The church of Christ is powerful and beautiful at the same time. She was tasked in the first century to worship the Father in spirit and in truth as well as encouraging one another to do right. She was required to do the will of God from the heart as she went into all the world preaching and teaching the gospel to every creature (Mark 16.15-16). We all have heard of the three responsibilities of the Lord’s church in the local and universal arena. Those three things are evangelism, edification and benevolence. In this brief exhortation, we want to focus on edification in the church and how we can be more efficient in building up each other.

 Paul told the elders of Ephesus in Miletus these words, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32). We have a responsibility to provoke each other to get into the word of God so all can be encouraged. When we allow the word to encourage or build us up, we can then build up one another. This is true in the arena of comfort and correction; when we allow God to do these things, we then can encourage one another (2 Cor. 1.3-7).

As the Lord’s church, we can build up one another through sound leadership. Remember again the words of the apostle Paul to the Ephesians. God has put spiritual leaders in the church for the express purpose of teaching and guiding through His divine word. God actually gave the apostleship to the church for edification and not destruction (2 Cor. 10.8; 13.10). His leaders should equip the congregation for the work of ministry, thereby allowing edification to occur over time (Eph. 4.11-16). God’s men who occupy the office of an elder, deacon or minister, should be built up in the word of God, so they too can build up the people of God in the local and universal church. For this reason the church should esteem these functions highly for their work’s sake and seek to live godly, thus making their responsibility less strenuous.

Furthermore, the church is supposed to have sound preaching every time they come together. Preaching edifies according to Paul’s words to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 14.3-4). Preaching causes the church to excel in their Christian walk towards God (1 Cor. 14.12). When we preach the word, when we preach sound doctrine, and when we speak those things that befit sound doctrine, the church is comforted, encouraged and edified. Even those who do not know Jesus for the pardoning of their sins can benefit greatly and have their hearts challenged to do better and acknowledge God in the presence of the church of Christ (1 Cor. 14.24-25).

So how can we encourage and edify one another in the church today? Why should we build up one another? We should encourage each other to do all we can to make sure edification remains in the church. Edification in the church is seen when we pray for one another to discern according to the word of God and approve the things that are excellent (Phil. 1.9-10). When we approve excellent things, we put ourselves in positions to pursue morality and holiness. Peter would use the word “virtue” or “moral excellence” which helps us to build up each other in the most holy faith (2 Pet. 1.5; Jude 20). When we are not living morally excellent lives, we cause the church to tear one another down and it leads to spiritual destruction in the church. For this purpose we must study the word of God on a daily basis to know what edifies and builds up the church.

We can seek to build up one another through our service to each other. Jesus would say these words, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13.35). As Jesus served His disciples, He charged His disciples to do the same for one another (Jn. 13.14-15). When we seek opportunities to call, text, visit or communicate with the brethren, God is glorified and the church is encouraged to remain true to the faith. We can always look for ways to serve each other and help each other to grow closer and closer to Christ.

Finally, we edify one another when we simply show up and do the will of the Lord in our lives. In this way we provoke one another unto love and God works (Heb. 10.24). We encourage each other when we use opportunities to fellowship with one another in singing, having meals or doing works of service with one another. Let’s do all we can to use the right words and the right actions to help our brethren see the beauty of Jesus in our lives. In what ways will you seek to build up your brethren? How will you go about seeking to enhance your fellowship and edification with the brethren? Brethren, let us love another and encourage each other to be faithful to God and His beloved Son. Let’s edify today.