his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own
family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may
become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good
reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not
pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear
conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as
deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers
but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and
must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent
standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Timothy gives instructions for the qualifications of the leaders of the church. This is important
because it will set the standard for the church and keep it focused on the Word of God and Christ.
Over the years there have been problems in churches which could have been avoided if there was
more attention paid to this.
1 Corinthians 9:14
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their
living from the gospel.
Paul makes it clear that being a church leader is a full time job, therefore those that dedicated their
life to serving God and the church, should be paid for their work just like everyone else is paid for
their work.
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of
instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the
strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak,
one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet
in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others
should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the
first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and
encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of
disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the
churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want
to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a
woman to speak in the church. Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people
it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that
what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But
everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
The church in Corinth was very eager to use all the gifts and was very lively and aggressive. Paul
had to set out guidelines for them so that they could function in an orderly fashion. Today, you will
rarely find a church that holds their "church services" in this fashion. It is too bad because each
member of the body has something to contribute, but in most churches there is no opportunity for
them to do so. I think most churches would benefit much more by practicing the things that
the Bible says they should.
Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one
another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Here Paul encourages us to go to church. Even today, some people go every Sunday and some
go once a year.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you.
Each one of us is a temple in which God lives. God does not only live in a church, or in heaven, he
also lives in each one of us by his Holy Spirit. We do not have to go to church to visit God. We go
to church to worship God and to fellowship with other believers. Therefore, we should honor God
with our body as a temple holy unto God.
This is the church as referred to in the scriptures. At the time of the apostles, there was no church
as we have today, they used to meet from house to house or gather together wherever they could.
Later churches were built, the one in Corinth being the most active and to which the Apostle Paul
wrote letters of instruction advising them of how to run a church in an orderly fashion. In those
days, there was only one church in each place, but today there are several because the church has
been divided into several denominations, each one having different doctrines. Therefore, you will
find that by reading the scriptures below, very little of this is done in many churches. Each church
takes a portion of the Word of God that they are comfortable with, and uses that part to establish
the doctrine of their church. I remember when I first became a Christian and started fervently
studying my Bible, I read some of these passages, and went to see my pastor to find out why some
of these things were not happening in our church. I still remember how my heart sank when he
told me that their church doctrine did not accept some of those practices. I was very disappointed
because I believed that if it was in the Bible, we should do it. I soon after left that church because I
wanted more than they could give me.
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades will
not overcome it.
Jesus tells the disciple Peter that he will build his church on him. And as we read in the next
passage, Peter was very instrumental in starting the first "church" which was made up of those
that accepted Jesus as their Saviour after Peter preached the message of Jesus on the Day of
Pentecost.
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done
by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet
together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and
sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved
Ephesians 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and
members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ
Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to
become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a
dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Paul describes how the church, the body of Christ came to be. When people turned to Jesus, they
became part of the body of Christ and began to fellowship and worship God together with other
Christians.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12: 12-26
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form
one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews
or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up
of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the
body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be
part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole
body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in
the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't
need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are
unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special
treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the
parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have
equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored,
every part rejoices with it.
In the body of Christ, both then and now, there are people from many different backgrounds. Each
person has something of value to contribute. Each one has their strengths and weaknesses. Paul
tells the church in Corinth to recognize that and to use the gifts they each have to build up the
body of Christ. I remember when I first started going to church, I saw it as a "world within a world"
because Christians would come together from so many different walks of life, and yet they were
united in one common purpose, that being to worship God and live in fellowship with him.
Ephesians 4:11-16
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some
to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ
may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and
become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be
infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching
and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth
in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and
builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of
administration and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
Romans 12:4-8
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same
function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it
in proportion to his faith.
If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if
it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern
diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
God has brought many different people together into the body of Christ. Each one has different
gifts and talents. That is how the church was designed to function, with each one contributing
what they had for the benefit of all. And as the body grows in unity, they become like minded with
their focus being on Christ, the head of the body and their talents and gifts being used to build up
the body of Christ.
1 Timothy 3:1-13
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble
task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate,
self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but
gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that
his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own
family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may
become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good
reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not
pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear
conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as
deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers
but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and
must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent
standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Timothy gives instructions for the qualifications of the leaders of the church. This is important
because it will set the standard for the church and keep it focused on the Word of God and Christ.
Over the years there have been problems in churches which could have been avoided if there was
more attention paid to this.
1 Corinthians 9:14
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their
living from the gospel.
Paul makes it clear that being a church leader is a full time job, therefore those that dedicated their
life to serving God and the church, should be paid for their work just like everyone else is paid for
their work.
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of
instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the
strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak,
one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet
in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others
should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the
first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and
encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of
disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the
churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want
to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a
woman to speak in the church. Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people
it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that
what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But
everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
The church in Corinth was very eager to use all the gifts and was very lively and aggressive. Paul
had to set out guidelines for them so that they could function in an orderly fashion. Today, you will
rarely find a church that holds their "church services" in this fashion. It is too bad because each
member of the body has something to contribute, but in most churches there is no opportunity for
them to do so. I think most churches would benefit much more by practicing the things that
the Bible says they should.
Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one
another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Here Paul encourages us to go to church. Even today, some people go every Sunday and some
go once a year.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you.
Each one of us is a temple in which God lives. God does not only live in a church, or in heaven, he
also lives in each one of us by his Holy Spirit. We do not have to go to church to visit God. We go
to church to worship God and to fellowship with other believers. Therefore, we should honor God
with our body as a temple holy unto God.