The Church, The Master's Masterpiece

I enjoy visiting Art Galleries and Museums,  and on a particular rainy day a few weeks ago, I decided to visit Liverpool for the day and go to both the Walker Art Gallery and the World Museum , both are a part of the National Museums Liverpool.

Since I was about 11 after reading about it in the Reader’s Digest Magazine, I’ve always wanted to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa which is located in Lourve Art Gallery in Paris,   I have never had that opportunity,  I know that we can download a copy or even buy a Poster or a Postcard of this world  famous picture, but they are not the original.

On my recent trip to the Walker Art Gallery,  I was admiring their fine collection of pictures including some absolute masterpieces,   I entered one of the galleries,  and my eye was caught by this amazing picture just after the door way,  I thought surely it can’t be,  directly in front of me,  was the Mona Lisa,   I asked one of the guides and he explained to me, it was an earlier version of Leonardo’s classic and most familiar and well known pictures,  and that it wasn’t on display very often because the Lourve would be unhappy,  someone else said that seeing the Lourve’s Mona Lisa meant long queues and high security, but here on public display was an earlier version of this masterpiece.  There were many other excellent pictures there but my attention was just on this one picture.   I spent most of my time just looking and admiring the Mona Lisa,  I even texted a close friend to let her know.

I’ve been a Christian for just over 30 years now, I was very, very young when I surrendered my life, my will, my desire and very being to something that was beyond my own existence, my Saviour, my Redeemer and my Lord Jesus who died an agonizing death on the cross not just for my sins but the entire sin of mankind, and he rose again, he was and is God’s substitute for us. and  as a boy of 11 and since then I have come to love, respect and desire the Church, which is far larger than our denominational grouping and history.  I’ve read the Bible cover to cover  many times ,read countless Christian books,  some of which I’ve agreed with ,   some I have disagreed with,  and some of which have challenged, blessed, encouraged me and made me think. 

We, the Church are the visible representation of God’s Kingdom Rule and Reign here on Earth, we are his messengers of hope, love and compassion, salvation & restoration, the people we see every day are the people for whom Jesus died on the Cross for, we are the ones who are to bring hope and healing to our communities.





I have found myself being part of the Pentecostal/Restoration/New Church streams of the Evangelical branch of the Church for the last 30 years,  and have had a strong grounding in theology/doctrine and practice for those 30 years,   I have had many ups, downs, peaks and troughs,  but my love for His Church is still there,  like many I have had disappointments, scars and hurts, times when I’ve been confused and disappointed,  times I have given up and considered giving up, yet despite this I love my Saviour and His Church.

My background is in the Pentecostal movement,  although for most of the last 20 plus years I’ve been part of the Restoration movement,  my understanding and acceptance of the theology of the church or ecclesiology is based upon and grounded in my Pentecostal up bringing, which in recent days I have re-discovered that  although I have been influenced by many fine Christian writers  such as Neil Cole,  Martin Robinson and others,  my theology isn’t some sort of spiritual or Christian pick and mix , I have studied and prayed through scripture and waited on the Lord and have listened to many fine Christians leaders and others over time, and some have challenged me more than others.  

The church has faced many challenges and opportunities throughout it’s history and today we believers in the early 21^st century, face many of the same challenges and opportunities that our brothers and sisters who came before us have faced, yet we face many different challenges and opportunities that are unique to this moment in time, i.e the challenge of homosexuality, which the Bible calls a sin, if the Bible says it's a sin, it's a sin. Are homosexuals wired that way from birth or become wired that way later in life through circumstances etc, my personal understanding is that we can choose either to a life of sin or to  a life of justification and ongoing sanctification,  I strongly believe that you can’t be a Christian and live a sinful life  by living as an  homosexual, if a Christian decides to live a homosexual lifestyle  he or she is crucifying the Lord again. Hebrews 6:4-6

Hebrews 6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds[a] and placing our faith in God. 2 You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. 8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. 10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers,[b] as you still do. 11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

I believe that we the church need to face head on, both the many challenges and opportunities that this current age has, have and will give us,  in the United Kingdom we face different challenges that our brothers and sisters in for example  the USA, such as the Scottish Independence Question,  my personal perspective is that Scotland would be making a major mistake by leaving the UK, in the USA how does the Church face up to the recent deaths and subsequent violence in regards to the Black Lives matter campaign.

Despite whatever some people tell us or act,  the Church, ( I don’t mean our particular denominational grouping) is here until our Lord returns, to bring his victorious army with Him to Heaven, not to rescue a defeated army that are holding on and out, until He returns,  instead of holding our lentil fields let us advance

C T Studd

Too long have we been waiting for one another to begin! The time of waiting is past! The hour of God has struck! War is declared! In God's Holy Name let us arise and build! 'The God of Heaven, He will fight for us', as we for Him. We will not build on the sand, but on the bedrock of the sayings of Christ, and the gates and minions of hell shall not prevail against us. Should such men as we fear? Before the world, aye, before the sleepy, lukewarm, faithless, namby-pamby Christian world, we will dare to trust our God, we will venture our all for Him, we will live and we will die for Him, and we will do it with His joy unspeakable singing aloud in our hearts. We will a thousand times sooner die trusting only our God, than live trusting in man. And when we come to this position the battle is already won, and the end of the glorious campaign in sight. We will have the real Holiness of God, not the sickly stuff of talk and dainty words and pretty thoughts; we will have a Masculine Holiness, one of daring faith and works for Jesus Christ.

  

2 Samuel 23:11 New Living Translation

11 Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, 12 but Shammah[e] held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

I’ve been listening to a great series of teaching video’s called Cappuccino Communication that John Glass,  The former General Superintendent of the Elim Pentecostal Church has published online,  in the most recent series I have watched and listened to,  John has spoken on the yoke from Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28-30 The Voice.

²⁸ Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Put My yoke upon your shoulders—it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

I don’t know who else finds this,  but when the Lord wants us to learn something, well at least with me, he keeps bringing my attention to the same passage of scripture,  I’ve found this to be true this week and at other times of my life.  Many of us in the church are weary because of situations and circumstances sometimes in the Church and at other times outside the Church, let us focus once more on our Lord and Saviour Jesus,  and became involved in, interested in and committed to once again to His Church.

I believe that are two key areas,  we need to look at today in the Church,  and these are Discipleship and Doctrine(Teaching) we need to see a resurgence of  Ephesians 4:11 ministries within the Church,  in some parts of the Church we have emphasised the ministries of the Apostle and of the Prophet and have in some ways neglected the equally important ministries of the Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher,  in some ways we have put the Apostles and Prophets on  a pedestal , thinking of  the Ephesians 4:11 ministries is  some sort of hierarchy ( which I believe is incorrect) all Ephesians 4 :11 ministries have a different function, ministry and calling  but are all equal, yet  the Apostle is the first among equals.

Matthew 28:18-20 NASB Discipleship

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 2:42- 47 NASB Doctrine

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and [ao]to prayer.

43 [ap]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and [aq]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [ar]were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread [as]from house to house, they were taking their [at]meals together with gladness and [au]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding [av]to their number day by day those who were being saved

Ephesians 4:11- 16 NASB Leadership

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the [d]saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the [e]knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature [f]which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 [g]As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness [h]in deceitful scheming; 15 but [i]speaking the truth in love, [j]we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together [k]by what every joint supplies, according to the [l]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

In conclusion

We the Church are the Master’s Masterpiece,  some translations say His Workmanship,   For many years, I have wanted to see Leonardo’s Mona Lisa,  I could have waited another 30 plus years, and hopefully seen it after joining a massive queue, I could have glanced the Mona Lisa, behind a glass pane for a few brief seconds,  before being rushed through by a French security guard, yet because I saw the Liverpool Mona Lisa,  I spend over an hour admiring that wonderful  picture ,  and wanted to share with everyone I meet or spoke to, that day,  we need to be re-captured by our Lord’s Vision, Desire and Plan for His Church, and let that re-inflame our hearts again.

Jesus Christ as Saviour, Baptiser with the Holy Spirit, Healer, and Soon-coming King.

Ephesians 2:8-10 New Living Translation

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 3:10-11 New Living Translation

10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Every Blessing in Him

Because of His Mercy, Grace and Love

For the sake of His Church and His Kingdom

Blair Humphreys

Southport,  Merseyside

Words for the Wise, Doctrine and Discipleship,

Acts 20:17-36New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Farewell to Ephesus

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them,

“You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in [a]Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me [b]through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and [c]from house to house, 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, bound by the [d]Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

25 “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26 Therefore, I [e]testify to you this day that I am [f]innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you [g]overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He [h]purchased [i]with His own blood.

29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35 In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” From The Gospel Coalition

—The Apostle Paul to the Ephesian elders, Acts 20:27

D. A. Carson explains what he meant:

When Paul attests that this is what he proclaimed to the believers in Ephesus, the Ephesian elders to whom he makes this bold asseveration know full well that he had managed this remarkable feat in only two and a half years.

In other words, whatever else Paul did, he certainly did not manage to go through every verse of the Old Testament, line by line, with full-bore explanation. He simply did not have time.

What he must mean is that he taught the burden of the whole of God’s revelation, the balance of things, leaving nothing out that was of primary importance, never ducking the hard bits, helping believers to grasp the whole counsel of God that they themselves would become better equipped to read their Bibles intelligently, comprehensively.

It embraced

• God’s purposes in the history of redemption (truths to be believed and a God to be worshiped),
• an unpacking of human origin, fall, redemption, and destiny (a worldview that shapes all human understanding and a Savior without whom there is no hope),
• the conduct expected of God’s people (commandments to be obeyed and wisdom to be pursued, both in our individual existence and in the community of the people of God), and
• the pledges of transforming power both in this life and in the life to come (promises to be trusted and hope to be anticipated).

—D. A. Carson, “Challenges for the Twenty-first-century Pulpit,” in Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching: In Honor of R. Kent Hughes, ed. Leland Ryken and Todd Wilson [Crossway, 2007], pp. 177-178; bullets and italics added.

“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

The Whole Counsel of God from the Christian Post

BY GREG LAURIE,

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

- Acts 20:27

When I speak I try to keep it interesting. I try to keep it real. I try to keep it understandable. But I am not there to entertain an audience or to make people feel good. My job, if you will, is to exposit the Word of God. Because it really doesn't matter what Greg Laurie thinks about anything. My opinion isn't any better than anyone else's opinion.

For me as a pastor, I have a responsibility to declare the whole counsel of God and feed the flock of God. That is the advantage of expository preaching and teaching. By expository, I mean taking the text and letting it unfold. We don't impose our views on the text; we let the text impose its views on us. It is not for us to add things to the text.

Sometimes pastors use a text as a point of departure for their messages. A verse will be read, and then whoever is speaking will just tell stories. They might be good stories. They might be good jokes. They might be very entertaining. And as you leave, you might say, "That was so good. I loved that. It was really good." You have no idea what he said, but you know it was fun.

The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders, "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). I think that is the most important thing. We need to get our minds oriented toward what the Bible says.

Too often we build our opinions on our feelings. But it doesn't matter what we feel. What does the Bible say? Do what the Bible says, because feelings can mislead you. Don't base decisions in life on mere feelings. Base them on the Word of God.

We build our Christian Life and Witness not on the latest fads or fashions, the opinions or perspectives of others however appealing or relevant they seem, we don’t build on what the non-Christian or anti-Christian demands of our Society are.  We build on God’s Word the Bible that has been and still is God’s Inspired Word; there is nothing more relevant to us today than God’s Word

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3: 15-17 NLT, “15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

To develop and progress in our Christian walk and witness, to be more effective disciples of our Lord and Saviour we must read and study God’s Written Word daily.  When I was in Sunday school, I remember singing this song “Read your Bible, Pray every day, if you want to Grow “If that was important for me as a child how much more important is for me as a more mature Christian today?

When someone builds a foundation for a building, if they decide to use cheap or substandard building materials wouldn’t that building look strange or be dangerous and likely to collapse, yet if we don’t as Christians build using the correct building materials wouldn’t our lives and our Christian Witness look equally strange, look dangerous or likely to collapse see 1 Corinthians 3:

1 Corinthians 3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Foundations for Living

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking [a]like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own [b]reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s [c]field, God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, [d]precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test [e]the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are a [f]temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the [g]temple of God, God will destroy him, for the [h]temple of God is holy, and [i]that is what you are.

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” 21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

The Bible Panorama

Acts 20

V 1–6: TRAVELS TO TROAS After going to Macedonia and Greece, where his travel plans are changed because of Jewish opposition, Paul and his party travel to Troas. They meet other Christians there who have gone ahead of them. 

V 7–12: PREACHING TO PEOPLE Paul speaks on the Lord’s day, until midnight, to the people who are there. He has to depart early the next day. He restores to life a young man, Eutychus, who falls asleep during Paul’s preaching and drops from the third storey to his death. After that, Paul continues preaching to the people until daybreak. His passion is preaching the word to people, notwithstanding personal tiredness and effort. 

V 13–16: JOURNEYING TO JERUSALEM Paul’s extensive travel plans are based on his desire to be at Jerusalem for Pentecost. He meets up with the rest of his party who went ahead of him to Assos. 

V 17–35: FAREWELL TO FAITHFUL Paul exhorts the Ephesian elders who come to him at Miletus. He reminds them how his life has been completely focused on the need to testify to Jews and Greeks about repentance towards God and faith towards Christ. Everything has been put into that priority task. He knows that opposition awaits him, and he is willing to die for the gospel. They will see him no more. He has declared to them ‘the whole counsel of God’. He warns them about error from outside and being drawn away by false disciples from within. He commends them to God’s grace and reminds them that the important thing is to give to the Lord and to others, and not to seek personal gain. He shares the words of the Lord Jesus that ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.

 V 36–38: GRIEVED TO GO They pray together, weep, and embrace Paul. They are grieving most of all because he will go and they will see him no more. They then go with him to the ship.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

7756 preaching, content of

Preaching is centred on the nature and will of God and his claims on all people. Expressed in prophecy, declaration or teaching, it includes the proclamation of the way of salvation to unbelievers and instruction about the faith to believers.

Preaching and the revelation of God’s character, word and will

Ac 20:26-27 See also Ex 8:1; 1Ki 12:21-24; Jer 7:1-11; Eze 2:3-3:4

Preaching and the declaration of the gospel

Declaring the kingdom Mk 1:14-15 pp Mt 4:17 See also Mt 4:23 pp Lk 8:1; Ac 19:8; Ac 20:25

Declaring the person of Jesus Christ and his life Ac 2:22 See also Ac 10:36-38; Ac 28:31; 2Co 1:19

Declaring the facts of the cross and the resurrection Ac 2:23-24 See also Ac 5:30; Ac 10:39-42; Ac 13:28-31; 1Co 1:22-24; 1Co 15:12-17

Declaring the victory and exaltation of Jesus Christ Ac 2:33-35 See also Ac 5:31; 1Pe 3:18-22

Declaring that Jesus is both Messiah (Christ) and Lord Ac 2:36 See also Ac 5:42; Ac 8:5; Ac 9:20-22; Ac 10:36; Ac 18:5

Declaring the call to repent Ac 17:30 See also Mk 1:15 pp Mt 4:17; Ac 2:38; Ac 3:19; Ac 26:20

Declaring the promise of forgiveness Ac 13:38 See also Lk 24:46-47; Ac 2:38; Ac 5:31; Ac 10:43

Preaching finds expression in the teaching of believers

The central place of teaching in the lives of the first Christians Ac 2:42 See also Ac 6:2; Ac 11:25-26; Ac 15:35; Ac 18:24-26; Ac 20:20

Teaching from the Scriptures Ac 18:11 See also 2Ch 17:7-9; Ne 8:2-8

Teaching on how to live Mt 28:19-20 See also Eph 4:20-24; 1Th 4:1-2; Tit 2:1-15

Preaching and the edification of believers

2Ti 4:2 See also Ac 13:42-43; Ac 14:21-22; Ac 20:2; 1Co 14:26-31

Preaching and the continuation of apostolic doctrine

Preaching should be rooted in apostolic doctrine, which is to be faithfully handed on 2Ti 2:2 See also 1Co 11:2; 2Th 2:15; 2Ti 1:13-14

Preaching that does not conform to apostolic doctrine is to be rejected 1Ti 1:3-4 See also Gal 1:6-9; 1Ti 4:1-7; Tit 1:9-14

Preaching and the rejection of merely human wisdom

1Co 2:1-5 See also 1Co 1:18-25

^{2 Tim 3 16} All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God^[a] may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Acts 2:42-47New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The fellowship of the believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Ephesians 4:11-16New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.

14 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 people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 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.

Colossians 3:16-17New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 Let the word of [a]Christ richly dwell within you, [b]with all wisdom teaching and admonishing [c]one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing [d]with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father

Yours by His Grace and for the sake of His Church and Kingdom

Blair Humphreys

Southport,  Merseyside