The New Testament The New Testament ChurchChurch

The Work of the ChurchThe Work of the Church

EdificationEdification

What is edification?What is edification?

• A word meaning to build up• οἰκοδομή, (oikodome – noun);

οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeo – verb)

• 39 times in NT

• A constructed building or the act of building a structure

What is edification?What is edification?

• A building•Matthew 24:1, Luke 12:18•Matthew 7:24•Matthew 16:18

What is edification?What is edification?

• Spiritually, a building•1 Corinthians 3:9, “you

are God’s building”•2 Corinthians 5:1, “we

have a building from God.”

What is edification?What is edification?

• Spiritually, a building•Ephesians 2:21, “the

whole building…grows into a holy temple…”•1 Peter 2:5-7, “are being

built a spiritual house”

What is edification?What is edification?

• Edify, edification•Romans 14:19, “edify one

another”•Romans 15:2, “leading to

edification”

What is edification?What is edification?

• Edify, edification

•1 Cor. 14:3-4, 12, in the worship he “speaks edification”

•Ephesians 4:29, let our words lead to edification

•1 Cor. 8:1, love edifies

What is edification?What is edification?

• Edify, edification

• AS you study the use of this word you will find that it ALWAYS has a spiritual connotation with it (not about satisfying material needs)

What is edification?What is edification?

• Fellowship• κοινωνία (koinonia - Noun) &

κοινωνέω (koinoneo – Verb)• “close association involving mutual

interests and sharing…” (BDAG)• Fellowship, communion, partakers,

sharing, etc. (about 38 times)

What is edification?What is edification?• Fellowship•1 Cor. 10:20 do not have

fellowship with demons•2 Cor. 6:14, “what fellowship

has righteousness with lawlessness?”

•Acts 2:42, apostle’s doctrine and fellowship

What is edification?What is edification?

• Fellowship•1 Cor. 1:9, called into

fellowship of His Son•Phil. 2:1, “any fellowship of

the Spirit”•1 John 1:3, fellowship with “us

“and the Father

What is edification?What is edification?

• Fellowship•1 John 1:6-7, if we say we

have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness…if we walk in the light we have fellowship with one another…

What is edification?What is edification?

• Other words - •Rom. 12:13, distributing•Rom. 15:26, contribution•Gal. 6:6, 2 John 11, Phil. 4:15, share

•1 Pet. 4:13, 1 Cor. 10:18, partake

What is edification?What is edification?

• Fellowship• AS you study the use of this

word in the New Testament it is NEVER dealing with social gatherings, social reform, etc. but addresses a spiritual relationship

The work of edification?The work of edification?

• Ephesians 4:11-16, Leaders given to build up the body – edifying the body (vs. 12) and when every part does its share, the body grows by edifying itself in love (vs. 16)

The work of edification?The work of edification?

• The church edifies as its leaders look out for the souls of its saints

•Ephesians 4:11-16•1 Peter 5:2•Hebrews 13:7, 17•Acts 20:28-31

The work of edification?The work of edification?

• The church edifies as worships God

• While worship is primarily about God, we are edified when it is done properly•1 Cor. 14:12, Col. 3:16

The work of edification?The work of edification?

• The church edifies through teaching God’s word•Eph. 4:11-16•Acts 20:32•Colossians 2:6-7

The work of edification?The work of edification?

• The church edifies when we assemble together•1 Cor. 14:26•Hebrews 10:24-25

The work of edification?The work of edification?• The church edifies as we exhort

and encourage one another•Jude 20•Romans 14:19, 15:2•Ephesians 4:29•1 Thess. 5:11•1 Cor. 8:1

The work of edification?The work of edification?

• The church edifies as we grow individually

• As members of the body, our strengths are reflected in the church

•2 Tim. 2:15, 2 Pet. 3:18, cf. 2 Peter 1:5-11

What is NOT authorizedWhat is NOT authorized

• In the name of edification, churches engage in many unauthorized practices

• “Fellowship halls”, recreational activities, social seminars, counseling, secular education, etc.

• They sponsor teams and build human organizations.

What is NOT authorizedWhat is NOT authorized

• Every one of these activities has a place in society, and if we can promote godly principles, it is good.

• Christians can and SHOULD be involved in such things.

• BUT is that what the purpose of the church is? WHERE is the authority?

What is NOT authorizedWhat is NOT authorized

• In NT, such activities were NEVER used to evangelize

•John 6:26•Acts 2:46, 1 Cor. 11:22,

they ate “from house to house” and were told to “eat at home”

What is NOT authorizedWhat is NOT authorized

• Thought: If it takes these activities to bring some in, what will it take to keep them?

What is NOT authorizedWhat is NOT authorized• NOTE: Christians can and ought to

prefer one another, and it will result in social occasions (apart from the church)In many instances, we have taken our personal responsibilities and given them to the church. We CANNOT “hire” the church to do our personal works.

In the New Testament, In the New Testament, edification is about edification is about

building us up in the faithbuilding us up in the faith

Let us keep the work of the Let us keep the work of the church as God intended!church as God intended!