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mensajes para creyentes nuevos/new believer's series #24
The Body of Christ: A Reality
“And gave him [Christ] to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1.22, 23). As Christ the head is a reality, so the church as the body of Christ is a reality. To many, however, the body of Christ is a vague, nebulous and abstract term. It is merely a beautiful concept or a noble theory. It is not a living reality as is presented in the Scriptures. The time has come, and now is, that all who seek the Lord should enter into a new understanding of the body of Christ. We need to see that the body of Christ is a life which we live in. It ought to become our daily experience. In this little volume of collected messages selected for the unity of their subject matter and given by the author through years of faithful ministry, Watchman Nee attempts to show us the reality of the body of Christ. He proves to us that the body of Christ is founded on life and life consciousness. It is built on a living relationship among its members as well as with its head. This body is governed by its own laws, and blessed are those who discover these laws and follow them. To them the body of Christ is indeed a living reality. May God grant to all who read this book wisdom and strength for living in the reality of the body of Christ.
115 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2009
17 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Watchman Nee
594 books629 followersWatchman Nee (Chinese: 倪柝聲; pinyin: Ní Tuòshēng; Foochow Romanized: Ngà̤ Táuk-sĭng; 1903–1972) was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Together with Wangzai, Zhou-An Lee, Shang-Jie Song, and others, Nee founded The Church Assembly Hall, later which would be also known as the "Local churches" (Chinese: 地方教會). or more commonly as (聚會所) meaning "assembly hall"
Born into a Methodist family, Watchman Nee experienced a religious revival, and joined the Church of Heavenly Peace, Fuzhou in 1920 at age 17 and began writing in the same year. In 1921, he met the British missionary M. E. Barber, who was a great influence on him. Through Miss Barber, Nee was introduced to many of the Christian writings which were to have a profound influence on him and his teachings. Nee attended no theological schools or Bible institutes. His knowledge was acquired through studying the Bible and reading various Christian spiritual books. During his 30 years of ministry, beginning in 1922, Nee traveled throughout China planting churches among the rural communities and holding Christian conferences and trainings in Shanghai. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972.
Born into a Methodist family, Watchman Nee experienced a religious revival, and joined the Church of Heavenly Peace, Fuzhou in 1920 at age 17 and began writing in the same year. In 1921, he met the British missionary M. E. Barber, who was a great influence on him. Through Miss Barber, Nee was introduced to many of the Christian writings which were to have a profound influence on him and his teachings. Nee attended no theological schools or Bible institutes. His knowledge was acquired through studying the Bible and reading various Christian spiritual books. During his 30 years of ministry, beginning in 1922, Nee traveled throughout China planting churches among the rural communities and holding Christian conferences and trainings in Shanghai. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 30, 2018
A short yet succinct read on the body of Christ. I love how Nee emphasizes the body of Christ vs. the "individualistic" spirit of many Christians.
He emphasizes three things in the book:
1) My relation to the Head (Christ) of the body - Subjection
2) My relation to the Body (church) - Fellowship
3) My place as a Member - Service
"Fellowship" is defined by the author as me receiving help from other members. That is excellent in the context of the body! Too often, fellowship is thought of as getting together at events, dinners, or fun times. And although fellowship can occur at these settings, that is not fellowship!
Here are some excerpts to the book that stood out to me:
"Nothing in the body can live outside the head...hence, apart from the Lord Jesus we just cannot live." p. 24
"Where life is, there is authority. True authority is life. And since the Lord controls our life, He has authority over us." p. 25
"The body in its relation to the head can only obey and follow." p. 26
"To be subdued by the Lord and then to capitulate to Him should be a basic experience of every Christian." p. 27
"If you truly see the body of Christ you will neither be jealous nor proud. Whether the work is done by you or by me or by others makes no difference. All of this is a body matter, nothing is purely individual." p. 35
He emphasizes three things in the book:
1) My relation to the Head (Christ) of the body - Subjection
2) My relation to the Body (church) - Fellowship
3) My place as a Member - Service
"Fellowship" is defined by the author as me receiving help from other members. That is excellent in the context of the body! Too often, fellowship is thought of as getting together at events, dinners, or fun times. And although fellowship can occur at these settings, that is not fellowship!
Here are some excerpts to the book that stood out to me:
"Nothing in the body can live outside the head...hence, apart from the Lord Jesus we just cannot live." p. 24
"Where life is, there is authority. True authority is life. And since the Lord controls our life, He has authority over us." p. 25
"The body in its relation to the head can only obey and follow." p. 26
"To be subdued by the Lord and then to capitulate to Him should be a basic experience of every Christian." p. 27
"If you truly see the body of Christ you will neither be jealous nor proud. Whether the work is done by you or by me or by others makes no difference. All of this is a body matter, nothing is purely individual." p. 35
May 14, 2016
I really liked this book. While I'm not sure I agree with everything that Nee expressed in this slight volume, I will say that he gave me plenty of food for thought. It would make a great companion to Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He speaks to so many issues in the Western models of church that are based on individualism. It made me wonder: just how sick are we?
April 24, 2018
Hate this book? Disagree with this book? -- I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Typical of these tiny Nee books, he makes a ton of bold statements with the confidence of his own (significant) experiences, but doesn't go out of his way to back it up. I found myself constantly and frustratingly challenged to give more to my community-life, but at no point did I run into legit disagreement. (Again, I'd love to some naysaying thoughts.)
It's difficult to move this book from "currently reading" to "read" when I'm left with so many lingering questions that can/will only be answered through experience ...
Typical of these tiny Nee books, he makes a ton of bold statements with the confidence of his own (significant) experiences, but doesn't go out of his way to back it up. I found myself constantly and frustratingly challenged to give more to my community-life, but at no point did I run into legit disagreement. (Again, I'd love to some naysaying thoughts.)
It's difficult to move this book from "currently reading" to "read" when I'm left with so many lingering questions that can/will only be answered through experience ...
February 20, 2019
While intentionally hyperbolic in a lot of what he says, Nee still pushes Christians to a fuller and deeper understanding of the Body of Christ. Denouncing individualism as against the body, he cries for the Christian to fall in love not just with Christ but with his Body as well. Rid yourself of sectarianism and allow the life of Christ to flow through you. Nee capitalizes on the metaphor of the body over any other metaphor used for the Church, bringing out aspects of the way the Church should function that often are left unnoticed.
July 21, 2020
This is just what we need!
The western church desperately needs this revelation of the body of Christ. We have allowed and at times encouraged individualism in the church and the results have been a fragmented and paralyzed body. Watchman Née beautifully articulates the principles of the body and what it means to live in subjection to the Head which is Christ, to relate to the body through fellowship and to function as a member, both receiving life from other members and supplying life to the body.
The western church desperately needs this revelation of the body of Christ. We have allowed and at times encouraged individualism in the church and the results have been a fragmented and paralyzed body. Watchman Née beautifully articulates the principles of the body and what it means to live in subjection to the Head which is Christ, to relate to the body through fellowship and to function as a member, both receiving life from other members and supplying life to the body.
November 10, 2010
It's not about institutional church, but relational church and how it was intende.
February 16, 2013
Awesome book
June 7, 2023
Subjection, Fellowship and Service. These are the requirements of any member of the church of Christ.
Awesome book 📕🎉
Awesome book 📕🎉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews