the church

3 Apr 2011 2

Is this the church?

3 Apr 2011 3

Saharawi Muslim refugees, north Africa

Is this the

church?

3 Apr 2011 4

the church

• Identity: what is the church?

• Purpose: what does the church do?

• Principles: how does the church do this?

• Patterns: how did the early church do this?

• Priorities: what should the church do now?

3 Apr 2011 5

Identity: what is the church?

• Ekklesia – called out” assembly

• The universal and local church

• A mystery – Jews and Gentiles

• Christ loved and gave Himself for the church

• Bride, field, flock, priesthood

• The dwelling of God

• The body of Christ

3 Apr 2011 6

Identity: what is the church?

• Ekklesia

• Lit. “those who are called out”

• Assembly, congregation

• Commonly translated as “church” (except civil/legal assembly, Acts 19:32, 39)

3 Apr 2011 7

Identity: what is the church?

• The universal and local church

• Local assembly, groups of local churches, the universal church (body of Christ) – all use the same word ekklesia

• E.g. Col. 1:18 and 4:15-16

• The church and the churches

3 Apr 2011 8

Identity: what is the church?

• A mystery – Jews and Gentiles

• Gentiles: fellow heirs and members of the same body Eph. 3:6

• “My name will be great among the nations” Mal. 1:11

• “He Himself is our peace…” Eph. 2:14

3 Apr 2011 9

Identity: what is the church?

• Christ loved the church and gave Himself

• “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” Eph. 5:25

• “Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” Eph. 5:2

• “The Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” Gal. 2:20

• Christ still loves the church! Eph. 5:29

3 Apr 2011 10

Identity: what is the church?

• Other descriptions:

• The bride

• The field

• The flock

• A priesthood

3 Apr 2011 11

Identity: what is the church?

• The dwelling of God

• God’s building

• The house or household of God

• The dwelling or temple of God

3 Apr 2011 12

Identity: what is the church?

• The body of Christ

• The church is His body

• He is the Head

• We are members of the body – members of Christ– members of one another

3 Apr 2011 13

Identity: what is the church?

• We are members of the body

– members of Christ…

– …but also members of one another

3 Apr 2011 14

Identity: what is the church?

• “What difference does it make?”

• In my life as a follower of Christ

• As members in a local assembly

• As members of the body of Christ

3 Apr 2011 15

the church

• Identity: what is the church?

• Purpose: what does the church do?

• Principles: how does the church do this?

• Patterns: how did the early church do this?

• Priorities: what should the church do now?

3 Apr 2011 16

• Questions? Comments?

• Hymn: “Your beauty fills our eyes”

the church

3 Apr 2011 17

3 Apr 2011 18

www.uplook.orgResources

Audio Ministry

THE CHURCH: Masterpiece of

the Ages

3 Apr 2011 19

And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ (Luke 13:6-9)

3 Apr 2011 20

the church

• what is the church?

• what does the church do?

• how does the church do this?

• how did the early church do this?

• what should the church do now?

3 Apr 2011 21

Identity: what is the church?

What the church is NOT:• Israel• A militant army• A political party• A human institution• The Kingdom of God• An agent of social or cultural reform• Limited to those with whom we totally agree

3 Apr 2011 22

Purpose: what does the church do?