The Ministry of the Word, Vol. 06, No. 08

Knowing the Body (1)

In this issue of The Ministry we include the final six messages from the Spring 2002 International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones held in Anaheim, California. The general subject of the training was knowing the Body. Three messages were on the specific topic of knowing the Body—the building up of the Body, and the last three messages were practical fellowship concerning the functioning of the elders. Under the topic of knowing the Body--the building up of the Body, the first message emphasizes that as we grow up into Christ, the Head, in all things, our function will come out from the Head for the building up of the Body of Christ. The second message points out what the living and service of the Body of Christ is. The living of the Body of Christ includes: 1) taking Christ as its Head, life, content, principal object, center, and goal, 2) having the Spirit as its essence and reality and taking the Spirit as its secret and effectiveness, 3) taking the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as its regulation, and 4) taking life and the Body as the principle. The service of the Body of Christ is living, organic, and particular, with each member receiving a particular burden from the Lord to fulfill his own service. The third message reveals the divine commission according to the heavenly vision for the increase and building up of the Body. Under the topic of practical fellowship concerning the functioning of the elders, the first message speaks about the position and function of the elders. The second message points out that the elders are slaves, and as such they must have the spirit of a slave, the spirit of sacrifice. The third message stresses that the main responsibility of the eldership is the shepherding of the saints into the intrinsic aspect of the church, the Body. Last of all, we include reports concerning the Lord's move in the former Soviet Union and among the young people in Europe.