What Is The Church
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The Church
Matthew 16:18 “. . . upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The church was God’s idea. He originated it and He will sustain it.
What’s wrong with the church?
What is it here for?
What can we do to fix it? What can you do?
What Is The Church?
The church is not a building. It is people. We are the church. Church means "called out ones". The
church is that group of people who are called:
- out of sin and into righteousness;
- out of darkness into light;
out of the world and into the Kingdom of God.
Colossians 1:12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his
dear Son:
The church is people who are separated from sin and set apart for God.
In the Bible, the church is variously referred to as:
The Flock of God -
Psalms 1:1 The LORD [is] my shepherd . . .
Psalms 100:3 . . . we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray . . .
God, like a shepherd, cares for us and guides and protects us. Jesus said,"I am the good shepherd..."
John 10:14
The Family of God -
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to
them that believe on his name:
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
God has adopted us into His family. We are His children.
The Temple or Building of God -
Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the
saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner [stone];
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
1 Peter2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood . . .
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you . .
.
2 Corinthians 6: 16 . . . for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them . . .
God lives in us. We are God's representatives in this world just as Jesus was when He was here in
bodily form. Just as God was in Christ, He is now in us.
The Body of Christ -
Romans 12:5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
1 Corinthians 12:27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Ephesians 1:22-23 . . . to the church,
23 Which is his body . . .
Colossians 1:24 . . . for his body's sake, which is the church:
THE TRULY AMAZING THING IS THAT, NOT ONLY HAS GOD RESCUED US FROM ETERNAL DEATH,
BUT HE HAS INTRUSTED TO US THE MESSAGE OF ETERNAL LIFE.
Why Is the Church Important?
The church has a three-fold purpose:
1. To Worship God.
This is the duty of man and the duty of His people when they are gathered together.
Matthew 4:10 . . . for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
2. To Teach and Train Believers.
The saints should encourage, comfort, correct, and assist one another. The older, more experienced
should teach the younger.
Those called and appointed to the ministry should lead and guide the group into godliness. god gives
gifts and abilities to memebers of His church and anoints them for the purpose of building up the body.
1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm,
hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
edifying.
(A careful reading of 1 Corinthians 12-14 will help you understand the relationship between church
members.)
3. To Evangelize the World.
We are here as representatives of Christ to spread the gospel (the good news of salvation through
Christ). That is our commission and privilege - to win the world for Christ.
Mark 16:15 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all
nations . . .
The Local Church
Everyone should be a part, an active member, of a local church. we all need the guidance and support
it offers. We need the ministry and friendship in times of need or sorrow. We need the strength of the
group in weak moments. We need the accountability it provides. Also, we need the opportunity to
serve, to help others, to be a vital part of the minitry (service) of the local church. You see, you need
the church and the church needs you. If you only receive and never give out, you will become rotten
and inward. There must be an even flow in and out. (The Dead Sea can support no life because water
comes in but never goes out. It is stagnant and full of death.)
Matthew 16:18 “. . . upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The church was God’s idea. He originated it and He will sustain it.
What’s wrong with the church?
What is it here for?
What can we do to fix it? What can you do?
What Is The Church?
The church is not a building. It is people. We are the church. Church means "called out ones". The
church is that group of people who are called:
- out of sin and into righteousness;
- out of darkness into light;
out of the world and into the Kingdom of God.
Colossians 1:12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his
dear Son:
The church is people who are separated from sin and set apart for God.
In the Bible, the church is variously referred to as:
The Flock of God -
Psalms 1:1 The LORD [is] my shepherd . . .
Psalms 100:3 . . . we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray . . .
God, like a shepherd, cares for us and guides and protects us. Jesus said,"I am the good shepherd..."
John 10:14
The Family of God -
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to
them that believe on his name:
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
God has adopted us into His family. We are His children.
The Temple or Building of God -
Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the
saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner [stone];
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
1 Peter2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood . . .
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you . .
.
2 Corinthians 6: 16 . . . for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them . . .
God lives in us. We are God's representatives in this world just as Jesus was when He was here in
bodily form. Just as God was in Christ, He is now in us.
The Body of Christ -
Romans 12:5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
1 Corinthians 12:27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Ephesians 1:22-23 . . . to the church,
23 Which is his body . . .
Colossians 1:24 . . . for his body's sake, which is the church:
THE TRULY AMAZING THING IS THAT, NOT ONLY HAS GOD RESCUED US FROM ETERNAL DEATH,
BUT HE HAS INTRUSTED TO US THE MESSAGE OF ETERNAL LIFE.
Why Is the Church Important?
The church has a three-fold purpose:
1. To Worship God.
This is the duty of man and the duty of His people when they are gathered together.
Matthew 4:10 . . . for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
2. To Teach and Train Believers.
The saints should encourage, comfort, correct, and assist one another. The older, more experienced
should teach the younger.
Those called and appointed to the ministry should lead and guide the group into godliness. god gives
gifts and abilities to memebers of His church and anoints them for the purpose of building up the body.
1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm,
hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
edifying.
(A careful reading of 1 Corinthians 12-14 will help you understand the relationship between church
members.)
3. To Evangelize the World.
We are here as representatives of Christ to spread the gospel (the good news of salvation through
Christ). That is our commission and privilege - to win the world for Christ.
Mark 16:15 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all
nations . . .
The Local Church
Everyone should be a part, an active member, of a local church. we all need the guidance and support
it offers. We need the ministry and friendship in times of need or sorrow. We need the strength of the
group in weak moments. We need the accountability it provides. Also, we need the opportunity to
serve, to help others, to be a vital part of the minitry (service) of the local church. You see, you need
the church and the church needs you. If you only receive and never give out, you will become rotten
and inward. There must be an even flow in and out. (The Dead Sea can support no life because water
comes in but never goes out. It is stagnant and full of death.)