The Building of the Church in the Local Churches

The Practical Building Up of the Church Is in the Local Churches

God’s intention in the universe is to build up the organic Body of Christ, the church. In Matthew 16:18, the Lord Jesus prophesied that He would build His church, God’s habitation on the earth. However, the building up of the church universally is realized practically by the building of each local church. Witness Lee writes:

In order to accomplish the building of the church the Lord builded the local churches (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). The building of the church is actually realized by the building of the local churches. The building of the local churches is practical. Although the church is universally one, the local churches, as the expressions of the one universal church, are many. The building of the universal church began in the building of the local churches. It has been proceeding and will continue to proceed in this way until its completion.

(Witness Lee, LS of John, 11)

Since God’s ultimate goal is to build up the Body of Christ by means of building up the local churches, we need to realize that all genuine growth in life is granted to us by the Lord for the purpose of building us up with the other believers in the local church where we live. Witness Lee has spoken clearly regarding this goal:

Spirituality comes out of the growth in life; the aim of the growth in life is the building up of the Body of Christ and of the house of God. Practically speaking, this means the building up of the local church. Without the proper church life in our locality, how can we be built up with others? We need to be where there is a church. Then within that church we can be built up with others to be God’s spiritual house (Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Pet. 2:5). While we are being built up as the local church, we are also being built up as the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:16).

(Witness Lee, Basic Revelation, 53-54)

Witness Lee emphasizes that in order to be built up as the Body of Christ, believers must be practically built together in local churches. The Lord grants us the growth in His life for the definite purpose of being built up in the local church. This is the practical way that God will reach His goal to have the Body of Christ.

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

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