Lesson.9 The Church of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:13-16)

 

When you confess and receive Jesus you become a child of God and a member of the church, the body of Christ. God wants you, as a member of the community of believers, to mature in your spiritual life and build up the body of Christ.

 

1. The meaning of the church
Originally the church did not refer to a building or an organization but to the congregation of God's chosen people
(1) The church is set up by Jesus (Mt. 16:18)
(2) The church of Jesus Christ
  - Universal, invisible Chruch - unified church with Christ as its head (Eph. 1:22-23)

  - Local church - gathering of believers in a designated area (Acts 11:25-26, Gal 1:2-3)

  - Home church - gathering of believers in a home especially due to the persecution in the early church (1Cor 16:19, Col 4:15)

 

2. The function of the church 

  (1) Spiritual structure: Christian = natural man + Holy Spirit,  Church of Christ = gathering + Holy Spirit.

  (2)  The church's 4 functions : worship, evangelism, nurturing, service. 

    1. Worship - The most important reason for the church to meet is so that those who have been saved by God's grace can worship God together (Rom. 12:1, Jn 4:24, Mt 22:37-38)

    2. Evangelism - The church must fulfill both functions of gathering to worship and going out to proclaim the gospel in the world.

     a) Evangelize according to God's method of salvation (1Cor 1:21)

     b) The Lord's Great Commission (Mt 28:19-20)

     c) Irresistible duty (1Cor 9:16)

    3. Nurturing - The church must faithfully nurture the new believer to grow into maturity (1Tim 4:12-13, Rom 12:6-8, Eph 4:12)

    4. Service - The church must nurture and teach the new believer to muture into a worker who can serve (Gal 6:9-10)

     a) Workers of Christ (1Cor 4:1)

     b) Jesus' example (Jn 13:14)

     c) Steward's service (1Pet 4:10)

 

3. The duty of the church 

  The church of jesus Christ must perform the duties entrusted to it. 

  (1) Guardian of truth (1Tim 3:15)

  (2) Christ's representative (Mt 25:40)

  (3) World Missions (Jn 20:21, Mk 16:15)