Church - Chapter 1

I) What is the Church?

Are Christians required to join

what is church discipline

how is the church to be governed

whats the purpose of the church

what are the activities of the church

how does the church express its worship

These answers are to be yielded from the sure foundation of God’s written word

What Church is - Unity, Purity, Verity (truth, fundamentals of belief)

What Church IS NOT - centers of worship - not once does the bible speak of chapels, buildings. cathedrals, basilicas, etc.

Break---- Notre Dame - Church’s become the object of worship

Question 1 What are the 3 Marks of the Church

Answer - 1) The Church is God’s Unified Communion

The word CHURCH was 1st used in Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it!” Here Christ used the term “church” as a group of people HE would build”

This means the Church belongs to God and not the elders or the people. CHRIST IS THE SOLE PROPRIETOR OF THE CHURCH!

QUESTION THE GROUP - What seperates the Church from secular societies, social clubs, and other religious congregations? THE CHURCH IS THE UNIQUE POSSESSION OF GOD.

CHRIST IS THE CORNERSTONE

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

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.

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

1689 London Baptist Confession “OF THE CHURCH” point number 7

7. To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power. ( Matthew 18:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 5:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 )

QUESTION THE GROUP — WHAT IS THE MATERIAL THAT GOD USES TO BUILD HIS CHURCH? HE USES HIS REDEEMED PEOPLE!

(I PETER 2:4-7)

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

We are the body - Eph 1:22-23

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

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.

Col 1:18-19

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

THE BODY IS ALSO ONE

Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

THIS IS A DEPICTION OF THE TRINITY - PARTS ARE ONE

_________________________________________________________

UNITY OF THE BODY

QUESTION THE GROUP - WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MEANT BY “THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH”

A) THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH IS INVISIBLE - THE MYSTICAL UNITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST IS A BY-PRODUCT OF THE COMMUNION AND UNION THAT ALL BELIEVERS SHARE IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST BY FAITH. THIS UNION IS SPIRITUAL.

Romans 8:10–11 (ESV)

But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Matthew 12:46–50 (ESV)

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Faith not only unites us to Christ but to all those who are in Christ. This union makes us one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

QUESTION THE GROUP - IS THERE A VISIBLE UNITY OF THE CHURCH AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

A) Heb 10:24-25

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.

Because the church is made up of God’s people the members are called to assemble together!

The puritan William Dell summarized the nature of the church with these words:

“The church is the communion of the saints, which is the communion believers have with one another; not in the things of the world, or in the things of man, but in the things of God. For as believers have their union in the Son , and in the Father, so in them also they have their communion; and the communion they have with one another in God cannot be in their own things but in things, even in his light, live righteousness, wisdom, truth love, power peace and joy. This is the true communion of saints and this communion of saints is the true Chruch of God,.

END Q&A

WHY DOES THE CHURCH BELONG TO THE LORD

WHY ARE CULTS AND FALSE RELIGIONS NOT A CHURCH

WHY IS A BUILDING NOT A CHURCH

HOW DOES CHRIST BUILD HIS CHURCH

WHY IS THE GOSPEL THE ONLY WAY OF GROWING THE CHURCH (SIDE BARE QUESTION “WHAT IS GROWTH”

HOW IS THE CHURCH UNITED

WHY IS THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH INVISIBLE

WHY ARE BELIEVERS UNITED TO CHRIST BEFORE THEY ARE UNITED TO THE BODY OF CHRIST

WE ARE STOPPING AT MARK #2 THE CHURCH IS A HOLY COMMUNION