THE FOURTH SERIES:
THE PATHWAY OF THE LORD’S RECOVERY
Crucial Principles in the Administration of the Church
Message Nine—The Building Up of the Service of the Priesthood
Scriptures Reading: Acts 1:8, 14; 1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Cor. 4:2
I. Whether it is for the whole church, or the home meeting, or the small group meeting, or the specific services, the serving nucleus is indispensable—Matt. 18:19-20; John 15:16-17; Acts 4:12 (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
A. There should be the authority of the Holy Spirit in the service in the church; one practical way in the aspect of practice is to establish the serving nucleus—Matt. 18:19-20. (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
B. The carrying out of God’s New Testament economy in a particular place depends entirely upon the elders; it is an ironclad principle that the condition of the elders is reflected in the condition of the church—Eph.3:9. (2007 ITEROF, msg. 7)
II. The producing of the serving nucleus is very spontaneous, and the producing of the nucleus depends on the fellowship—Acts 2:42; 1 John 1:6-7: (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
A. In a serving unit, there are always several saints who receive more commission from Cod; they possess a heart toward the Lord, have no special difficulties, and constantly fellowship with one another before the Lord until one day when they fellowship as one man; then these saints will spontaneously become a nucleus—1 John 1:6-7. (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
B. In such a nucleus, everyone needs to be able to express his own feeling; this fellowship must be the absolute, thorough, and free fellowship without any distance—1 John 1:6-7; Acts 15:7-8. (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
C. Apparently the fellowship of the serving nucleus seems to express the opinions of everyone, yet actually it is totally to seek the thought of the Holy Spirit and the will of God—Acts 20:28. (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
D. Touch the thought of the Holy Spirit and make decisions—Acts 20:28; 15:7-8. (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
1. Do not insist on my feeling; I can express my own feeling as much as I can, but I do not insist on my feeling. (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
2. Accept the restriction of the nucleus; all things, whether they are great or small, need everyone in the nucleus to say Amen to, and then the decision can be made; everyone needs to accept the restriction of the nucleus. (The Ministry of the Word, vol. 7)
E. Don’t disclosing any matter that has not yet been formally decided and announced, even to someone as close to you as your wife; especially concerning the matters discussed in the meetings of the elders and deacons, you should not spread them to others; this is for the benefit of others—1 Tim. 3:9. (Being Apt to Teach and Holding the Mystery of the Faith, msg. 2)
III. The principle of Jerusalem—from center to circumference—Acts 1:8: (CWWN, vol. 57, ch. 13)
A. God set Jerusalem as the center of work; God’s work came from Jerusalem. (CWWN, vol. 57, ch. 13)
B. The gospel was preached from Jerusalem, Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth—Acts 1:8. (CWWN, vol. 57, ch. 7)
C. The principle of God’s work is from center to circumference. (The Pure in Heart, msg. 1)
IV. The building up of the service of the priesthood—1 Pet. 2:5, 9: (God-ordained Way (II), lsn. 22)
A. Whether the leading of the church is proper or not is the elders’ matter; but whether the practical service of the church is living or not, rich or not, and strong or not, all depends on the deacons. (The Motive, Coordination, and Function of the Lord’s Serving Ones, msg. 9)
B. The basic principle of service for the elders is oversight, while the basic principle of service for the deacons is implementation. (CWWN, vol. 61, ch. 22)
C. We need to learn to ask more, make no decisions on our own, and have no our own opinions and way to do things. (Being Apt to Teach and Holding the Mystery of the Faith, msg. 2)
D. As serving ones—servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God, we should be found faithful in our service—Col. 2:2; Eph. 3:4; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; Luke 16:1-13; 2 Cor. 1:18-19; Matt. 24:45-51; 25:14-30. (2009 ITEROS, msg. 7)
E. We must all go to the Lord, pray, and pick up this burden; we need to be interested in people and involved with people; we must love them, and bear them as our burden. (The Normal Way of Fruit-bearing and Shepherding for the Building Up of the Church, ch. 1)
F. The deacons’ service: visitation, taking care of miscellaneous matters, such as business office responsibilities, clerical needs, accounting, record keeping, ushering, cleaning, set-up, electrical maintenance, purchasing, hospitality, transportation, repairs, and estate management. (Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 3: The Future of the Lord’s Recovery and the Building Up of the Organic Service, msg. 9)
V. Establishing the specific services—1 Tim. 2:1-2, 4a; Matt. 28:19; 19:14; 9:37-38: (Talks Concerning the Church Services, ch. 5)
A. In order for the whole Body to rise up to serve, all the brothers and sisters have to be busy with something and to get into some areas of service. (CWWN, vol. 62, ch. 24)
B. Six items of church service need to be established: (Talks Concerning the Church Services, ch. 5)
1. A proper study of the truth—1 Tim.2:4; Eph. 4:13. (Talks Concerning the Church Services, ch. 5)
2. The growth in life—v. 13. (Talks Concerning the Church Services, ch. 5)
3. Evangelizing—1 Tim. 2:1-2, 4a; Matt. 28:19. (Talks Concerning the Church Services, ch. 5)
4. The children’s work—Matt. 19:14. (Talks Concerning the Church Services, ch. 5)
5. The student work—9:37-38. (Talks Concerning the Church Services, ch. 5)
6. The community gospel work—Acts 5:42. (Talks Concerning the Church Services, ch. 5)