Ecclesiology (Part 1)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Regarding soteriology: If God has everything determined, does it matter if I witness?
Regarding soteriology: If God has everything determined, does it matter if I witness?
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Even if it didn’t matter it doesn’t matter. We must obey!
Even if it didn’t matter it doesn’t matter. We must obey!
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
The lost cannot be saved without hearing the gospel.
The lost cannot be saved without hearing the gospel.
God chose to work through us!
This should encourage us to witness!
This should encourage us to witness!
An introduction to ecclesiology.
An introduction to ecclesiology.
The New Testament word “church” (or “ekklesia” in the greek) has both a secular and biblical meaning.
The New Testament word “church” (or “ekklesia” in the greek) has both a secular and biblical meaning.
Its secular use.
Its secular use.
32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.
41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
These groups are composed of lost people.
They are assembling for political reasons.
Simply a gathering of people.
We can see that ekklesia is an assembly.
We can see that ekklesia is an assembly.
Its biblical use.
Its biblical use.
In reference to Israel.
In reference to Israel.
This happens twice.
38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us,
12 saying:
“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
The remainder of its occurrences refers to gatherings of Christians.
It is used to signify a people being set apart.
It is used to signify a people being set apart.
In reference to the church.
In reference to the church.
A local body of believers.
A local body of believers.
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
What do you see interesting about Paul’s wording?
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Here we see multiple churches - many local churches.
A regional body of believers.
A regional body of believers.
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
We see the local church and the church as a whole, both local and universal.
We will talk about both.
A global body of believers.
A global body of believers.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
A church is a called out and separated assembly.
A church is a called out and separated assembly.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
the word “church” is never connected to a building but it is connected to a gathering of people.
How should that impact the way we view our building?
Should we call it “the church”?
Our understanding of the church impacts our practice as a church.
Our understanding of the church impacts our practice as a church.
1. Who makes up the assembly?
1. Who makes up the assembly?
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Who is the gathering for?
2. What is the purpose of the assembly?
2. What is the purpose of the assembly?
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
How does this impact what our services look like?
How should this impact the way we reach the lost?
We cannot overstate the importance of the church.
We cannot overstate the importance of the church.
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.