Church: What Is The Church

WHAT IS THE CHURCH? (Matthew 16:13-19)

I. INTRODUCTION: Who determines what IS the church? Man? Or God? If man, then ANY definition will do. BUT, If God, then only HIS definition will do. “Church” = Ek Lesia [EKKLESIA] = The “called out ones” Church in N.T. = Universal All Christians (Matthew 16:18) Local One Congregation (1 Corinthians 1:2) Assembly (1 Corinthians 14:28,34) church of Christ (Romans 16:16) ---One body (Ephesians 4:4) ---Body is the saved (Acts 2:41,47) (Ephesians 5:23) THEREFORE (in N.T.) = Church = Saved & Saved = Church ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

II. Establishment of the church of Christ

A. Prophesied (Daniel 2:36-45) (Micah 4:1-2) (Isaiah 2:2-4)

1. Marks: ---“Last Days” ---Lord’s house established in top of mountains ---All Nations ---From Jerusalem

2. WHEN? “Days of these kings” ---Dream of Nebuchadnezzar: TEXT History Gold head = Babylon Breast & Arms Of Silver = Medo-Persians Belly & Thighs Of Brass = Greeks Legs of iron & Feet iron & clay = Romans (2)

B. Promised (Mark 9:1) (Matthew 16:18) (Luke 24:49) (Acts 1:2-5)

C. Present (Acts 2:1-4, 14-21) (Colossians 1:13) (Romans 16:16) (Isaiah 2:2) (Micah 4:1) --- LAST DAYS --- (Acts 2:17) (Joel 2:28) (Isaiah 2:2) --- ALL NATIONS --- (Acts 10) (Acts 2:5) (Isaiah 2:3) (Micah 4:2) --- FROM JERUSALEM --- (Acts 1:4 & 2:5) (Micah 4:1) --- HOUSE OF LORD --- (1 Timothy 3:15) (Daniel 2:44) --- KINGDOM --- (Matthew 16:18) (Colossians 1:13) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III. Marks of the church

A. Founder/Head --- CHRIST (Matthew 16:18) (Acts 20:28) (Ephesians 1:22) B . Location founded --- JERUSALEM (Isaiah 2:3) (Acts 2:5,47)

C. Date founded --- A.D. 33

D. Designations of the church (descriptive phrases, NOT the NAME given by God c.f. Acts 11:26) --- Church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2) (Acts 20:28) --- Body of Christ (Colossians 1:18) (Ephesians 1:22-23) --- churches of Christ (Romans 16:16) (Matthew 16:18) --- Bride of Christ (Romans 7:4) (Revelation 21:9) --- the church (Acts 2:47 ; 8:1 ; 12:1) --- Kingdom (Hebrews 12:28) (Colossians 1:13) --- church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15) --- Flock of God (1 Peter 5:3) --- the whole family (Ephesians 3:15) (3)

E. Members are called: --- Christians (Acts 11:26 ; 26:28) (1 Peter 4:6) (New name given by God to His People) --- Disciples (John 15:8) (Acts 11:26) --- Saints (Romans 1:7) (1 Corinthians 1:2) (Philippians 1:1) --- Brethren (Luke 8:21) (Galatians 6:1) --- Children of God (Galatians 3:26) (Romans 8:16) --- Members (1 Corinthians 6:15)

F. Creed [“Credo” = “I believe”] --- Jesus (Matthw 16:18) (Acts 8:37)

G. Rule of Faith & Practice --- Word of God (N.T.) (Matthew 28:18-20) (2 Timothy 3:16-17) (James 1:21) (John 12:48)

H. Worship --- Sing (Colossians 3:16) (Ephesians 5:19) (1 Corinthians 14:15) --- Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17) (Hebrews 4:16) --- Teach/Preach (Acts 20:7 ; 2:47) (2 Timothy 4:1-4) --- Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7) (1 Corinthians 11:23 ; 10:16-21) --- Giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ; 8:5,8-9)

I. Mission of the church --- Evangelism (Mark 16:15-16) (Acts 5:42) (Ephesians 5:19) (1 Timothy 4:16) --- Edification (Ephesians 4:12-16) (Hebrews 10:24-25) --- Benevolence (Galatians 6:10 ; 2:10) (1 Timothy 5:8-16) (James 1:27) (Acts 6:1-6) (Ephesians 4:28)

J. Terms of membership --- ADDED by God (Acts 2:41,47) Hear the gospel (Romans 10:17) Believe in Christ (John 3:16 ; 8:24) Repent of sins (Acts 17:30 ; 2:38) Confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10) (Matthew 10:32-33) (Acts 8:35) Baptized into Christ (Mark 16:15-16) (Galatians 3:26-27) (1 Peter 3:21) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IV. Destination of the church

A. Faithful = Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) (Revelation 2:10)

B. Unfaithful = Hell (1 Corinthians 10:12) (2 Peter 2:20-22) (Romans 2:8-9) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________