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.

 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.