Let's Read: Living Beautifully

Monday, 28th November 2022
Image: lets-read-living-beautifully

Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—Living Beautifully

By Davy Ellison

We are continually assaulted with all manner of products that will help us live beautifully. Whether it is the healthiest food, the most profitable exercise, radiant holiday destinations, transformative make-up, or the latest spiritual fad, we are consistently being offered up things that promise to help us live beautifully.

As Dustin Benge draws his book to a close, he too points to some things that will help us live beautifully. There are four that he highlights and embracing them will ensure that Christians live beautifully in an increasingly ugly world.

Observing the Ordinances

Jesus gave his church two ordinances: baptism and communion. These two ordinances, when observed by Christ’s church, help Christians live beautifully. Benge explains that “Baptism is a symbol that points to saving faith; it is not the conveyer of saving grace” (p. 64). Although Christians partake of true baptism only once, each time the church gathers to celebrate baptism we witness the gospel. This gospel reminder helps us live in its light. Christians partake of communion repeatedly and in this participation we witness the gospel once more: “the Lord’s Supper causes believers to reflect back to when their sins were atoned for by God’s spotless Lamb while also looking forward to the great marriage supper of the Lamb” (p. 65). Regularly observing these ordinances helps us live beautifully.

Walking in the Light

More is expected of Christians, however, than merely turning up at church on a Sunday to observe the ordinances. We are also to walk in the light. This term “walking,” argues Benge, “is shorthand for practical Christian living—living out what has been planted within” (p. 70). The entirety of our lives then must be the outworking of the faith within. This is a high and difficult calling, but mercifully the Spirit “empowers his people to do all these things” (p. 72). While this can never be executed perfectly, living out our faith equates to living beautifully.

Rejoicing While Persecuted

Observing the ordinances and walking in the light will mark us out. Others will note our beauty. And this will spell danger. Jesus did not sugar-coat it for us: “the world hates you” (John 15:18). There is no escaping the reality that we will face hardship now; more, persecution—sought out as targets specifically for holding to Scripture. Yet, this hardship now will be significantly diluted as we remember that “being with Jesus in glory will far more than reward us for any suffering we have faced in this life” (p. 77). Hardship now, glory hereafter. This is how we rejoice while persecuted, and in doing so live beautifully.

Embodying the “One Anothers”

Finally, Benge encourages us to embody the “one anothers” found in the New Testament. He does so, however, by clarifying that these “passages are not suggestions for a successful life but commands for right Christian living” (p. 81). By obeying these commands of God we foster a familial bond that exists even if it is not always experienced. The importance of the “one anothers” is in their ability to galvanise unity. Benge writes: “Unity is critical because it fosters maturity, doctrinal stability, discernment, a loving vocabulary, Christlike growth, church-wide equipping, and spiritual building” (p. 83). In short, embodying the “one anothers” is living beautifully.

Living Beautifully

If we are to live beautifully we must observe the ordinances, walk in the light, rejoice while persecuted and embody the “one anothers”. And we must do so together as the church, because:

The church is about people being rescued, redeemed, and renewed. The church is about savoring, rejoicing, and service. The church is about proclaiming, enduring, and walking. The church is about being the bride adorned, beautiful, and lovely. (p. 86)

 

Reflect

  • Examine your life in light of the four areas outlined above. In which areas do you need more gospel-fuelled diligence?
  • Pick two “one another” passages and actively seek to embody them in your interactions with fellow church members over the next few months.
  • Pray now for your local church, asking God to aid you all in living beautifully by the power of his Spirit.

    Blog Archive

Let’s Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: Recovering a Biblical and Theological Vision for Ministry Let's Talk: Surviving Ministry Staff & Students Favourite Books of 2022 Let's Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Gathered BYE Teams Hugh D. Brown Lectures How I spent my sabbatical Let’s Read Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Identified 1st Year Reflections from Andrew and Debbie Second Year Placement (Josh and Glenn) Final Year Reflection: Chris Banks Let’s Read Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Functioning New Library Books (April 2023) Easter Reflection 2023 Irish Baptist Historical Society Lecture Report on the Life of Hugh Orr Let's Read: Spurgeon the Pastor: The Church Multiplying Friends of the College May 2023 Let's Read: Reflections on Spurgeon the Pastor by Geoff Chang Student Reflections on Graduation 2023 Where will our students will be serving this summer? Pray Without Ceasing: A Week of Summer Prayer 2023 Reflections on returning to Peru Recognition Service Report 2023 Commencement Service Report 2023 Cross Cultural Report in Ireland Cross Cultural Reports 2023 2 Short Book Reviews Let's Read: Keeping Your Children's Ministry On Mission: Practical Strategies For Discipling The Next Generation by Jared Kennedy Let's Read: When Children Become Brothers And Sisters What's in a name? Evangelism Teams 2023: Coleraine and Keady Evangelism Teams 2023: Castlederg and Tobermore Let's Read: Welcoming and Safeguarding Book Review: Weakness Our Strength A Strange Man from Another World
Let’s Read: The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring Graduate Updates Tribute How to Avoid Becoming a Graceless Theological Thug Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor Hugh D. Brown Lectures—Understanding and Applying Zephaniah Book Review: Children of Abraham: A Reformed Baptist View of the Covenants by David Kingdon Graduate Updates: Laetitia Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor (chapters 5-12) New Books in the Library Friends of the College—March 2022 Graduate Updates: Andrew Let's Read: The Path To Being A Pastor (chapters 13-23) Deacons The Risen Christ Changes Everything Why Four Gospels? Let's Read: The Path to Being a Pastor (Chapters 24–27) The College Graduation MA Missions Module Reflection Student Reflections (first and second year) Book Review: The Crucible of Leadership Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church? (Introduction) Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church? (Introduction) Friends of the College: September 2022 Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—You’re Beautiful Commencement Report Cross Cultural Placements 1 Cross Cultural Placements 2 Cross Cultural Placements 3 Let’s Read: Why Should We Love the Local Church—Beauty Demonstrated 1st Year Reflection (Ana Rut) Evangelism Teams 2022 (Armagh and Cavan) Evangelism Team 2022 (Ballycrochan & Comber) Let's Read: Living Beautifully Let's Read: Why Should We Love The Local Church “Always winter and never Christmas” Three Kings
Let’s Read Irish Baptist College Conference (Online) From Intern to Undergraduate (Emily Middleton) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Reason for Redemption Baptists and Revival in the Long 18th Century Second Year Placements From Intern to Undergraduate (Josh Brown) Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The What and Why of Holiness Final Year During A Pandemic 2nd Year Placement Experience Friends of the College 2021 Update The Art of Reading More Books Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — The Real Possibility of Holiness A Basic Easter Fact The Servant King Podcast Let's Read: The Hole in our Holiness — You Are Holy Third Year Reflection Gospel Guardians: Protecting the Purity of the Gospel for Future Generations Graduation 2021 Book Review: Succeeding at Seminary Let's Read: The Hole in Our Holiness — A Work in Progress Why the Irish Baptist College is Vital to the Health of the Association A Good News Story: The Ministry Partnership Scheme Why Study the Biblical Languages? Profit in Toil: A Short Message on A Level Results Day Let's Read: Small Preaching Recognition Service Report 2021 Sin Forgiven: Nourishment for Life and Joy for Living Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Character of the Preacher Commencement Service Report Placement God Rejoices over His People: A Meditation on Zephaniah 3:17 Let’s Read: Small Preaching—Constructing the Sermon Evangelism Teams: Newcastle and Brannockstown Evangelism Teams: Stonepark and North Belfast Christian Fellowship First Year Reflections (Reuben and Andrew) Some New Books Let’s Read: Small Preaching—The Craft of Preaching Let's Read: Small Preaching—What is God Saying? A Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘The coming of the light’ Christmas Reflection on John 1 - ‘Life, Light & Glory’
Time to read Genesis...again Friends of the College - January 2020 Friends of the College - January 2020 Finances Tribute to Marion Craig The Resilient Pastor: Surviving & Thriving in Ministry Just a Blow-in? What is new on the shelves at IBC? Friends of the College - February 2020 Four Reasons to Study Theology Academically From Spain to Moira Testimonial Financial Update Friends of the College – March 2020 Irish Baptist Historical Society: The Mayflower Thomas Patient: the Father of the Irish Baptist Church Testimonials The Pastors’ Conference: An Encouraging Privilege Testimonials (part-time studies) In the worst of times: COVID-19 and the Book of Ruth Friends of the College - April 2020 The Long Wait: Victory Delayed Testimonials - Preparation for Ministry and Evening Classes The Leadership Podcast Testimonials - Ladies Study Fellowship The Leadership Podcast (part 2) Friends of the College - May 2020 Reflections from the Student Chairman Why do we teach the Old Testament? Reflections on first year at IBC Friends of the College - June 2020 Why do we teach Romans? IBC Placement Is Church History a Thing of the Past? Friends of the College - July 2020 Friends of the College – August 2020 Friends of the College September 2020 Recognition and Graduation Service Introducing the Irish Baptist College’s New Logo Commencement Service Friends of the College - October 2020 Filled with the Spirit: Soundings in Luke’s Theology of the Holy Spirit The Famous Five: The Abiding Relevance of the Solas of the Reformation Friends of the College - November 2020 The Importance of Theological Training in Fulfilling the Great Commission First Year Reflections — Tim Houston Singing: The Place of Theology in Corporate Worship New Library Books Friends of the College – Unite to Pray – December Christmas Reflections
Agree and Close notice.

By continuing on our website you agree with our Privacy Policy and to the use of cookies by third party plugins. Find out more here