Q4. Head of the Body, the Church

[Pastor Ralph]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[pickledilly]

The Church should see itself as under the authority and command of Christ, our Head. This refers to the universal church, to which truly redeemed members of local congregations belong [not every "church member" is a member of the universal church Body of Christ]. It is united to Him in a completely dependent way. No earthly body can function without its brain to process & interpret, generate energy, direct & control function, maintain unified & integrated purpose. This Body of Christ is a living active entity filled with and led by the living force and vitality of the Spirit. We should conduct our lives and ministry as The Church according to the leadership and direction of our Head.

Just as Jesus was the full expression of God on earth, now we are to be the full expression of Christ on earth. We are to be the visible representation of the now invisible Lord Jesus Christ. We are to give voice to His Words, hands to His work, feet to take the gospel everywhere, hearts to love as He has loved us. You can't see a person's brain, but you can see the evidence of its authority and control as the body carries out its functions in a healthy, unified way. The Church is to be visibly active in living out the Father's will and doing His good works in the world.

Sadly, I don't think the Church and its congregations grasp the true nature of our existence and call, in general. We are not effectively God-centered. A body with impaired connections to its brain suffers impaired, even bizarre, function. And a body without its head is dead. We are most often rather dysfunctional, crippled, and ineffective because of the wrong focus and lack of submission to Christ's supremacy. As separate congregations and as the Church universal, we should be humbly yielded to the authority of our Head and humbly working together in unity for His glory and His kingdom.

[Ron2]

The world can do anything the church can do, except show grace.

The churches in America show very little grace.

The system of denominations in the church universal is not of Christ.

His plan is one church living confident that we are loved by the Father, then living in that love and loving all the other in the body.

Grace will flow out of this type of love.

[RodR]

Jesus is the head of both the universal church and the local congregation. He has appointed local leaders with certain responsibilities (1 Cor 12:28) but He is still the supreme authority. Knowing this, we should respect church leadership, we should be the hands and feet of Jesus in the community, and we should love and serve one another as Jesus would. Unfortunately, we often fall short of this challenge and expect the church to meet our selfish expectations instead. When we do, we lose connection with the head and become misguided, self-centered, and ineffective for the Kingdom.

[iam4-1god]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[Foofee's Nana]

How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[RodR]

Sadly, I don't think the Church and its congregations grasp the true nature of our existence and call, in general. We are not effectively God-centered. A body with impaired connections to its brain suffers impaired, even bizarre, function. And a body without its head is dead. We are most often rather dysfunctional, crippled, and ineffective because of the wrong focus and lack of submission to Christ's supremacy. As separate congregations and as the Church universal, we should be humbly yielded to the authority of our Head and humbly working together in unity for His glory and His kingdom.

I like your comparison of the church as a body with an impaired connection to the brain. Thanks!

[masika]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the "head of the body, the church" affect the way we conceive of the church? Is he talking about the universal church or a local congregation, or both? If we believe that Jesus is the head of the church, how should that affect the way we conduct our life and ministry as the church? In what ways does the visible church represent the "head"? How well do we as the body follow his leadership?

Christ is the head, and we are the body of his church.

Just as the parts of the body function under the direction of the brain, so Christians are to work together under the command and authority of Jesus Christ

The image of the body shows the church

[RodR]

Just as Jesus was the full expression of God on earth, now we are to be the full expression of Christ on earth. We are to be the visible representation of the now invisible Lord Jesus Christ. We are to give voice to His Words, hands to His work, feet to take the gospel everywhere, hearts to love as He has loved us. You can't see a person's brain, but you can see the evidence of its authority and control as the body carries out its functions in a healthy, unified way. The Church is to be visibly active in living out the Father's will and doing His good works in the world.

I like this. You are right. What keeps us from fulfilling it? How can we re-connect to the head?

[Marloes]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[csreeves]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[janel]

Q4 In the early teaching, the "church" is the building of God, a place of worship, a

place where God is to be found. Whereas in today's understanding of the "Church" is

the people of God. As believers of Christ, Jesus is the 'head of the body, the

church.' He being the Head and we, the believers are the body of Christ. When the

Head moves the body will move as directed. Therefore, we the believers are to submit

to authority, and the highest authority is Christ.

He is talking about both, the universal church as well as the believers of Christ.

'Be holy as the Heavenly Father is holy.' As believers of Christ we are called to

live holy and righteous life and to practice the teachings of Christ pleasing to God.

God dwells in the presence of His people and when we come for our Sunday worship, we

need to show reverence and respect due to Him and every ministry must conduct their

duties diligently for we are answerable to God.

If we are talking about the "church' as believers, then we should conduct ourselves

as children of God and be an example to the world according to the teachings of

Christ. After all, Jesus has commanded us to go out into the world to be His

effective witnesses.

Every Christian is called to be the Light and salt of the earth but sad to say many

of us especially the young people are overcome by the world. Seeking powers and

prestige. Giving rise to wars, tensions, etc. all over the world.

[Debbisu]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[sylverd]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[Lion of Grace]

The assertion that Jesus is the head of the body of the church should help us conceive the church in many ways. First, the Church is Holy and Christ loves the Church and gave His life for her. In holiness, we are the body of Christ, so if we don't conceive of the Church as being Holy and set apart Spiritually, we are not conceiving ourselves correctly. If we do not see ourselves as conceived and birthing in love, we have missed it! Our Head is holy, of the Spirit and conceived in love. If we are connected to the head who is Christ, abiding in Him, we will be a living breathing organism feeding on the bread of life and living our lives in love by the Spirit of God. This is for ALL of His church, what we have in common with any denomination anywhere in the world. He is our head, we the body. Our lives and ministry should be conducted out of real love and sacrifice without worldly influence. Sadly, so many churches today look like corporations where "survival of the fittest" is more likely found than the Gospel of Christ. We should be servants, esteeming others as better than ourselves and giving honor to the least important members of the body as well as seeking the lost to lavish with love, to show them who our Jesus is and help in their healing and walk with them on their journey. To have compassion and show forgiveness.

I think we as the body of Christ, lack in really following Christ. The Gospel does not remain pure and we have really failed to set ourselves apart from the world. We have failed to be in it, but not of it. The pressures of the world are very strong and it is easy to compromise....but I do know nothing will ever overcome Christ's Church and we can continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. I pray we will abide, be strengthened by the Holy Spirit and consumed by His love that we can be faithful stewards of the truth and may Jesus be glorified. He is so deserving of all our love.

Better is one day in His courts, than a thousand elsewhere!

[Vincent Paul DiMino]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[bower]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[JanMary]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the "head of the body, the church" affect the way we conceive of the church?

Just as our human body is under the authority of our head, the church is under the authority and leadership of Christ. The church is here to serve Him, and as such should constantly seek His guidance, will, power, inspiration in all matters. Sadly many churches are "man" led, glorify the pastor, serve the people, please the people, and Jesus is outside the door knocking to get in, as in the Laodicean church in Revelation.

Is he talking about the universal church or a local congregation, or both?

He's talking about both...the local congregation is a small part of the universal church.

If we believe that Jesus is the head of the church, how should that affect the way we conduct our life and ministry as the church?

In total submission to His Headship, seeking to glorify ONLY Him.

In what ways does the visible church represent the "head"?

The Head is invisible. If we are worldly, self seeking, walking in the flesh, He is misrepresented, and others see a distortion of Who He is, rather than the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Holy, Almighty, loving and just, faithful and true...the One Who died for all.

How well do we as the body follow his leadership?

In many cases, not very well....If individual wills are not surrendered to Him, the church will not glorify Him. That's why churches split, disunity is common, etc. He said the world would know us by our love and to walk in love requires walking in the Spirit, in subjection to Him.

[Delivered]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the "head of the body, the church" affect the way we conceive of the church?

The effect on the Messianic community, the church of Jews and Gentile believers in the Messiah should be a church full of "faith"- believing, understanding, their headship is "Supreme over all" and that includes me.

Is he talking about the universal church or a local congregation, or both?

He is speaking about the Gentile's being grafted into the true Olive tree, Israel's covenant with the God of Israel, they being united together as one, Jew and Gentile, it is the Son who holds it together, He came to save the world.

If we believe that Jesus is the head of the church, how should that affect the way we conduct our life and ministry as the church?

God's grace given and received through His Son brings salvation, the "Headship" teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, we are to live soberly, be a righteous people, our "Headship" calls us to be a peculiar people, zealous to do good works, love one another.

[DrD]

That we, the Church (Body) - we are connected to Jesus, who is the Head and under His authority. . .

Jesus is Head of the Church both universal and local. . .

Because Jesus is Head of the Church our natural reaction as a member of His Body is to be in complete agreement with His will, purpose and pan. . .

The visible church represents the Head when we are in total compliance with His will and plan. . .

As the Body of Christ we can do a lot better at following Jesus than we are presently doing. . . I believe that we are in agreement with His plam and purpose and doing a good job - however I feel we can do better. . .Philippians 3:12-15 (NKJV)

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

[Seeking His Face]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[pastoryolanda]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18) How should the assertion that Jesus is the

[hanks]

Q4. (Colossians 1:18)

How should the assertion that Jesus is the "head of the body, the church" affect the way we conceive of the church?

Is he talking about the universal church or a local congregation, or both?

If we believe that Jesus is the head of the church, how should that affect the way we conduct our life and ministry as the church?

In what ways does the visible church represent the "head"?

How well do we as the body follow his leadership?

All true believers are members of the church, and Jesus Christ is the Head. He is the source, origin, leader and ruler of the church; both the universal church and our local congregation. Knowing this should make us want to serve Him in all our activities, and at the same time we should be looking up to Him for leadership and guidance. No leader on earth is the head of any church. Each and every church has its origin in Him; only He is the founder of the church. We do not always follow His leadership. We are inclined to think it is OUR church, consequently ignoring Him and going our own way. This is when these churches become ineffective. We must be looking up to Jesus

[haar]

Since Jesus is the Head of the Church and we are the 'body', we should follow his ways, obey His word.

We should work in harmony, unison, same direction, doing his will only. Just as our physical head and body are one, oneness with the Lord Jesus Christ should be our goal in our lives and ministry.

[DOIT]

1).The Church should see it self as having the authority of Jesus to deliver his message according to his will.

2). It is a Universal Church that encompases all local Churches.

3). We should mirror the leadership that Jesus is giving - to all people.

4).The visible Church should allow the head (Jesus),to determine what needs to be done and follow its instructions,

"to the word".

5) In my opinion todays Church is not sufficiently "God centered" - It talks the talk, but does not walk the walk.