This study was first taught on September 23, 2018

Topic: Church Life (3): Church Business (Teaching & Learning)

(use the audio to study)

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Background
In our meeting last week, we saw that the goal of biblical teaching or doctrine is to enable us to live for God and for eternity with God, from hereon. We noted that as crucial as teaching is therefore, even more crucial is learning, and that even learning is a means to achieving the goal of living for God and for eternity with God.

We said that the only way to prove that learning has indeed taken place is when we see those learning, living their lives based on the teachings they have received. In a scriptural sense, learning takes place when the learner has understanding; and understanding is not mere intellectual comprehension, but the impartation of the good sense to be able to distinguish between what is holy and what is not, and to act accordingly. Also, understanding is having the good sense to avoid and depart from evil and those who are its merchants; as well as the demonstration of the desire and devotion to doing the Will of God. We saw that it is understanding that brings men through conviction to the place of repentance and revival, as well as enabling them to live for God in this dark and perverse world.

We saw that understanding comes from God, and through rebuke—anyone who disdains rebuke, therefore, cannot manifest understanding, neither can he live for God. Hence, though a person may be born again, with the indwelling Holy Spirit working on the inside, without understanding, he will still be carnal (like the first, second, and third soils of the parable of the sower) and will eventually lose eternity with God! We concluded by stating that the way we live after being born again is a reflection of:
- What we are being taught;
- How we are learning; and
- By what spirit we are being taught.
The Holy Spirit can only teach you holy living in accordance with the word of God; any other spirit will teach you how to avenge yourself, how to focus on self, how to become famous and wealthy, and the like.

May the Lord open us up to His Spirit and teachings, and grant us understanding to live blameless before God here on the earth, so that we can inherit the kingdom in eternity (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 2:41-43
Once a child is born, the work of nurturing the child commences, even in the midst of felicitations, celebrations and ceremonies, until, and even after the child has completed his education—home training and academics—and even after he has been employed and married with children. In much the same way, once you are born again, the nurturing and molding into who God wants you to be commences, until you to go to be with the Lord.

So, following the admittance into the family of God—the church—of those 3,000 souls who were added to the church, they began to engage in activities that would build them up unto maturity. In order not to engage in rituals, but relationship building and learning what is needed for living for God and for eternity with God, those who had just been baptized were engaged in the following activities continually and steadfastly:
- Learning from the apostles through teachings, on how they should live the new life;
- Having fellowship with one another and with the apostles, as members of the same family;
- Breaking bread or sharing their meals form house to house, which includes Holy Communion; and,
- In prayers.
Thus, we see the primary activities that an assembly of believers in a locality should be engaged in—teaching and learning; bonding and sharing; celebrating and remembering the sacrifice of the Lord; and communing and conversing with God!
When we use the term “Church Business”, we are not talking about the activities that the church should engage in for financial benefits; rather, we want to discuss what church meetings ought to be about for the spiritual and eternal benefit of all believers; and we see the impact of these activities in the Early Church (Acts 2:43—“Then fear [reverential fear of God] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles”. See also Acts 4:31-35; Psalm 25:14).

The Early Church has left for us, the Church today, a pattern of what we should be engaged in primarily. Beginning with Teaching and Learning, we shall be discussing these activities—the business of the church—that we ought to be engaging in, over the next few weeks. May the Holy Spirit teach us, and help us to receive, with meekness, His teachings, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Whilst preaching or proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God brings people into the church when they accept the message of the Lord’s death for their sins, teaching builds up or edifies those who have been brought in. And whilst teaching is taking place, those being taught must be desirous and willing to learn, and to put to practice, what is being taught them.
Luke 21:37; John 8:1-2; Hebrews 5:9-14; 6:1-6; Acts 11:26; 19:8-10; 2 Timothy 4:1-2, 2-4; 3:16-17; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:31, 32; Proverbs 11:9; Hosea 4:6; Daniel 11:32; 2 Timothy 2:2; James 1: 21-25; Luke 21:34; 2 Timothy 3:14; 2:2; Matthew 24:445-51; 13:52; Luke 10:38-42; 2 Timothy 4:2.

Conclusion
The primary activities of the church of the living God, which makes for a well rounded and grounded Church life, are; teaching and learning, bonding and sharing, celebrating and remembering the sacrifice of the Lord, and communing and conversing with our heavenly Father. Of these primary activities that we should engage in, in our church meetings—when we gather, as against when we are not gathered—the fundamental activity is teaching and learning; for it enables us to live the new life and be able to engage in the other activities based on relationship (knowledge of God’s righteousness), and not as rituals!

We must be focused on learning, as every good student is also a good teacher; and since it is God’s desire that those who are learning today become the teachers of tomorrow, it is only proper that we devote and dedicate ourselves continually and steadfastly to the sound doctrine of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

May God help us to learn and to teach others by His Spirit, as we act faithfully in all things, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

LET US PRAY!!!

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