CHAPTER FOUR

PROPHESYING FOR THE BUILDING UP OF THE CHURCH

Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 14:3-5, 12, 1, 31, 24, 26

OUTLINE

1. Being the consummation of the ministry of the New Testament priests of the gospel:
   1. Prophesying being to speak for the Lord for the building up of the church-1 Cor. 14:3-5.
   2. This being the excelling gift among all gifts in the New Testament-v. 12.
   3. This being what must be earnestly desired especially by the believers who desire spiritual gifts-v. 1.
   4. This being what every believer can and must do-vv. 31, 24.
2. Being the goal of the ministry of the New Testament priests of the gospel:
   1. The priests of the gospel preaching to gain sinners to be offered to God being for this one goal.
   2. Their nourishing the new believers and leading them to grow in life and present themselves as living sacrifices to God being also for this one goal.
   3. Their perfecting the saints by teaching them in all wisdom to present them full-grown in Christ to God being also for this one goal.
   4. The saints who have been perfected to grow into maturity, to be edified in truth, and to have the experience in life being able to prophesy to minister Christ to His members for the organic building up of the church.
   5. The New Testament believers as the priests of the gospel of God needing to pursue to reach this one goal for the carrying out of God’s New Testament economy.
3. Needing to have meetings of the church that are full of mutual speaking and listening-1 Cor. 14:26:
   1. All attendants having something to minister to the meeting.
   2. Everything being for the building up of the saints and the church.
   3. Being full of the supply and exhibition of the riches of Christ.