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This website features selected quotes from the writings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, two faithful servants of the Lord, highlighting the fact that without the local churches—the expression in each city of the mystical universal church—there is no way for the believers in Christ to participate in the universal church, and no possibility of a practical church life. As believers in Christ, we are called to live and magnify Him not only individually but also corporately. This corporate Christian life into which He has called us (Col. 3:15) and in which He has placed each of us (1 Cor. 12:18) is the church life. If we do not have a local church life, we cannot possibly experience the universal Body of Christ, for the universal church is realized only in the local churches. In The Practical Expression of the Church, Witness Lee remarks:

Brother Watchman Nee once stayed in a certain place for some time. When he was about to leave, the people asked him to give a parting word. He spoke to them in this way: “There is much talk today about the church, the Body of Christ. It is just like a group of carpenters talking about making chairs. I have heard so many good speeches about making chairs, but I would ask, where are the chairs?” This word is so simple, but so impressive and practical. “Where are the chairs?”

There have been many teachings and writings concerning the church, the Body of Christ, over a period of many years. But where are the churches that have come out of these teachings and writings? There has been a long period of speaking about making “chairs,” but it is difficult to find one “chair.”

This is why we need to see the practicality of the church. What is the practicality of the church? It is the local church. Without the local church, the church is not practical; it is like something in the air. We may have much talk about the church, but nothing practical. We need the local church. The practicality of the church is in the local church.

The local church is not only the expression of the church, but the practicality of the church. If we would practice the church life, we must have the local church.

(Witness Lee, Practical Expression, 33-34)

The quotes in this website are presented in seven sections according to the outline below. Each section of the outline contains two or three relevant quotes with accompanying commentary supplemented by a number of unannotated quotes, listed separately. May the Lord Jesus use this website for His glory and for the building up of the universal church through the many local churches.

3. The Local Churches Are the Practicality of the Universal Church

Main | Practical Expression | Practical Building Up | Practical Administration | Practical Work of Apostles and Prophets | Practical Coordination | Many Constitute One | Advancing to Know the Local Church | Bibliography | Links

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