The Approach to Building a Church (3)

In Ephesians 4:12—For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.—Paul gives us three principles involved in Discipleship. We have examined two: equipping (perfecting) and service (the work of the ministry).

Third, discipleship involves building (edifying). This completes the progression. Proper equipping by the evangelist and pastor-teacher provides believers with the tools to serve God, which then results in the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ. The Greek for edifying (oikodome) refers literally to the building of a house. There are two things in view in this building process.

1. Equipping and serving build the body internally. This was, in fact, the very point Paul made in his farewell message to the Ephesian elders in Miletus: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). Paul gave this challenging counsel because it is only the Word of God that can make the body strong internally. How tragic that many today strive for a big church externally before the church is strong internally. Internal growth must always come first or the work will eventually collapse of its own weight. Without a good foundation, any building will fall.

2. Equipping and serving build the body externally. We should not over-emphasize this lest we fall into the trap of the “numbers game,” which is so prevalent today. But neither should we under-emphasize this lest we fall into the trap of isolation and eventual stagnation. What then is the balance? As Christians are given the tools for service, others are going to be brought to Christ as a result. To further explain, we do not produce results; rather we expect results through the Holy Spirit. We can put this another way: we do not rely on results to measure success, rather we rejoice in the results God gives. Many today gauge the success of their church by results of their ministry philosophy (e.g., “seeker sensitivity”), by the outcome of some campaign, or by comparison with totals from previous years. How humanistic! God never said he would bless us according to results; He said He would bless us according to faithfulness.

Our Lord didn’t leave church growth to our devices, rather He said, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). Yes, we will plant, we will water, but He will give the increase (I Cor. 3:6-7). We are to preach the Word and be witnesses of Christ, and God will give the increase according to His sovereign will. Human reason wants to build the church like a corporation and run it like a business. That’s not God’s way, because His Church is a Body; it will grow as we feed it Truth.

May we reiterate the three things involved in edification: equipping, serving, and building. Proper equipping by the evangelist (church planter) and pastor-teacher gives believers the tools to serve God, which results in the building up of the body of Christ both internally and externally.