The church

CHURCH LIFE CLASS

THE CHURCH

PREFACE: The Church is very important in the plans and purposes of God. Jesus spoke of the

relationship of the Kingdom of God and the Church in Mt 16:16-19. The Church is

the instrument or agent to express and demonstrate the Kingdom of god on the earth.

As the Body of Christ, the Church is to be the visible expression of Christ in the earth.

Often neglected and misunderstood by believers, the building of the Church

(Mt 16:16-18) as the bride of Christ (Eph 5:25-27) lies at the center of the purposes of

God in our time (Eph 3:10-11).

I. WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

A. Definition

“Church” - Greek word “Ekklesia” - calling out, called out ones, congregation, assembly.

The church is the called out assembled people of God, called out of the world, and assembled together

in Local Church Bodies.

B. Incorrect views of the Church.

Charles Colson “It is hard to imagine a more urgent or critical task than the recovery and restoration

of the Biblical view of the church…Three or Four years ago I came to the realization that we

have a scandalously low view of the church.”

D. Mrtyn Lloyd-Jones “Our greatest need is to recapture the New Testament teaching concerning

the church.”

John Stott “Today more than ever, we need to catch a Biblical Vision of the church…If the church is

central to God’s purpose, as seen in both history and the gospel, it must also be central to our

lives. How can you take lightly what god takes so seriously? How dare we push to the

circumference what God has placed in the center.”

In much of Christianity the current view of the church is different than the Biblical model. This must

be changed if we are to move forward in the purposes of God for the church. The following is a list

of some of the incorrect views and their Biblical counterpart.

1. The church or house of God is the building you meet together in.

Biblical view - The church is the people baptized into the Lord Jesus and assembled together to

serve His purposes. Eph 2:19-22; 1 Cor 10:17; 1 Cor 3:16; 1 Pet 2:4-5;

Acts 7:46-49

2. The church is something you have usually in the form of services or meetings.

Biblical view - The church is something you are. 1 Cor 12:27

3. The church functions at scheduled meeting times.

Biblical view - Church life is an ongoing process, and the church is to be functioning all the time.

Mt 18:19; Acts 2:46; Acts 4:31-37; 1 Cor 14:26

4. The church is an organization/denomination you are a member of.

Biblical view - The church is an organism. There is practical commitment to the local group of

believers God joins you to. 1 Cor 12:13,18

5. Any believer is the church, therefore any believer himself or group of believers who get together constitute a church, - Bible studies, praise and worship meetings, Christian clubs or organizations, etc.

Biblical view - While it is true that Jesus lives in the believer, and where 2 or 3 believers gather

he is in their midst (Mt 18:20), the Biblical picture of local churches is flocks of

sheep. While fellowship, worship, study of the Word, etc. are all activities of

believers, one important ingredient that constitutes a church is leadership. God

clearly assigns shepherds to pastor/shepherd the flocks. God ordained leadership

that oversees, pastors, and leads the flock. Acts 14:21-23; Acts 20:28; Eph 4:11;

Heb 13:17; 1Thes 5:12-13; 1 Pet 5:5; 1 Tim 5:13; Phil 1:1, etc.

II. TWO FORMS OF THE CHURCH IN SCRIPTURE

A. The Invisible Church

All believers every where, past, and present, are joined in a mystical union in a spiritual body

for a habitation of the Spirit, with Jesus Christ as it’s Head. 1 Cor 10:32; 1:2; 3:16

B. The Church Visible/Local Church.

Those believers in a distinct geographic area who are joined together to serve the purposes of God.

It is an identifiable group of believers who are joined together in a way of life serving God under

the oversight of God given leaders.

It is: 1) Groups of believers in a given locality. Mt 18:20.

2. Gathered to the person of Jesus for worship. Jn 4:24.

3. Living a disciplined life. Mt 28:19-20.

4. Under the oversight of gifted ministries. Eph 4:9-13.

5. Established in the principles of Christ doctrine. Acts 2:42, Heb 6:1-2.

6. Keeping the memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 11:23-34.

7. Locally governed yet in fellowship with other groups of believers. Rev 1:11, Phil 1;1.

C. The context of the Bible (The NT) is the context of the Local Church.

The New Testament was written to local churches and it is only in the context of local churches that it

can be properly understood.

The idea of Church is mentioned 114 times in the New Testament, 96 of those times it is in

reference to the local Church.

Individual verses Corporate glasses. We tend to read scriptures through individual glasses rather

than corporate glasses. This often causes us to misinterpret the scriptures because they were

written from a corporate context. Examples: Rom 12:1-2 context vs 3-18; 1Pet 1:23 context 1:21-

2:10

Billy Graham. “Letters were written to individual churches, small clusters of believers, leaders, and

followers together. At the heart of these letters is God’s assumption that we belong together at work

and at worship in a Local Church. I am convinced that the cluster of believers of which you are

a part, is the basic unit through which God is working to redeem the world.

John White, Navigators “Can one be a committed disciple and not be a part of a local congregation?

Practically, I believe the answer is no. If we take Scriptures seriously, committed discipleship must

include fellowship, interaction, and functioning with other believers in a local church.

Terry Virgo “It was said of Jesus (when He drove the money changers out of the temple) Zeal for

God’s House would consume Him…Do we have zeal for God’s House or do we see it as hopeless?

Many Christians would reply, “of course we go to church,” but that wasn’t the question. Do we

have zeal for God’s House?…The book of Revelation shows Jesus, not as one who is vaguely in the

midst of the church, but as one who walks among the individual lamp stands. He knows each

local church intimately. He commends one and warns another. He notes steadfastness here, apathy

there. Each is an open book to Him. His longing for a glorious bride is seen in His concern and

ambition for each particular congregation. How far short we come in our attitude towards the

Local Church! Our devotion to Christ is rarely matched by a similar devotion to His church, but

finds expression in other areas. And so we fail to share God’s heart and follow his strategy.

III. Five models we see in the contemporary Church scene.

A. The Teaching Center - A place where believers go to hear the Bible expounded. Some go so far as

to their church organization “_____ Teaching Center.”

B. The Theater - A place where faithful gather to witness the drama of the sacrament and other traditions enacted before them.

C. The Corporation Church - A place where an efficient and highly program-oriented organization

with a full-time pastoral team involved in retailing religion to the masses.

D. The Country Club Church - A place where people join to have certain needs met, just as one might

join any other organization to have other needs met.

E. The Personality Church – People are drawn together around the personality or charisma of the

leader. He may be well known or well liked.

F. The Mystical Any Meeting Church - Any meeting where the faithful of the Mystical Body Of Christ may gather. In this type of gathering no organization, leadership, or practical commitment is necessary because we are all “one in the Spirit.”

G. Event/Revival Center Church – The Church is centered around getting people to come to

Events or meetings. Success is measured in the number of people gathered in buildings.

H. In light of these various ideas present when it comes to Church the Biblical Pattern of church

is that it is a way of life among people lived out in relationships.