Guard the Good Deposit

Section III: How Do We Guard the Good Deposit? • 45

people who are gathering to worship, to fellowship, to challenge one another, and to serve the world. We need to stick with that local body, even when things get hard or uncomfortable. Being close to people and having real community will be difficult. Stick it out (see Eph. 4.1–3). We also need a place where we can explore, discover, and develop our spiritual gifts. The Lord expects us to contribute to the community and to help do the work of ministry. Submit yourself to Christ by receiving his Word and his Supper. Personal Bible reading and private devotions are good, but they cannot substitute for the Word and the Table received in the worship service. The Risen Lord revealed himself to his disciples in the explaining of the Word and the breaking of the bread [the Table] (Luke 24.27–31). Christ commanded his followers to teach the Word (Matt. 28.20) and to keep the Table (Luke 22.19). The earliest Church kept the Word and Table (Acts 2.42). Paul delivered as the matters of first importance the Word concerning Christ (1 Cor. 15.3) and the practice of the Table (1 Cor. 11.23). We need to hear the Word read and taught. We need to receive the supper of Christ’s body and blood. These are not add-ons to our personal spirituality. They are the very well-spring of our whole spiritual life.