The subject worked out for this month is- The Church (Assembly), the House and the Body.
We may add one or two remarks to explain why passages which have been indicated by some of the Class do not appear in the result. The expressions "kingdom of heaven," "kingdom of God," are not synonymous with Church: the "field" (Matt. 13) is not the church, but (see verse 38) the world: the blessings of individual believers are not necessarily the blessings of the church, though the church is composed of those individuals upon whom the blessings have been conferred.
It will be seen that the second part of the result is not so complete as the first: to search out the passages where the subjects are treated of, though not directly named, is perhaps more a matter for individual study through the whole of the New Testament, and to present fully it would occupy more than our whole Magazine.
The following, as a preliminary arrangement, suggested itself as the papers were being read; a better and more detailed one will be no doubt made, individually by our readers.
The Church.
Matt. 16:18.-Upon this rock I will build my church.
Matt. 18:17-If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church.
Acts 2:47-The Lord added to His church daily such as should be saved. (R. V.-The Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved).
Acts 5:11-And great fear came upon all the church.
Acts 8:3-As for Saul, he made havoc of the church.
Acts 20:28-Feed the church of God.
1 Cor. 10:32-Give no offense; neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.
1 Cor. 12:28-And God hath set some in the church.
1 Cor. 15:9-I persecuted the church of God. (Gal. 1:13: Phil. 3:6).
Eph. 1:32-And gave Him to be head over all things to the church.
Eph. 3;10-That now......might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.
Eph. 3:21-Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus.
Eph. 3:23-As Christ is the head of the church.
Eph. 3:24-As the church is subject unto Christ.
Eph. 3:25-Even as Christ also loved the church.
Eph. 3:26-That He might present it to Himself a glorious church.
Eph. 3:29—And cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.
Eph. 3:32-But I speak concerning Christ and the church.
1 Tim. 3:5-How shall he take care of the church of God.
Heb. 2:12-In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee.
Heb. 12:23—Church of the first-born, which are written in heaven.
The Body.
Rom. 12: 5-We being many are one body in Christ.
1 Cor. 10:17-For we being many, are one bread and one body.
1 Cor. 12:12-For as the body is one so also is Christ.
1 Cor. 12:13-For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.
1 Cor. 12:27-Now ye are the body of Christ.
Eph. 3:6-That the Gentiles should be of the same body.
Eph. 4:4-There is one body and one Spirit.
Eph. 4:12-For the edifying of the body of Christ.
Eph. 4:16-From whom the whole body fitly joined together. v. 30-For we are members of His body.
Col. 2:19-The head, from which all the body by joints, &c.
Col. 3:15-To the which also ye are called in one body.
The House.
2 Tim. 2:20-But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth.
Heb. 3:6-But Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are we, &c.
Heb. 10:21-And having a high priest over the house of God.
1 Peter 2:5-Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house.
1 Peter 4:17-The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.
Passages in which the above expressions are linked.
Eph. 1:22,23-The church which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.
Col. 1:18.-He is the head of the body, the church.
Col. 1:24-For His body's sake, which is the church.
1 Tim. 3 is-The house of God, which is the church of the living God.
Passages speaking of Believers as the Dwelling-place of God.
1 Cor. 3:16, 17-Know ye not that ye are the temple of God? If any man defile the temple of God for the temple of God is holy. Also 2 Cor. 6:16.
Eph. 2:20-22 -Jesus Christ in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Eph. 2:19-The household of God.
Passages showing the manner in which separate Assemblies are spoken of.
Acts 8:1-There was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem, (11:22, &C.)
Acts 11:26-They assembled themselves with the church.
Acts 16:5-And so were the churches established in the faith.
Rom. 16;10 -The servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.
Acts 16:4-All the churches of the Gentiles.
Acts 16: 5-The church that is in their house.
Acts 16:16-The churches of Christ salute you.
Acts 16: 23-Gaius mine host, and of the whole church.
1 Cor. 1:2-Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.
1 Cor. 16:1-The churches of Galatia (Gal. 1:2): of Macedonia (2 Cor. 8:1): of Judaea (Gal. 1:22).
Phil. 4:15-No church communicated with me but ye only.
Rev. 1:4-The seven churches which are in Asia.
Rev. 22:16—I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.
N.B.-Many of the expressions in this section are repeated often in the epistles, in connection with Assemblies other than those noted above.
Passages speaking of the internal arrangement, character, discipline, &c., of the Church.
Acts 14:23-And when they (Paul and Barnabas) had ordained them elders in every church.
Acts 14:27-And when they......had gathered the church together.
Acts 15:3—And being brought on their way by the church.
Acts 15:4-They were received of the church, and of the apostles and. elders.
Acts 15:22-T h e apostles and elders with the whole church.
Acts 20:17-And he called the elders of the church.
1 Cor. 6:4-Set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
1 Cor. 7:17-And so ordain I in all churches.
1 Cor. 11:16-We have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1 Cor. 11:18-When ye come together in the church.
1 Cor. 11:22—I despise ye the church of God.
1 Cor. 14:4-He that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1 Cor. 14:23-If therefore the whole church come together.
1 Cor. 14:28-If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church.
1 Cor. 14:34-Let your women keep silence in the churches.
1 Cor. 14:35-For it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1 Cor. 16:59-The churches of Asia salute you.
2 Cor. 8:59-Who was also chosen of the churches. Also v. 18, 23,-24.
1 Tim. 5:16-And let not the church be charged.
James 5:14-Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church.
3 John 6-Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church.
3 John 9-I wrote unto the church.
3 John 10-And casteth them out of the church.
DIVISION 2.
The purpose ... That He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. John 11:49.
The mystery, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. That the Gentile should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. Eph. 3:5, 6.
Privilege and responsibility ... Whose soever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them, and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. John 20:23.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when ye are gathered together. 1 Cor. 5:4.
Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1 Cor. 5:53.
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 2 Cor. 2:8.
Founded ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost ... Acts 2:4. See 1 Cor. 12:13.
Increase ... And the same day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41.
Early happiness and testimony ... And all that believed were together, and had all things common. Acts 2:44.
And they continued in the apostle's doctrine...... Praising God, and having favor with the people. Acts 2:42-47
Dissension ... And in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring. Acts 6:1.
Persecution ... As for Saul, he made havoc of the church. Acts 8:3.
An intruder ... Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter. Acts 8:21.
The Gentiles admitted- Which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we. Acts 10:47.
For we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they. Acts 15:11
And made us sit together. Eph. 2:6.
And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross. Eph. 2:16.
Testimony to all And to make all men see, what is the fellowship of the mystery. Eph. 3:9.
Exhortation Eph. 4
Division and sorrow- For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Acts 20:29.