What is the local church?
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Opening Prayer
Introduction
A fundamental misunderstanding
Adelynn playing catch
What is a church?
A word study
ekklesia-
Direct translation - “A calling out”
In use
LXX - Used to translate Hebrew Qahal - “Congregation, Assembly” (Particularly of God’s people)
^^This usage is reflected in the NT
Secular - “A group that meets together for various political, religious, and civic purposes”
In the NT, the word is used to describe a group of Christians and is used in the local, regional, and universal (catholic) sense.
Our focus is going to be on answering the question
“What is a local church?”
“What is a local church?”
This will not be exhaustive but have what I think to be the central teachings of what a local church is.
A Definition: A local church is a group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances.
A Definition: A local church is a group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances.
First Point (About the universal church)
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
I. The local church, like the universal, is under the Lordship of Christ
I. The local church, like the universal, is under the Lordship of Christ
Even though we are congregational
explain (Pastors/elders)
We are under the leadership of Christ
Applications
Preaching choice
Not, what do I want to preach but, what would my LORD have me to preach
Vote
Not, what do I want with MY church but, what does the LORD want with HIS church
Second Point
Hebrews 10
Hebrews 10
Chapter begins by explaining that the law and the sacrifices of the OT did not forgive sin
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
The author of Hebrews uses this as a full assurance of faith
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
This leads to the conclusion found in the next few verses with application for a local church
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 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.
II. The local church is a gathering of true believers who encourage one another in good works.
II. The local church is a gathering of true believers who encourage one another in good works.
Notice, these are people who have full assurance
They are baptised (sign of covenant)
They meet regularly
They encourage each other in good works
Applications:
Church Membership
Meaningful ordinances
Knowing one another deeply
Third Point
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
III. You have a crucial role in your church
III. You have a crucial role in your church
Conclusion
A Definition: A local church is a group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances.
A Definition: A local church is a group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances.