1998秋季长老
总题：为着生机建造基督的身体所需要的工作、生活异象（一）
Message Two What the Church is to God and Christ and How the Elders Should Be to the Churches
Scripture Reading: Eph. 3:9-10; 1:9-10; James 1:18; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2-3; Eph. 5:2, 25-29; 3:4-6; Col. 2:2b; Eph. 5:32; Rev. 1:11-12, 20; Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10-13a; Matt. 16:16-18; Eph. 5:32; Acts 20:29, 17, 28; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-2, 6-7; 1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 5:17; Rom. 12:8; 1 Thes. 5:12; Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14; 1 Pet. 5:2b, 4
I.　What the church is to God and Christ:
A.　The church being the goal of God's economy—Eph. 3:9-10.
B.　The church being the good pleasure of God for heading up all things in Christ through the church as the means—Eph. 1:9-10.
C.　The church being the firstfruit of God's new creation—James 1:18.
D.　The church, having been obtained (redeemed) by God with His own blood, being the object of God's love—Acts 20:28.
E.　The church being the flock of God as God's possession, allotted to the elders for their care—1 Pet. 5:2-3.
F.　The church as both the Body and the bride of Christ, being the object of Christ's love—Eph. 5:2, 25-29.
G.　The church being the mystery of Christ, as Christ is the mystery of God, both of which are the great mystery—Eph. 3:4-6; Col. 2:2b; Eph. 5:32.
H.　The local churches being the lampstands (the local testimony) of Christ—Rev. 1:11-12, 20.
I.　The church as the Body of Christ being uniquely one both universally and locally—Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10-13a.
II.　How the elders should be to the churches:
A.　Needing to have a vision concerning the church—Matt. 16:16-18; Eph. 5:32.
B.　Needing to love the church as the flock of God—Acts 20:29; 1 Thes. 2:7.
C.　Being the overseers in the church life—Acts 20:17, 28a; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-2, 6-7.
D.　Not being the rulers of the church, lording it over the church, but being patterns of the flock, taking the lead in the church life—1 Pet. 5:3; 1 Tim. 5:17; Rom. 12:8; 1 Thes. 5:12.
E.　Serving not by way of compulsion, but willingly, according to God; not seeking gain by base means, but eagerly—1 Pet. 5:2b.
F.　Needing to be the Lord's messengers as shining stars—Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14.
G.　The reward to the elders—1 Pet. 5:4.