For The Church Should be our Service

Hymn 914

SUBJECT: SERVICE-FOR THE CHURCH

METER: 8.7.8.7.D.

AUTHOR: Witness Lee

COMPOSER: German Melody

So that let no one boast in men; for all things are yours.

Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world,or life, or death,
or things present, or things coming, all are yours;
and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

(1 Corinthians 3:21-23)

Hymn 914

1	For the Church should be our service,
		'Tis the perfect will of God;
	’Tis the only way of working
		Which the Lord’s apostles trod.
Chorus
		For the Church should be our service,
			Not our aims to satisfy;
		This, the perfect will of God is,
			And with it we must comply.
2	For ‘tis God’s eternal purpose
		That the Church His vessel be;
	He intends that all our service
		Build His Church continually.

3	All the gifted persons given
		To the Body by the Head
	Are to aid the Church’s building,
		That to fulness she be led.

4	All the gifts and all the functions,
		All the spirit’s power shown,
	All the ministries are given
		For the Church and that alone.

5	All the preaching of the Gospel,
		All the teaching ministry,
	Every other kind of service
		For the church alone should be.

6	Ministry is for the Churches,
		Not the Church for ministry;
	All the lampstands are the Churches,
		Not a form of ministry.
7	This will keep the Church’s oneness,
		Saving us from every sect;
	This will ever test our motives,
		And our aim will thus correct.

8	Lord, deliver us from our work,
		From the work of any sect;
	For Thy Church alone we’d labor
		And its building up effect.