GCISA MTP LECTURE SERIES

1. THE CHURCH AND ITS MINISTRY ON BEING THE BODY THE CHRIST AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CHURCH (D LABUSCHAGNE) GCISA MTP LECTURE SERIES

2. Overview: Part 5: The Church’s ministry of Proclamation Part 6: The Church’s ministry of worship and witness MTP Lecture: Part 7: On being the Body of Christ Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ Conclusion AGENDA

3. Purpose and thus primary ministry of church to proclaim Christ in word and deed Our duty is to know Christ and to make him known As in Acts 2 – indicatives precede imperatives – Christ is Lord! – repent and be baptised. Words take precedence over deeds – Rom. 10:17 ,“Faith comes by hearing … word of God” To equip pastors and leaders for proclamation Overview: Part 5: The Church’s ministry of Proclamation

4. Proclamation also through worship and ministry (together with preaching) Worship a direct witness to Christ through vertical interaction with Triune God Witness the indirect worship of Triune God through horizontal interaction with the world Our worship message to be centred on Christ Jesus Christ offers response in our place and on our behalf Overview: Part 6: The Church’s ministry of worship and witness

5. Christ redeemed our fallen nature and we are now to grow up into Christ The Holy Spirit transforms and sanctifies us As we witness and reach out to the world, the source of our new lives must be clear – Jesus Christ! Matt. 28:18, “Make disciples of all nations” Know your “cultural soup” Not to change the world but to point world to Jesus Christ … and invite others to receive him Overview: Part 6: The Church’s ministry of worship and witness

6. How should the church function? – Patterns and practices Determining factor – who does the church belong to and what is the relationship? Jesus Christ the owner and living cornerstone Our foundation is Scripture (Word of God) as interpreted according to Jesus Christ (the Living Word) Discernment necessary to bridge the hermeneutical gap Systematic study and theological synthesis – ”whole counsel of God” Descriptions not necessarily prescriptions Part 7: On being the Body of Christ

7. Not necessary for all practical details to be spelt out – the implicit rationale being: Jesus Christ in living contact through Holy Spirit Scripture available to consult Overseers (pastors) and leaders provided to lead What then can we learn from Scripture? Direct reference to church as being the Body of Christ Christ the Head and members vitally related to him Members in dynamic relationship with each other (emphasis) Part 7: On being the Body of Christ

8. Focus on Ephesians 4:1-16 Many members, one body – Eph. 4:4 Fallen human tendency to want to go own way Danger to unity of the church Eph. 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” The miracle of the Spirit - unity with diversity Part 7: On being the Body of Christ

9. Our response to the Church and each other starts with recognising what Christ achieved for us Eph. 4:2, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” Out of our relationship with Christ arises our relationship with one another: Our bond with Christ results in unity with each other Only as we obey Christ and live these virtues will we be able to maintain the unity Christs gives to his church Indicative of grace, the basis for living out unity (oneness) Each denomination, congregation, member called to bear witness to the oneness of the Body of Christ Part 7: On being the Body of Christ

10. The identifying marks of the church’s unity: Oneness of the church – resulting from oneness with Christ The church is holy – as a result of sharing in Christ’s holiness Universality of the church – gift of wholeness of life received from Christ through the Holy Spirit The church is apostolic – living under the authoritative word of Christ’s original apostles These marks are built on and sustained by Christ through: Preaching of God’s Word; offering of sacraments; and maintenance of holy discipline Part 7: On being the Body of Christ

11. Healthy and divisive kinds of diversity Analogy of church with human body: Christ the Head Ancient view of life flowing from and directed by head Seeing, hearing and speaking Life-giving, life-directing authority We are vitally connected and dependent on Christ Christ has absolute authority over the Body Christ co-ordinates actions among members – unable to act in harmony without him Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

12. 1 Corinthians 12:7;24-25: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good … while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving 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. “ Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

13. Ephesians 4:15-16, “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. 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.” Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

14. Therefore members not only to relate to Christ, the Head, but also each other Apostle Paul addressing dysfunctional congregations in Corinth Members not able to produce unity with difference as required – human nature tends to extremes True unity with difference only as a result of God’s agape love Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

15. Our relationships to be ruled by agape love All natural loves to be repurposed by agape love as demonstrated by Triune God Relationships between members are to emulate agape love – only possible in relationship with Christ 1 Corinthians 13:3;13, “… but do not have love, I gain nothing … And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

16. Gifts given by the Spirit to be exercised according to the fruits of the Spirit Romans 12:6-8, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

17. Galatians 5:22-26: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

18. Real differences given the variety of gifts Each member has a unique contribution Differences arranged to compliment each other Different parts not interchangeable World’s standard – if not interchangeable then unjust World achieves equality by removing differences and promoting interchangeability Not to be applied in the church – “individual rights” Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

19. Our position in the church not a right The parts of the Body of Christ not equal in every respect and not interchangeable Equal in our relationship with Christ We serve, share and receive – with result that all of us bear fruit in our relationships with Christ as our unity Differences – potential for abuse Range of gifts needed for functioning of Body Agape love required to overcome abuse Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

20. Differences between members a source of blessing Exchange of gifts part of our participation in awakening of Christ’s love among us – our “new humanity” Differences that our divisive vs practical differences for the common good Gifts to be used according to fruits of the Spirit Directives on church discipline necessary to correct wrong relationships and prevent undermining of unity Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

21. Jesus Christ applied discernment – forgiving and accommodating but at times strong judgement General misunderstanding about judgement – we are to judge with right attitude – love and truth Judgement not necessarily condemnation If judgement done correctly and received correctly – condemnation can be avoided Love, truth and discernment work together Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

22. True agape love does not allow discernment and corrective action to fall by the wayside Discernment and disciplinary action a duty of the church Discipline necessary in order for church to maintain unity with diversity Unity and diversity reflects the nature of the Triune God Our duty to bear witness to the Triune God by maintaining our unity and diversity Part 8: Relationships within the Body of Christ

23. How should the church function? - many members one body with Christ the owner, head and cornerstone Bear with one another in love and maintain unity Because of Christ the church is united, holy, universal and apostolic Relationships among members – because one with Christ must be one with each other Agape love to repurpose our natural loves and relationships CONCLUSION

24. Gifts to be used according tom fruits of the Spirit Unity with diversity that is not interchangeable Our differences to be used to bless and unite Love and truth to guide our judgement and discipline To bear witness to the nature of Triune God with our unity with diversity CONCLUSION

25. Eph. 4:1;3 “… I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received … Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” CONCLUSION