RUSH 11/5/17 What is the Church?

What is Church?

Ekklesia -

What is Church?

What is Church?

What’s the Church?

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 303.What’s the Church?

① a regularly summoned legislative body, assembly,

① a regularly summoned legislative body, assembly,

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 303.

Not a building, but people.

Not a building, but people.

① a regularly summoned legislative body, assembly,

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 303.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Ephesians 2:13–22 ESV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 303.Not a building, but people.

Not a building, but people.

There is a common confession/agreement amongst each other.

Ephesians 2:13

There is one mission to proclaim the good news of Jesus and make disciples. He is our authority.

There is one message that is from one Bible. It’s the only authority by which we do anything.

There is a common confession/agreement amongst each other that Jesus...

Is the Son of God.

Came to the planet he created.

Died a death we couldn’t die and satisfied God’s wrath against our disobedience.

Resurrected from the grave.

Is returning for His people who are fleeing sin and awaiting His return.

There is one mission to proclaim the good news of Jesus and make disciples. He is our authority.

There is one message that is from one Bible. And it’s the only authority by which we do anything.

Why does the Church exist?

Minister to God, its members, and the world. - Grudem, 20 BDECSK

Ephesians 3:9–10 ESV

and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 3:10 ESV

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 3:

How? By revealing, “all” are welcome into the family of God by Jesus.

The church is the only means by which God gives us hope. It’s not the answer, but it reveals our answer.

What’s the mystery?

Ephesians 3:4–6 ESV

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Ephesians 3:

When did the Church begin?

?

Ephesians 3:11–12 ESV

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Ephesians 3

Why is it important?

Ephesians 5:22–28 ESV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐκκλησία

① a regularly summoned legislative body, assembly,

Ephesians 5:22-

Jesus gave Himself up for her…He validated:

her priority before Himself and God.

her purpose for which she exists.

the promise He made to her.

Conclusion

Do you think we can change the way people think about Chapin Baptist and RUSH?

Should you

How?

If we agreed with what the Bible says about the church, would it encourage you to

According to what we learned, should people care about the church?

Why?

Let’s repent and pray.

The vision of the church:

Proverbs 29:18 ESV

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.