Edification or

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Edification or Entertainment?
2
Edified or Entertained?

• Some churches pride themselves in a worship
  service composed of edifying elements
• Bands
• Soloists
• Motivational speakers
• Plays
• Spirit Filled speakers

3
Edified or Entertained?

• Some churches talk about their ministries which
  provide socials or opportunities for the people
  to come together for fun, entertainment, and a
  little Bible study.
• Youth ministries
• Singles ministries
• Married couples ministries
• Nursing home ministries
• Divorced ministries

4
Edified or Entertained?

• Even without all the above, it is possible for a
  church to intentionally structure their worship
  services and Bible classes so as to make them
  more appealing.
• Well liked motivational speaker
• Length conscious sermons
• Avoids stepping on toes

5
Edified or Entertained?

• In the era of television, movies, professional
  sports, the temptation placed upon churches and
  religious groups is to make their worship
  services more entertaining, all under the name of
  edification.

6

• Individuals Can Edify Each Other

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Individuals Can Edify By . . .

• Encouraging their brethren to remain faithful.
• . . . For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to
  obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
  who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep,
  we should live together with Him. Therefore
  comfort each other and edify one another, just as
  you also are doing. 1 Thess 58-11

8
Individuals Can Edify By . . .

• By helping to restore a fallen brother.
• Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass,
  you who are spiritual restore such a one in a
  spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest
  you also be tempted. Bear one anothers burdens,
  and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 61-2

9
Individuals Can Edify By . . .

• By respecting the judgments of other brethren.
• Therefore let us pursue the things which make for
  peace and the things by which one may edify
  another. Do not destroy the work of God for the
  sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it
  is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is
  good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do
  anything by which your brother stumbles or is
  offended or is made weak. Rom 1419-21

10
Individuals Can Edify By . . .

• By showing love in their actions for their
  brethren. Romans 129-21

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• How Does the Local Church Edify?

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How Does the Local Church Edify?

• Ephesians 411-16
• The teachings of the apostles.
• The teachings of prophets.
• Evangelists who proclaim the gospel.
• Pastors (elders or bishops) who shepherd the
  flock.
• Local teachers who teach God's word.

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How Does the Local Church Edify?

• Through Worship 1 Corinthians 1426
• Singing songs cf. vs 15 Col 316
• Teaching cf. vs 26 2 Tim 42-3
• Prayer cf. vs 15 1 Tim 21-3
• Lord's Supper cf. 1 Cor 1126-34

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• Do We Edify or Entertain?

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Edification or Entertainment?

• Many people confuse edification with
  entertainment.

B
A
large, energetic, uplifting
small, dull, uninspiring, boring
16
Edification or Entertainment?

• Many people confuse edification with
  entertainment.

B
A
Activities, socials, exercise, entertainment
No youth groups, fellowship halls, gymnasiums
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Edification or Entertainment?

• Turning to entertainment, secular pursuits, and
  social concerns are not scriptural processes of
  edification on the part of the local church.

18
Edification or Entertainment?

• Youth groups, organized and funded by the local
  church, provides entertainment mixed with a
  portion of teachings.

19
Edification or Entertainment?

• Youth groups . . .
• Fellowship halls, built by and funded by the
  local church, are used for social purposes and
  entertainment.

20
Edification or Entertainment?

• Youth groups . . .
• Fellowship halls . . .
• Family life centers, built by and funded by the
  local church, are taking the church into a realm
  of social involvement not seen in the New
  Testament.

21
Edification or Entertainment?

• Youth groups . . .
• Fellowship halls . . .
• Family life centers . . .
• Gymnasiums, built by and funded by the local
  church, serve no spiritual purpose, only social
  entertainment.

22
Edification or Entertainment?

• Youth groups . . .
• Fellowship halls . . .
• Family life centers . . .
• Gymnasiums . . .
• "Christian rock" concerts, magicians, clowns,
  parities, etc., all sponsored by the local
  church, are methods of entertaining the young
  people of that church.

23
Edification or Entertainment?

• The process of edification, on the part of the
  local church, is limited to what is found within
  the scriptures. The local church is to edify the
  members through the process of teaching.