Sermon Tone Analysis

Slow down, smell the roses

Stop, slow down, take a minute!

It is good to stop, to dwell on, to consider, to ponder, to meditate upon things that will improve our life and our walk with Christ.

Things to think about (Php4:8)

Things to do (Php4:9)

Previous things recently, Sin, Repentance, Baptism , today we are looking at church and church life, what is it, what does it look like and what do we do with it Act2:47; Mt16:15-18).

(expand on those for just a couple of minutes) baptism, because of it, look at the results

But what were they added to?

That helps, but may we take some time to dwell on the church defined, the church described, the church defiled, and the church demonstrated.

Church Defined

It may shock you, but church is not a religious word.

Though we know it to be,and we will look at it in a religious, relationship context today.

Ekklesia (Gk) - synonymous with the Hebrew word “Kahal” of the Old Testament.

Both words simply mean “an assembly” - Eastman’s Bible Dictionary

How about one more?

Thayer’s Analytical Greek Lexicon says “a gathering of citizens out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.”

So it does not have to be a religious gathering to be ekklesia, this is definition only in a general sense.

In the Christian sense the Ekklesia has several definitions

The universal church (Eph1:22-23; Heb12:22-23)

The universal church, the collective body of those who are saved.

So the universal church is compromised of those who are saved.

No reference to when (time), just to salvation to those who are enrolled in heaved (v.23); those who were added to the numbers daily (Act2:47).

The local church (1Cor1:2; Rom16:16; Act16:40; 1Cor16:19)

Not a perfect church as we know, but nonetheless they were loved, they were saints, saints with all the other saints in others places too.

All the others places, all the churches called churches of Christ, not a name but a distinction (expand on this)

These are some samples, biblical examples, there are also house churches mentioned like in the home of Lydia (Act16:40, or Acquila and Priscilla (1Cor16:19).

Church meeting (Act20:7; 1Cor16:2; Act2:46; Heb10:25)

Church meeting is an assembly of Christians who are gathered together for worship as we see accustomed on the first day of the week.

and then you can see that again

But, first day was not the only day they met according to scripture, look at this

(expand on that for 1-2 minutes only)

The importance is the assembly

We should not forsake the assembling together either.

Today our focus is going to be on the universal church; all those who are saved by Christ .

First may we look at how the scripture describes the church.

Church Described

Scripture is not slack on describing what the church is, there are many names that are used.

Church is the body of Christ (Eph1:22-23; Eph5:23; Col2:19; Rom12:5)

The church is the body of Christ, in which Jesus is the head over

Further evidenced y

It also shows us, the church, and our relationship with Christ, one that is held together by Christ

The church is one body, in Christ

One body consisting of many parts, many talents, many tasks but one purpose.

Church is the house of God (1Tim3:15)

As the church, as the body of Christ we have a way in which we should act.

Just as we are also family.

Church is the family of God (Mt12:48-50; Mk10:28:30)

family with many brothers and sisters and further exemplified by Christ’s words

Church is the temple of God (Eph2:21-22; 1Cor3:16-17; 2Cor6:14-18; 2Cor7:1)

Temple of God, a holy habitation, the household of God, the dwelling place of God

As any one in right mind would do, you would protect your household I believe we have a serious duty to protect it, to maintain it, to purify it

or may we consider his passage

Church is kingdom of Christ (Col1:12-13; Mt28:18)

Sorry, it is hard to stay away from those kingdom verses.

Transferred by the authority of God given to the Son

For then we are

Church is the bride of Christ (2Cor11:2; Rev19:6-9; Rev21:2)

We are His bride, His betrothed.

We will be like Him

oh, but wait, there is more

Whew, that is a lot of scripture that helps us describe the church.

We need to protect the body of Christ, the household of God, the temple of God, the Church so it is unified.

Church Defiled

If you have been around at all, it is easy to see that there are people, groups who try to incorporate, teach, doctrines that are not in the Bible.

Or organizations that have someone other than Christ as the head.

Christ’s prayer was for unity, through Apostles (Jn17:20-21)

I don’t think need to expand on that at all.

Paul preached about unity and rebuked division (1Cor1:10-13)

There is only one head, that head is Christ, and we, as the church, and in our church life need to know, remember and walk in that truth that we belong to Him.

Can be defiled by sectarianism (1Cor3:1-4)

Sectarianism is the view that a select group of churches constitutes the universal church.

With emphasis on certain doctrines, teachings over others (contrary to the teaching of the whole counsel of God).

This type of view, belief can often express carnality with its envy, strife and causes division.

Church Demonstrated

As the church, body of believers, body of Christ, temple of God, bride of Christ we can get caught up in things that are too broad in defining the church, to narrow in describing the church and in hence hinder people from being added to the church, so may we be a good demonstration of the church.

Some things to do as the church.

Strive together to protect the unity of the church (Eph4:3-6)

I say strive, so what does strive mean?

It is verb to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something, struggle or fight vigorously.

Scripture says be diligent: Diligent adjective, having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.

Strive together to protect the bond of peace (Eph4:1-3)

Strive together to be of the same love, united in spirit (Php2:1-5)

(Invitation slide 1)

So as we live as the church, what kind of church are you?

Are you one who is bought by the very blood of Jesus Christ (ACt20:28)?

Are you a glorious church, holy, without blemish (Eph5:25-27)?

Are you one who is submitting to God’s given authority to Christ and following His commands (Mt28:19; Jn14:15)?

May we leave here today with a certainty of the church we are and walk in that.

If you have not been added to the church yet, come now, call on the name of the Lord and be saved through obedience, believing, confessing, repenting and being baptized for remission of sins.

(invitation slide 2) song (Exit slide)