Untitled Sermon (4)

WEEK ONE

THE CHURCH

UNDERSTANDING THE CHURCH

I. WHY BOTHER LEARNING ABOUT CHURCH?

A. Our appreciation and association with anything increases with greater understanding.

B. God has designed the Church to be counter-cultural (John 17:14-19; 1 Corinthians 1:2)

C. Our hearts are formed by church as it becomes a habit for us (Hebrews 10:24-25)

II.WHAT IS CHURCH?

A. What the word "church" means

1. It's translated from the Greek "Ekklesia" which means literally the "called out

ones" or it means "assembly" (Acts 19:32)

2. It 's used to translate the Hebrew word "qahal" which means "congregate" or

"assemble" (Acts 7:38; Exodus 35:1)

B. How the word "church" is used

1. It's used to describe a local gathering of Christians (Philemon 1-2), and a

local gathering in a city (Galatians 1:1)

2. It's used to describe all the people who are Christians from all times and

places-the "universal church" (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25)

C. The New Testament refers to the Church without using the word at times

(Revelation 5:9-10)

III. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH (Ephesians 2:13-22)

A. The Church is the blood-bought people of God (Ephesians 2:13; Revelation 5:9-

10; Acts 20:28; Titus 2:14)

B. The Church is a new creation (Ephesians 2:14-16; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

1. Individually, each of us is given newness of life

2. We, as a people, are also made new

C. The Church is the household of God (Ephesians 2:17-19; 1 Timothy 3:16; Romans 8:14-17)

D. The Church is an organism and an organization (Ephesians 2:20)

1. The Church is alive and grows (Ephesians 4:15-16)

2. The Church is inherently doctrinal and Apostolic (Acts 2:42)

E. The Church is a dwelling place for God (Ephesians 2:21-22, Revelation 2:1, 1 Corinthians 14:25)

1. We, individually, come together to be a dwelling place for God (1 Peter 2:4-5)

2. When we come together God is with us

IN COMMUNION, THE CHURCH COMES TO TOGETHER AS A BODY TO

REMEMBER CHRIST'S BODY GIUEN FOR Us (1 Corinthians 1:23-26)