1. GOD’S PERSPECTIVE REGARDING THE CHURCH
A. 3 important characteristics of the church
1) The
2) The
3) The
B. An important principle/ a pattern
“… the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind…” —GENESIS 1
“… And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you…” —EXODUS 25 & 26
C. A pattern for how the Church is to
2. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH
A. “CHURCH” / Greek: EKKLESIA
B. New Testament Usage of EKKLESIA
“A
C. We are called out and we are called into a new kind of
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” —EPHESIANS 2:19-20
D. We are also called into a new relationship with
WE HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT OF THE WORLD, TRANSFORMED BY JESUS, THEN SENT BACK INTO THE WORLD AS
3. NEW TESTAMENT UNDERSTANDING OF “CHURCH”
1) UNIVERSAL BODY OF CHRIST – All
2) THE LOCAL CHURCH – Composed of Christ-followers identified with a single group
3) THE COLLECTIVE CHURCHES – Viewed and addressed as
4) LOCAL CHURCHES ACTING IN CONCERT – Faith communities that are essentially independent but are still acting together and following
“who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” —ROMANS 16:4
A. In the New Testament there is no indication of there being
B. GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE CHURCH IS
• A denominational organization
• A building
• A set of theological beliefs