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Body Life
... Understanding Life
in the Church
What does it mean to truly experience life in the Body of Christ?
This a very good question. To us it simply means that Jesus Christ is the Living and actual Head of His Church. It means that all believers who gather in His Name, meet under His headship. Scripture teaches us that there is only one head of the body, and His Name is Jesus Christ. Man is not head of the church. All believers comprise"The Church," and no matter where we gather to express the love of Christ, we are still the church. Going to a building every Sunday morning does not make us a church.
Unity of the whole Body of Christ
No matter how you choose to gather as the church, in a traditional way, more informally, or house-to-house, fellowshiping on Jesus Christ as our source and center is essential. The key to a life of fellowship with each other is in the overflow which comes from indiviudual fellowship (or communion) with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the real, living, active Presence of God in our lives! We enjoy fellowship with many wonderful believers all over the world, and in their homes, for we are all part of Jesus Christ's Church. The Church of Jesus Christ is ONE BODY and should be found in one accord on the earth.
Why Body Life?
It is our longing to know Christ and share this knowing with like-minded
believers in such a way that honors Him as the Head. There is not much
better than to fellowship with other believers who recognize that being a
part of the church is more than just going from Sunday meeting to Sunday
meeting. It's more than just listening to hours of teaching or getting
on committees and staying 'busy for God.' Yes, living in "body
Life" is more than Sundays in a building. The life of the
"Church" is found in the fellowship that goes on between each believer and
the Lord, and the ensuing overflow of that fellowship into relationships
with brothers and sisters .
When we allow the Lord to lead us in all things instead of letting the organizational structure that has come to be called 'the church' move and guide us, we begin to be able to actually walk in the freedom and joy of a redeemed and regenerated life.
It isn't easy to allow Jesus Christ to be the Head of a local Body of Believers; there will always be someone who attempts to come in to take over. However, as we submit to each other in love, seeking God together, the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be manifest in our midst and we will be able to receive the guidance, teaching, counsel, and help from each other that God intended from the start.
The Writings of Stephanie Bennett
Bennett's Newspaper Column -- several excerpts from Steph's monthly column on the religion page of one of Gannett's local papers, The Observer circa 1998-99. (seeker friendly)
Articles published on Christianity.com -- compelling commentary about the state of the church in today's culture. If you're looking to be challenged in your faith, or draw closer to the Lord in simplicity and purity, click on SNAP, CRACKLE, POP-Christianity, The 2001 Grammy's -A Cultural Oddity, or Plight of the Pew Potatoes.
Stephanie Bennett shares her personal testimony about how she first experienced bodylife in college and how this memory never left her forcing her to return to her first love Jesus Christ and His Bride. Part of Steph's testimony can be read in One Night I'll Never Forget or Manna for Desert Dwellers.
The Chronicles of the Journey is a series of poems written about how Earl and Stephanie arrived on the road to church life.
In Your Presence was first written to be a devotional book/CD song collection. Each chapter pertains to a different worship song that was received during a time of communion with the Lord. The CD/tape has yet to be fully produced, but the writing has been used in a non-published form as a devotional study, helping others move into a greater awareness of the presence of the Lord. It is a non-traditional approach to "prayer-life," addressing the need and fostering the practice of true communion with God through Jesus Christ.
Stephanie's Worship Songs
(the following links will download to your computer - you will need a mp3 player to hear these songs)
If you're thirsty for the refreshment and renewal of the Holy Spirit, listen to Rain on Us. Your church can sing it together with one voice, or you can sing it out to the Lord as your own heart's cry. If you're longing to go deeper into the Holy of Holies, and your desire is to learn more about worshiping at the throne of God, join Stephanie as she shares the full version of In Your Presence.
Have you ever had a really difficult time waiting on the Lord for something that He has promised, or something you have committed to His heart? Receive the smile of God over you dear one, and listen to Eternity in His Smile. The Lord is not slow to hear and act, but moves with perfect timing and grace to work out what He wills for your life.
For those who are using a computer with a slow connection - can hear part of Stephanie's song In Your Presence using REAL AUDIO PLAYER.
If you would like to contact Stephanie to talk about gaining more reality in your walk with the Lord, send an email to Steffasong@aol.com.
All songs are copywrited 2001.
Stephanie Bennett
Sanctuary Sound Publishing.
You may download and use freely without permission as long as the songs are never sold or used to make money. If you would like to re-record any of the songs, please write and explain your intentions and need. Also, we would love to hear how the Lord may be using any of these tools to build up His church in your area, or in your own life to get closer to Him. Please write!
Links to other parts of our
site:
Primitive Christianity was written by the Brothers and Sisters that we met with for over five years in Brick NJ. It is our perspective on where the Church of Jesus Christ came from and what we are doing to return to our first love and foster life in His Body on the earth.
Julie Mikula's Page is a light hearted discussion about what the Lord, family, and Church Life mean to this dear sister, and how she sees God at work in the midst of our everyday life together.
Back to Jesus Alone is a poem written by Jim May that was published in Union Life magazine in December 1995. This is a wonderful play-on-words that truly captures the established American Christian tradition. It's must reading for the person needing a laugh at the system and the truth about Christ as our center.
Links to others that live in Church Life
To discover others that are living in "Church Life" - we recommend
the following links to other believers from all over the world that meet
in homes, relate in a simple way to each other, and live in Church Life:
Information & Comments
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You are the
person to visit this site since
April 27, 1997.
Revised: July 8, 2001