The Principal of Melbourne Bible Institute (MBI) when I was a student there (1968–1970) was Rev. Dr J Graham Miller. Dr Miller, a Kiwi, had spent time in the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) where there was a significant revival, then as a minister in a Presbyterian church in New Zealand where he also saw the Spirit move.
Amongst his legacy is a treasure trove of sermons recorded at his last parish, which was St Giles in Sydney suburban Hurstville. Listening to one such sermon, I came across this truly magnificent description of the church, drawn from Scripture. I don’t think I have ever come across a better description. Here it is.
We are embodied in one fellowship with Christ as head, and every member necessary to every other so that every member then is gifted with particular charismata, spiritual gifts, exactly fitted to the total outreach and effectiveness of his people. There is no ungifted Christian. There is no Christian whose gifts overlaps needlessly with that of another. All are marvellously integrated by the great head of the church into one body, in which there is to be no disharmony, no grinding of gears. It was expected that the local church would exhibit in its own life, the quality of love as the oil which will keep any discord from the fellowship. Reaching out from such a fellowship will be the witness of such a church to the community. In such a community, we will find the effectiveness of its witness right to the extreme of the nation in which we live.