THE PRACTICE HANDBOOK FOR THE DISTRICT SERVING ONES
SERIES TWO
THE GOD-ORDAINED WAY AND VARIOUS KINDS OF MEETINGS
Message Fifteen
The Perfecting of Seeds and Pillars
Gen. 1:11 And God said, Let the earth sprout grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to their kind with their seed in them upon the earth; and it was so.
1 Kings 7:14 He was the son of a widow and of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; and he was full of wisdom and understanding and skill to do all kinds of work in bronze. And he came to King Solomon and did all his work.
THE LORD’S RECOVERY
BEING TO RAISE UP PEOPLE AND PERFECT THEM
The Lord’s recovery is spreading, and I have the assurance that it will spread at a good pace. But the rate of the expansion of the Lord’s recovery depends upon the pillars. I believe there will be churches in all the major cities of this country and in all the leading countries on earth. For this, there is the need of the pillars. (Life-study of Genesis, msg. 82)
The job of the deacons is not only to be trained and to get things done but to raise up people and perfect them. They must not only strive and learn to do things properly themselves but must continually raise up others to do the same thing. The goal of work in the church is not just to get things done but to raise up proper vessels. It is wrong to have many people in the meetings and many things waiting to be done but not have the proper people to do them. The deacons must latch on to some people and work together with them. They should be like eels in the sea that move around by latching on to each others’ tails. (CWWN, vol. 62, “Matured Leadings in the Lord’s Recovery (2),” ch. 24)
THE PERFECTING OF SEEDS
The Seed Being Christ Himself as the Seed of Life Sown into Us
In Mark 4:26-29 the Lord Jesus tells the parable of the kingdom seed. “So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed on the earth, and sleep and rise night and day, and the seed sprouts and lengthens—how, he does not know. The earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then an ear, then full grain in the ear” (vv. 26-28). The man is the Lord Jesus as the sower. The seed is Christ Himself as the seed of life sown into us, which sprouts, grows, bears fruit, matures, and produces a harvest. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, msg. 250)
The Life Sprouting, Growing, Bearing Fruit, Maturing,
and Producing a Harvest
When children are saved, they become our young brothers and sisters. After they graduate from primary school, they become seeds of the gospel in junior high school. When we work in the schools, they become our inside helpers and bring their classmates to us. In this way it is easier to work in the junior high schools. It is difficult to bring the gospel to a school where there are no saints who are teachers or students. However, young brothers and sisters in a junior high school can be likened to little seeds; they are waiting to sprout by responding to our call and bringing their classmates to salvation. When they enter into high school, they again become seeds of the gospel. During their three years of high school, we could bring three times as many people to salvation. When these young saints finish high school and enter college, they are seeds of the gospel in their college. In this way the number of people saved is continually multiplied. This is truly a great thing. (CWWL, 1985, vol. 1, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 5: Concerning Various Aspects of Church Service,” msg. 6)
We must also work with the elementary school students, because they will be gospel seeds in junior high school, high school, and college. When we gain the young people as gospel seeds, the work will multiply and increase in every level of education. If the co-workers work in this way, the work will go on unhindered and without limitation. (CWWL, 1971, vol. 1, “Shepherding the Church and Perfecting the Young People,” msg. 7)
THE PERFECTING OF PILLARS
In front of the temple were two pillars which said, “God shall establish,” and, “In it is strength.” These two pillars declare to the whole universe, including mankind, Satan, and all the fallen angels, that the Lord establishes and that strength is in the building. The Bible emphatically says that the first pillar is called Jachin and the second Boaz. We have pointed out that the name Jachin means, “He shall establish” and that the name Boaz means, “In it is strength.” This reveals clearly that the building of God’s house is altogether dependent on the pillar. How can you tell that someone has become a pillar? In the church life we realize that if certain brothers are taken away, everything collapses, but if they are present, they are pillars supporting the whole building. The Lord is not concerned about those who are offended; He cares for those who will become pillars. (Life-study of Genesis, msg. 82)
THE PRINCIPLE OF PERFECTING
Having a Vision
The most important matter for a person who serves the Lord is that he must have a vision. Everyone who serves the Lord must be a person with a vision. Not all the brothers and sisters will have a vision directly from the Lord; some of them will see a vision indirectly through the help of others. At any rate, in principle, everyone must have a vision. If a person has a vision, his service is a service with a vision. The apostle Paul said that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision (Acts 26:19). He served for his whole life according to the vision that he had received. (CWWL, 1959, vol. 1, “Our Vision-Christ and the Church,” ch. 1)
Helping Someone to Pray,
To Go to the Altar and Lay Himself on the Altar
We should not talk too much. At a certain point we should help someone to pray, to go to the altar and lay himself on the altar. Then we will see the result. I have heard genuine testimonies to this effect. Someone may still remember the place, the time, and the persons he was with when he offered himself to the Lord. He may testify that for many years he did not keep his word, yet he could not forget it. Even after twenty years that word still remained with him, and he had no peace until the Lord caused him to keep his word of consecration. If we know many Christians, we can present many testimonies like this. Let us help people in a practical way. We should not merely give them a message. We must help them to “tie the knot” by making a definite decision in prayer. (CWWL, 1964, vol. 4, “Practical Lessons on the Experience of Life,” ch. 3)
Support others by Bringing Them Along to Serve with Us
As we serve, we should never do anything by ourselves. We need to learn to support others by bringing them along to serve with us. In this way we will be able to produce some serving ones. The church should always be advancing and spreading. For instance, if a district is to be multiplied into two districts, the number of serving ones required to bear responsibility will double. Hence, we need to produce more people to serve. In order to raise up serving ones, we need to bring others along with us while we are carrying out the work. We should teach others to do the things that we are able to do. (CWWL, 1968, vol. 2, “The Motive, Coordination, and Function of the Lord’s Serving Ones,” msg. 9)
Learning to Perfect Others
We must see that the first step of the building up of the church, the primary step, is that we learn to perfect others. It is good that we can do things, that we are willing to do things, and that we are actually doing things. However, it is a shortcoming if we cannot lead, teach, and perfect other saints to do what we can do. We need to learn and to endeavor not only to do things ourselves but also lead, teach, and perfect others to do the things that we do. In this way the church will be built up. (CWWL, 1958, vol. 1, “The Perfecting of the Saints and the Building Up of the House of God,” msg. 3)
Entrusting and Overseeing
The elders in the church should first shepherd the saints and then oversee them. This means that after shepherding the saints, the elders should entrust them with some services. This is not merely to teach the saints but to put things into their hands. After entrusting the saints with a service, the elders should then oversee. This means that the elders should take their hands off and let the saints be responsible for giving suggestions and making decisions. The elders should not make decisions. Suppose a brother is assigned to the young people’s work. The elders no longer need to take care of the young people’s work. They should let the brother bear the work. The elders should only oversee. If every matter in the church is handed over to the saints, the function of the saints will be developed. (CWWL, 1971, vol. 1, “Shepherding the Church and Perfecting the Young People,” msg. 2)
THE WAY FOR PERFECTING—
FEEDING THEM MOUTH-TO-MOUTH
AND TEACHING THEM FACE-TO-FACE
If the co-workers and elders are such people, and every one of them would feed and perfect others in this way, the ones perfected by them will eventually do the same work. Because the saints are under their care and because they enjoy and experience this work of grace, they will spontaneously give themselves to join in this work of grace that they enjoy. At the same time the expression of love that flows out from the serving ones will become the example for the ones served. When a mother loves her child, the love expresses itself spontaneously in her living and becomes an example to the child. If the elders and co-workers would love the saints like a mother who loves her child and would render a loving, willing service to them, feeding them mouth-to-mouth and teaching them face-to-face, then when the saints are perfected, they will be just like the co-workers and elders; every one of them will be able to do the work that the co-workers and elders do. (CWWL, 1988, vol. 4, “A Timely Trumpeting and the Present Need,” msg.4)
PROVIDING AN EDUCATION ON VARIOUS LEVELS
TO PERFECT SEEDS
The Need for an Education on Various Levels
If we want everyone to function by preaching the truth for this kind of multiplication, then we must provide them an education on various levels. Only in this way can we raise up those who can preach the truth. Then in the Lord’s Day morning meetings there will be no fear of having no one to give a message for the ministry of the word. If the elders take the lead to preach the Lord’s word, then the saints will have a pattern to follow. When the saints see such a pattern, they will also go out to speak to others. Once this kind of atmosphere is started, the result will be that all the saints will be able to preach the Lord’s word to those who are outside the church. Whether by proclaiming Christ, by expounding the Holy Scriptures, or by releasing the truth, after three to five years, their preaching will be able to cover all the districts in their locality. (CWWL, 1985, vol. 5, “Speaking for God,” msg. 6)
Scheduling All Kinds of Educational Courses
We definitely have to schedule all kinds of educational courses in the church meetings to teach the brothers and sisters so that they may be built up in the truth. Then when they go out to contact people, everyone will have his function. For a country to be strong, it must provide widespread education, and its citizens must be highly educated. In this way the country will naturally be strong. If we have education as a base, it will not be difficult to do anything. We are for the testimony of the Lord, but if we are not strong in the truth, then without that base, whatever we speak to others will be in vain. Conversely, if we have been equipped with the truth, then whatever we speak will benefit others. (CWWL, 1985, vol. 5, “Speaking for God,” msg. 7)
Preparing the Suitable Materials
We must carefully select the proper material for the home meetings. We need to spend an adequate amount of time to pray thoroughly, to observe the condition of the brothers and sisters, and to understand the need of all the homes and the groups. We need to know their conditions, and then we should search out the suitable material from our publications. A mother, in preparing a meal for the family, should consider the condition of all the members of the family. Sometimes one member of the family is sick, and she needs to prepare special food for that one. Sometimes the season changes, and she needs to shop for the proper kind of food. All this takes research as well as common knowledge. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” msg. 11)
Once we gain some new ones, we need to study to find the way to take care of them. It is not good to feed people too much food; we need to give them the proper portions. In Hebrews 5:12-14 Paul mentions two kinds of food: milk and solid food. We should not attempt to nourish a child with solid food. Hence, we need someone to labor in order to write some suitable materials for the group meetings that will nourish the new ones with milk. (CWWL, 1991-1992, vol. 3, “Fellowship Concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups,” msg. 4)
Proceeding in a Sequential Way
The human educational research has worked out a system of six years of elementary school, six years of high school, and four years of college, with a set curriculum every year. A person proceeding through this curriculum in a sequential way will definitely graduate from college after sixteen years and will have systematically assimilated the general knowledge prevalent in the human race.
While working it out, understand what is important, pace yourself, move on systematically, and do not be rushed. In this way you will not suffer loss. Hold on to this principle, adapting and making changes according to the situation. You must always know clearly within yourself how to do it and where to start. (CWWL, 1984, vol. 4, “Rising Up to Preach the Gospel,” msg. 7)
Distributing Food at the Proper Time
Matthew 24:45 says that the faithful and prudent slave distributes food to God’s children at the proper time. The meaning of distributing food to God’s children at the proper time is profound. It does not mean merely to distribute food according to the seasons but to distribute different kinds of food according to the varying needs. This is something that requires time and research. Suppose we meet a new one, and without any regard for his condition we begin to share with him about the seventy weeks in Daniel. It is true that we are speaking God’s word, but that kind of “distributing of food” does not nourish him. Instead, it kills him.
I may have exaggerated a little, but I want us to see the absolute necessity of preparing the right kind of reading material for different meetings. This is in the principle of distributing food according to the proper time. The advancement of the various kinds of meetings hinges on this very matter. Whether or not a meeting brings profit to a person, attracts him, or stirs up the desire within him to join depends fully on this matter. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” msg. 11)
THE PERFECTING FOR SAINTS OF ALL AGES
Our work for the Lord should have a long-term view. Six years go by very quickly; soon the children in first grade will be young brothers and sisters. When they enter junior high school, we can preach the gospel to their classmates in junior high. When they enter high school, we can lead many of their classmates to be saved. When they enter college, they will be gospel seeds. In this way the young people will multiply year after year. The benefit from this will be very great. Hence, I am pleading with the elders and the co-workers to promote the children’s work, to lead all the sisters to take part. (CWWL, 1967, vol. 1, “Serving in Coordination and Washing in Love,” msg. 12)
The potential and future of the Lord’s work and testimony is not mainly with the old ones but with the young ones. Since the potential for the future is with the young people, we must have the foresight to spend more time with them. (CWWL, 1967, vol. 1, “Enjoying the Lord in His Word by Pray-Reading for the Building Up of the Church in Oneness,” ch. 10)
We must also see that all the persons who were called by God to carry out His up-to-date move were young men. The Lord raised up Martin Luther during the Reformation to bring mankind out of the Dark Ages. Martin Luther was young when he was called and dealt with by the Lord. Zinzendorf was a young man when he was caught by the Lord as was John Nelson Darby, the leader of the Brethren assemblies. John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield were also young men when they were called by the Lord. Missionaries whom the Lord used in church history to gospelize the world, such as Hudson Taylor, William Carey, and David Livingstone, were called by the Lord when they were young. (CWWL, 1964, vol. 1, “A Young Man in God’s Plan,” ch. 1)
Every church must go to the young people. In any field the future is with the young people. If an industry or a school does not gain young people, that industry or school has no future. This generation is the generation of the young people. (CWWL, 1977, vol. 2, “The Spirit and the Body,” ch. 11)
Furthermore, nearly every work that the young people were called by God to do was a work that turned the age…For the carrying out of all these works of great consequences, God always called young men. (CWWL, 1958, vol. 2, “How to Lead the Young People”)
THE PERFECTING OF THE GOD-ORDAINED WAY
The first thing we need to practice in the God-ordained way for the New Testament service is the preaching of the gospel. We preach the gospel to get sinners saved, to bring them to the Lord. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 3, “The Exercise and Practice of the God-Ordained Way,” msg. 2)
In the past in the Lord’s recovery, although we brought many to the Lord. However, very few have remained. The Lord is now teaching us a very crucial step. We all must learn what to do so that our fruit will remain. If we love the Lord, we must feed His lambs, the little ones, the small ones, the young sheep. To bear fruit is to multiply, to produce the lambs. But after producing the lambs, we still have to bear the responsibility to feed the lambs. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 3, “The Exercise and Practice of the God-Ordained Way,” msg. 13)
The group meetings are the life line of the God-ordained way. As long as we have not touched the group meetings, we have hardly begun to practice the God-ordained way. (CWWL, 1991-1992, vol. 3, “Fellowship Concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups,” msg. 1)
The best way to build the church is to prophesy, that is, to speak for Christ and to speak forth Christ, ministering and dispensing Christ into people. For one man to speak while all the others listen is a form of prophesying, but it is carried out in a wrong way. The proper prophesying should be carried out by each attendant in the church meetings. (CWWL, 1990, vol. 2, “The Practice of Prophesying,” msg. 1)
THE PERFECTING FOR THE MINISTRY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT—
SEVEN ANNUAL CONFERENCES AND TRAININGS
AND VIDEO TRAININGS
After World War II, due to the worldwide economic prosperity, the ease of transportation, and the improvement in communication media, we have been enjoying a greater convenience than before in transmitting information. Formerly, it took half a day to make an overseas phone call, but now through the international long distance telephone, in a short time we can have a thorough discussion of affairs among a number of overseas churches. In the past, when Brother Nee released messages, there were no microphones, nor any tape recordings. The messages were recorded in shorthand, which often was not perfect. Today, we have both audiotape and videotape recordings; all the messages can be conveniently preserved. In 1958 I began to visit the Western world. Although for the most part I have worked in the United States, through the publications, audiotapes, and videotapes, the messages in the Lord’s recovery have been spread to the six major continents of the earth. Many seeking ones in different countries have received supplies of these publications, audiotapes, and videotapes. (CWWL, 1987, vol. 2, “Words of Training for the New Way,” msg. 3)
In the Lord’s new move in the churches, we need the home meetings, the truth lessons, the Lord’s table, and the prayer meeting, and we also need big meetings periodically to gather all the new ones together. For the long run, they also need to be gathered together for a conference with all the saints. This kind of gathering stirs up and encourages the saints. This opens the eyes of the seeking ones to see something further. Otherwise, they will remain in their homes, and they will not receive a broader view of the Lord’s move. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 3, “Elders’ Training, Book 9: The Eldership and the God-ordained Way (1),” ch. 1)
THE PERFECTING OF PILLARS
The Full-time Training
If the return of the Lord should be delayed, it will be necessary to raise up a number of young people to continue the testimony and the work for the following generations. My thought is not to establish a seminary or a Bible institute, but to have young people staying together to live the Body life and practice the spiritual life. In such a place they would receive training for the purpose of edification, by learning to read the Scripture, to pray, and to build up a good character. On the negative side, there would be training for the purpose of learning how to deal with sin, the world, the flesh, and the natural life. At a suitable time, the young people would return to their respective churches in various places to be tempered together with other saints to serve the Lord in the church. (CWWN, vol. 26, “Collection of Newsletters (2) & Watchman Nee’s Testimony,” msg. 8)
All Aspects of the Perfecting
How to Contact the Lord
One very crucial thing that we have to train the full-timers in is that they must learn how to contact the Lord. Every day they must have a proper time to contact the Lord. Everyone must have a private time to pray to the Lord, to have a direct, private, personal contact with the Lord Himself. In our contact we should not pray for so many things, but we need to open to Him to be enlightened, exposed, and judged. We need to exhort them to have some direct dealing with the Lord. This is the way for them to grow up in life.
Pursuing the Knowledge of the Truth
We must also help them get into the Word. The best reference books for the young ones to study are the Recovery Version with the footnotes and the Life-study messages. If they still have time, they can get into the cross references. If they use this material, they will get into the proper knowledge of God’s New Testament revelation. We must train the saints to get into this material to have themselves equipped with the proper understanding of God’s Word. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 1, “Elders’ Training, Book 8: The Life Pulse of the Lord’s Present Move,” ch. 11)
Pursuing Progress in Life
The third thing that the serving ones in the recovery must do is to pursue progress in life. This means that you must first endeavor to know the Spirit, Christ, life, the cross, and resurrection. Then you should have the practical experience of all these things. As long as you have the heart to do so, it will not be difficult to practice this matter. (CWWL, 1985, vol. 5, “Vessels Useful to the Lord,” msg. 3)
Practicing the New Testament priesthood of the gospel of God
In giving us the revelation of the priesthood of the gospel of God, the raising up of the new believers, the perfecting of the saints, and prophesying, the Lord has given us a conclusion to our four-and-a-half-year study. I considered whether I could find any more verses in the New Testament concerning how to serve, how to meet, how to function, how to preach the gospel, etc. I believe that we have exhausted the revelation in the New Testament concerning the Christian way of service. We now have a conclusion to all the findings of the saints throughout the centuries. We must practice the New Testament priesthood of the gospel of God. The gospel of God regenerates sinners, making them the members of Christ for the building up of the Body of Christ. The gospel of God begins from the incarnation of the Triune God with the view of regenerating people and concludes with the New Jerusalem, which is the ultimate consummation of the building up of the Body of Christ. The gospel of God is not just telling people that they are sinners and that if they believe in Jesus, they will be saved and have peace and joy. This is only a small part of the gospel of God. The gospel of God is all-inclusive. As the New Testament priests, we are handling the gospel of God to save sinners, to raise them up, and to perfect them until they can prophesy. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 3, “Elders’ Training, Book 9: The Eldership and the God-ordained Way (1),” ch. 10)
Building Up Their Character
Another basic thing we like to train our young people in is their character. We have a little book with thirty aspects of human character. It is worthwhile to train them in this way. I consider this as something basic…I told the saints that if they did not build up their character, they could never read the Bible properly. A loose person in character could never understand the Bible in the right way. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 1, “Elders’ Training, Book 8: The Life Pulse of the Lord’s Present Move,” ch. 11)
THE EXAMPLE OF PERFECTING—
BROTHER WATCHMAN NEE’S PERFECTING
FOR BROTHER WITLESS LEE
The Matter of Life
First, he helped me know the Lord as life. Before I stayed with him, I loved the Lord and had already obtained a great deal of doctrinal knowledge of the Bible. But I was not clear concerning life. It was not until I spent time with him that my eyes were opened to see the matter of life.
One afternoon as we sat together, neither of us said a word. I was seated on a sofa and he in a rocking chair. While he was rocking, he began to ask me, “Brother Witness, what is patience?” Then I said, “Please tell me, what is patience?” He answered, “Patience is Christ.”
When I returned to the guest house, I was really troubled. I went to my room and prayed, “Lord, what does it mean that patience is Christ?” The Lord spoke to me in those days, and my eyes were opened. I saw that Christ Himself is my patience. Real patience is not a kind of behavior, but just Christ lived out from me. I saw it! It was in this way that Watchman helped me so greatly in the matter of life. (Watchman Nee—A Seer of the Divine Revelation in the Present Age, ch. 31)
Following the Vision
The Lord’s recovery was brought to us through our dear Brother Nee. Because of this he became a target of attack. In 1934 he was married in Hangchow. Some took this opportunity to stir up a storm. He became very sad. The storm affected some, and they decided not to take this way anymore. In other words, many people were following a man. When the man seemed to have changed, they turned away. But I told Brother Nee, “Even if one day you do not take this way, I will still take this way. I am not taking this way because of you, and I will not leave this way because of you. I have seen that this is the Lord’s way. I have seen the vision.” (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, “Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord’s Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way,” msg. 2)
The Unexpected Training
Brother Nee usually gave a message in the Lord’s Day morning meeting, and we all enjoyed listening to him. Once, about five or ten minutes before the Lord’s Day meeting, I received a note from Brother Nee that said, “Brother Witness, please give the message this morning.” The saints in the meeting had already begun to sing hymns. While they prayed, I waited for Brother Nee. When he did not show up, I had no alternative but to go up to the podium and give a message.
I did not know until later that Brother Nee stood behind the door and listened to my message. I did not see him and thought that he was not in the room. I did not know that he would ask me to speak, until I received the note. This kind of training was quite severe, but it was also beneficial to me.
Handing Things Over to Others and
Watch to See What Is Being Done
In 1934 a turmoil arose in the church in Shanghai because of Brother Nee’s marriage. As a result of the turmoil, Brother Nee left Shanghai. One day the three elders in the church in Shanghai came to me and asked me how to handle a difficult situation. I told them that I did not know how to handle it. They said I should bear the responsibility for the church in Shanghai because before Brother Nee departed, he said that in regard to the work and all the affairs in the church in Shanghai, they should ask Brother Lee. However, Brother Nee never mentioned this to me. This was his way of training. Hence, we should not be afraid of handing things over to others. After we hand things over, we should stand behind and watch the situation. This will enable us to see how well the person is doing. On one hand, we should hand things over, and on the other hand, we should watch to see what is being done.
Being Perfected in the Literature Work
I am thankful to the Lord that when I first arrived in Shanghai, Brother Nee gave me many opportunities to learn. For example, I had never done any literature work before that time, and neither had I been to his bookroom. However, he perfected me in the literature work. First, he perfected me in responding to letters. The saints and churches often wrote to Brother Nee asking him questions. Sometimes he would give me these letters and ask me to reply on his behalf. These letters contained more than greetings; they contained specific questions. Second, Brother Nee made me an editor of some of his publications, such as Collection of Newsletters. Third, he allowed me to edit articles in the magazine The Christian. After being in circulation for several years, this magazine was stopped for a period of time. When the magazine resumed publication, he asked me to bear the responsibility of the editor. He handed me the task and stood behind to train me. This is the way we should perfect others in order to produce useful ones. If we do everything by ourselves from beginning to end, there will be no one to continue the work after we die.
NOT HOLDING BACK IN PERFECTING OTHERS
Our work for the Lord is to teach and perfect others, so we must have a change in concept. When we teach others, we do not hold back what we know. Rather, we do our best to impart all that we know into others. We do not have secrets that we keep from the saints in fear of their excelling in the service and becoming better than us.
In spiritual matters we must give to others and not reserve anything for ourselves. The spiritual principle is that those who give more gain more. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you.” Water must first flow out of a pipe in order for more water to flow in. The amount of water that flows in is determined by the amount of water that flows out. We should not say that if we give to others, we will have nothing left. The more we endeavor to give to others, the more we will be given. (CWWL, 1971, vol. 1, “Shepherding the Church and Perfecting the Young People,” msg. 5)
Discussion:
1. How to provide education on various levels to perfect people according to various needs?
2. What materials should we use to perfect others?
3. How to help the new ones to enter into the speaking of the Ministry—seven annual conferences and trainings or video training?
4. How to perfect others to learn coordination?
5. How to perfect others to have practical service?
6. How to perfect others to participate in the church service fellowship?
7. How to encourage others to join the full-time training?
