What is the Church?

Introduction

Introduction Questions

How would you define the church?

What role should church play in the life of a believer?

What are some ways you’ve benefited from church?

Why is it important?

To understand what role the community of believers plays in your life, and what role you play in the community of believers.

Scripture Focus

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Unpacking the Passage

Right from the passage, what do you see the early church doing? Lets list them out in our own words.

Devoting themselves:

To learning from their teachers (the apostles)

To spending quality time together

Sharing meals // the Lord’s Supper

Praying together

Sharing their belongings with those who were in need

Attending church together daily

Praising God together

They grew in numbers together

What are the emotions/feelings going on in the church?

Awe

Gladness

Generosity

How do you think you would feel if you were a part of the early church like this?

I might feel: comfortable, excited, safe, joyful, fortunate

Defining the Church

Some of the aspects, not all, but some of the aspects of how we can define the church

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

The Loving Family of God

Adopted by the Father

brothers and sisters united by Christ

Colossians 3:12–15 ESV

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

A Community of Worship

Colossians 3:16 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

A Source of Support

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

A Place of Growth

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

For You and For Others

I want to lean into this last passage. You see how these Christian leaders were given for the purpose of equipping the saints (that would be all believers) for the work of ministry. That means you are meant to do the work of ministry. Not just me.

I want you to think about that for a moment.

What would it look like for you to minister to others?

You might think about your gifts or your talents. Or just the use of your time?

That’s why we do serving Sundays… because we’re doing it wrong if you’re just sitting here consuming information all the time. The church is meant to be a place not where you come to consume, but where you come to participate and serve others.

You’re not just meant to be entertained. You’re meant to be equipped.

So keep that in mind whenever you come to church. And think about how church isn’t just a Sunday thing, or a Wednesday night thing. It’s a lifestyle thing. We are a family and we need each other. Think about how you can be helping your brothers and sisters follow Jesus, and how you can meet their needs.

—- TIME PERMITTING——

Purpose of the Church: Internal Focus and External Focus

The church has purpose for those inside and for those outside

Internal

The internal purpose is for the benefit of those who are united together in Christ. Most of what we’ve talked about.

External

But there is also an external purpose for the church, geared toward those outside.

Evangelism

As a community of believers, one of our roles is to be those who sing the praises of God so that unbelieving people hear of who God is and what he’s done.

See 1 Peter 2:9 again

Psalm 96:1–4 ESV

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.

Our love on display

One of the primary ways we do this is by putting our love for each other on display for the world to see.

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Catechism Answer

God chooses and preserves for himself a community elected for eternal life and united by faith, who love, follow, learn from, and worship God together. God sends out this community to proclaim the gospel and prefigure Christ’s kingdom by the quality of their life together and their love for one another.