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NASB | Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God's people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; |
Bible Question:
Hi Steve, So, the next question would be 'why' or 'how' did the church change from educators to entertainers? It is not a new situation... Heb 5:12-13 KJVR (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Please speak to the lack of growth with regards to pastor/teachers. |
Bible Answer: Hi Thomas8, I don't think all churches have the problem of being 'entertainers'. There are many churches out there that have hard working ministers that have a deep love and passion for Christ, who are doing the best they can with their God-given skills to feed the flock. I'm not sure that it is always the Pastor that is lacking growth, more so it is the members. HEB 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. Matthew Henry Commentary: II. He assigns the reason why he did not say all those things concerning Christ, our Melchisedec, that he had to say, and what it was that made it so difficult for him to utter them, namely, the dulness of the Hebrews to whom he wrote: You are dull of hearing. There is a difficulty in the things themselves, and there may be a weakness in the ministers of the gospel to speak clearly about these things; but generally the fault is in the hearers. Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel a difficult thing, and even many who have some faith are but dull hearers, dull of understanding and slow to believe; the understanding is weak, and does not apprehend these spiritual things; the memory is weak, and does not retain them. Instead of looking at the pastors, we need to look at the members. How many of them spend time in God's Word outside of Sunday? How many spend time in prayer, besides dinner? How many spend time contemplating and hiding God's Word in their heart? Brad |