Building Up the Church

The Fulfilled Prototype

Ephesians 4:9–10 NKJV

9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Ephesians 4:11–12 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

The Following Principles

Christ provided for the continual growth of His church.

Those provisions were for the equipping and the edifying of the church.

The revealed word replaced the need for individual spiritual gifts (Eph. 4:13-14).

It is by that revealed word that we continue the equipping and edifying of the saints (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Acts 20:32).

The Faulty Plans

Church growth plans not based on the authority of Christ doesn’t build up the church (spiritually).

Fake church growth compromises the principles of fellowship.

Following the denominational models is no different than Israel looking to the nations around them for how they should look; it caused a civil war then and it does the same today!

Compromising on sin may fill the pews but it doesn’t build up the church.

The Fixed Practice

Ephesians 4:15–16 NKJV

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.